The Detroit times., 1909-01-07
BODY
GUT IN PIECES I'M
LITTLE CHURCH J
PARTS OF IT ARE PACKED ~
sTovE-susPEcT is SOUGHT
BY oFFIcERs-No MOTIVE lel
KNOWN.

PORT HURON, Mich. Jan. The
police and sheriff's forces have form
ed network between Port Huron and
st. Clair today TO prevent the escape
OF man named Gideon Browning, 81
carpenter. who is wanted To tell what
he knows of the death of Rev. John
Carmichael. whose body was found cut
to pieces and packed in a stove in the
little Methodist church at Rattle Run.
two miles south of Richmond, yestcr-i
day.
Browning was last seen Tuesday
night. He was enroute 10 the church
and has not been seen since. The au-
thorities believe he can throw u great
deal Of light OH the murder.
The murder was discovered by My
ron Brown, a farmer. who takes care
OF the church and who lives a short
distance away. Brown stepped into
the doorway of the building To get
shelter from the wind. He noticed a
window broken and the door unlatch.
ed
A neighbor who was passing was
summoned and the two men entered
The church. On the iioor Lid pair
OF trousers, bloodstained. and nearby
was long butcher knife and dag
ger. Both were covered with blood
partially dried. In one corner were
several 3ioces of clothing and there
| were signs " fierce struggle having
| taken place.
! Pieces OF The body were found Ia
| the old-!asftiS ned wood sieve. The In
terror of the stove was covered wirb
blood. EToNp reported his gruesome
discovery ard the news spread .spld-
\ 1sg nryEx Of
ton crowded the little church and yard
until nearly the entire community for
miles around had gathered IN Ue spot.
She,i. Wosenseil, of Por Huron. was
notified and hurried to the scene with
deputies.
Rev. Carmichael was pastor Of tho
Ichurches at Adair, China and Rattle
Run. He left his home. In Adair.
Tuesday morning TO visit his parish
toner's In the vicinity. He had planned
to begin series OF revival meetings
"Wednesday night
None has been found who saw him
Tuesday and II Is not known where
he spent the afternoon. 10 believed
that he had an appointment at his'
church with some person and went
there late In the afternoon.
| There are many conflicting rumors
today regarding the tragedy. Robbery
could not have been the motive. Over
80 was found in the trousers pocket.
This represented the victims financial
capital when he left home.
| Gideon Browning, who Is sought by
the police, arrived at Hickey Tuesday
afternoon. He seemed TO be In an
angry mood and acted In a sulking
manner. He inquired the location OF
the Rattle Run church. G. o. Conat, a
mail carrier and cousin named
Gavin, walked part OF the way to the
church with Browning. A mile distant
from the church Browning said he
could find the way aud told his In
formants that they need not accurl-
pany him farther. He added that no
had an important appointment with
a man at the church
Rev. Carmichael is survived by
widow, Mrs. Ida Carmichael; two
daughters, Kirtha. 10 years old. who
lives with her parents at Adair; Cola.
81 years old, who is employed as a
stenographer by the J. Il. Ford Chemi-
cal Co. or Wyandottc, and Joseph Car
michael, 10 years old. who Is employed
ny E IL DlIuJ an uuutltdhCI, VI IT,
troit.
Rev John Hayiland Carmichael was
born in Wellsburg w. Va, March 10.
1854. He entered the Methodist minis
try in 1880 and after serving some
time in the south accepted charge in
Benkelman Neb In 1897 he was trans
tferred to the Detroit conference and
assigned to parish work in Ubly. HUI
ron county. where he served two years.
From Ubly he went To Metamora, La.
peer county, and two years later left
for New Boston, where he also served
TWO years. Ills next charge was In
Harrisvile. Owing to failing health
he left Harrsvile and took charge OF
the work ut Judville and New Lo-
throp. lie left the latter place for new
fields and settled in Adair In Septem-
Der. 1907 His parents still reside In
IWellsburg W. Va.