Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-12
SEEK DEEPER MOTIVE
Law Officials Doubt Car
michaeI's Story of Tragedy.
HIS WIFE CONFIRMS IT
Pastor Inundated by Browning's
Power Over Him, She States.
SUSPICION OF WOMAN IN CASE
Sheriff Wegenseil Sorry Murderer Is
Dead-Confession Makes State
ments Not Verified.

CARTHAGE H. January 12.-When
officers, attracted to this place by the
suicide of the Rev. John IIaviland Car
michael, self-confessed slayer of Gideon
Browning at Rattle Run, Mich. have
fully satisfied themselves to the cir
cumstances attending the last act in the
tragedy. it is expected that inquiry Will
turn to a possible motive for the initial
crime.
II Is curious fact that dispatches from
Michigan reveal an unwilIingness on the
part of officials and others to accept the
theory of Carmichaers insanity evolved
from his strange confession. One of the
first to voice this skepticism was Prose
cutor Brown of Adair. Mich, who re-
iccted the idea that Browning had used
hypnotic influence.
Il shall always believe. said Mr.
Brown that there was deep motive be-
hind the crime
Similarly. Under Sheriff Petit of Port
Huron. asserts his belief that Car
michaers last letter was not intended for
death bed confession. but was written
with the idea that he would be taken
back to stand trial. Internal evidence
also, it is said. points to the suspicion
that the preacher deliberately made false
statements.
Statements Not Verified.
AS an example, it is indicated that he
must have known, while writing of a
wedding ceremony for Browning, that
the latter had wife, fact we'll known
in the community. A failure to verify
other points in the confession also deepens
the prevailing suspicion.
Sheriff Wegenseil who started for
Carthage soon as the fact of the
suicide became known, and who is today
taking the lead in the investigation was
convinced that there was woman in the
case. and expressed regret that Car
michael could not have been taken home
alive.
In the face of these doubts. however,
the general tendency seems to be to ac-
cept the theory of mental responsibility
until tangible developments tend to over
throw it.
Carmichael arrived here Friday night
and went 10 boarding house kept
by Miss Miranda Hughes He gave the
name of John Elder and it would seem
that the influence of Browning still fol-
lowed him. for the title Elder" as used
in the Methodist Church was that by
which his victim always addressed him.
He paid his bill at the boarding house
early yesterday morning, saying he was
going to. Bowen. twelve miles away, to
start a woodworking factory, a venture
ne SAID ne ndQ 1OunQ, aIter
not suitable for Carthage.
Carmichael was found several hours
later in an clubhouse on the Hughes
place with his throat cut and almost
dead from loss of blood. He was taken
to the county hospital. where he died
without having regained consciousness.
In his pocket was found a scrap of pa
per on which was written:
1.-THE money in my nightshirt is to go
to my wife.-John H. Carmichael, alias
John Elder"
Letter Of Confession.
In a valise were found letter to Sher-
liz Wegensei, at Port Huron, and one to
Mrs Carmichael. That to the sheriff,
written Saturday, read:
"Honored Sir: 1 write this letter to
explain something in connection with
the Columbus Church tragedy. I am
guilty only because l am coward. 4
man had such hypnotic influence over
me that ! felt that something must be
done. 1 felt greatly ashamed that a
man known to be short-minded should
will. so / said nothing about it. He
said. 1t is all right Elder; don't be
afraid Then he began to talk about
what We could do to get rich, and three
times he came to the rear of my farm
and talked to me.
Twice he was across the river when
went to water the stock, and each
time said he was going to do some
thing that he was proud of. Once when
/ was going to Columbus he was on the
pike near the pink schoolhouse. When
I overlook him he asked to ride, which 1
did not refuse. He asked me if ever 1
had driven up the pike to Port Huron,
to which l answered No, and then he
said: Come, let's drive out to which
dissented, but he kept on until he per-
suaded me to go. He got out and stood
at the corner while / went to the barn
with the rig. Then, after We had been
at the restaurant, for which he paid,
also for the horsefeed. he gave me half
over and buy small Ratchet for his boy
to play with. | began to tell him to go
and do his own buying, when he sat
his eyes upon me in the queerest sort of
a look. something like the look of a
snakes eyes.
Took a Grip on His Mind.
''Al the while 1 felt his influence also
its grip on my mind SO l went. intending
to go into the store and out at the back
door to get the horse and rush off home
When l turned to close the door he stood
looking upon me from the window. but
by the time | shut the door he had dis
appeared, l went to the barn, got my
rig and started for home. when. as I
made the turn on to the Military. he
was at the corner to get in. He rode as
far South Park. and then he got out
When he took the Ratchet with him he
said nothing about the change, nor did
/ think anything about it at the time
Once at the depot at Adar he came
out Of the house In his shirt sleeves and
exercised himself by compelling me to
walk the rails. All the while | felt as
small Il bantam chicken.
When he arranged with for the
wedding he said he would go to Port
Huron and get the license and meet me
on the road between that place and the
church | thought he really meant to get
married when he engaged my services,
but when he met me on the road and he
was alone | began to feel uneasy but
he said it was all right. that the others
would come in carriage.
Then we went into the church. and I
wanted to light lamp. to which he dis
scented. saying: NO. there is to be no
light unless they come but presently he
said. We better have little fire. so 1
went out to get the wood for him
He said. You better go out through
the, window, the moon is shining on
% fho Nd s