Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-14
MERCENARY MOTIVE
PROMPT TED MURDER
SUCH IS THE OPINION OF OFF,
GERS AFTER STUDY OF CAR
MICHAEL CRIME
LETTER TO HIS WIFE MADE PUB
LlC-CHlDES HIMSELF
FOR COWARDICE.

Burlington, la, Jan, l3.-When the
| body of Rev. John II. Carmichael Of
Adair, Mich, the confessed SLAYER of
| Gideon Browning whom he slew and
cremated in Battle Run Methodist
church, near Adair, Mich. passed
through Burlington last night ON the
way TO Port Huron, Mich, from Garth
| age, H., where the preacher commit
ted suicide, Deputy Sheriff Moore of
| Port Huron gave it as his opinion
that Carmichael was entirely prompt
| ed to murder Browning by mercenary
motives, and that his purpose in the
murder was to give the impression
| that he himself was the victim. So
that his wife might receive the in
Surance money. Carmichael then
! planned, the deputy said, i'll some way
to get the money from his wife Sher-
! if Waggenseil and Deputy Sheriff
Moore of Port Huron, Lieutenant Ely
Baker of the Detroit police depart
ment and two Chicago detectives ar
rived at Carthage yesterday morning.
identified the body of Carmichael and
took charge of it.
Detectives who made a careful eN-
animation Of the body, discovered, ii
is said, or one of the legs a number
of hypodCrmic syringe wounds. They
later found the syringe with which
the wounds were made This sug-
geSted to some that Carmichael was
victim of drugs In the dead mans
pocket was discovered Browning's
watch 1t was also ascertained that
the pocket knife with which Car
michael committed suicide was the
prop Irty Of Browning.
The letter left by the suicide to
Mrs. Carmichael was made public
yesterday In it the parson further
accuses himself Of cOwardice for not
staying to face the consC quences OF
his act He shows friendship for his
wife and children but there seems to
be a coldncss in the language used.
| Diligent inquiry has deVo Hoped the
! fact that Carmichael in his flight
| from Port Huron, rode on the Burning
| ton train from Chicago to Mount
| Pleasant. Ia, arriving there Thurs
day morning. He spent Thursday
| there intending to go to Donneisoh'
! la. He had checked his baggage to
! that point. but missed the train. lie
had the station agent telegraph to
DonneIson to forward his baggage to
BURLINGTON. whittier he came Thurs
H. ,tD a
hotel until morning.
After breakfast he went to a par
Der shop Friday morning and had ms
heard removed. completely changing
his appcarance. He left for Carthage,
III. Friday afternoon on irelghI
train. His suitcase, which had been
expressed to DonnelsOn, Ia, was re
checked to Carthage through Burning
ton. arriving at Carthage Saturday
morning. 1t was from this suitcase
that he removed the articles when
compose the package expressed thai
morning to his brother NJ. G. Car
michael at WeIlsburg, w. Va
Must Have Been Crazy
Washington, pa. Jan. 13.-Johh
F Carmichael of this place, nephew
of Rev. G. II. Carmichael, VINO com
mitted suicide at Carthage, Ill, lett
Yesterday for Port Huron, Mich. lie
Iexnressed a belief that his uncle had
Ibecome insane and while III that con
dition had killed Browning and then
ended his own life. Since the tag
ndv." said Mr.. Carmichael, i haVa
recalled a conversation with my incl
the last time I saw him when he told
me of trouble in his head, which had
been annoying him. This VIII shuihe
me off some day he said, .
sends Package to Pittsburg.
Pftsburg. Pa. Jan 13.-M. G.. Car.
michael of Wellsburg. w. ", brothe.
of Rev. John H. Carmichael when
communicated with by telephone yes
terday said he received this morning q
package Rev Carmichael had eX
pressed to him from Carthage, IL.
on last Saturday, but that the packag
? did. not contain any documents relat
ling to the murder Of Browning. Car
: michael said he had opened the pocE
age in he express office at Wellsburg
before several citizens Of that place
land that the contents were personal
He did not care TO state what thee
were, nor to make any statemen
whatever on the double TRACE
which his brother played so prom
nent a part.