The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-07
IDENTITY OF BODY
IN CHURCH MURDER
IS IN DOUBT
MAY BE THAT OF MAN suspEcr.
ED OF KILLING INSTEAD or
MINISTER'S = BROWNING AND
CARMICHAEL MUCH TooETHER,I

PORT HURON, MIchy Jan. r.
The coroner 10 holding an inquese
into the death Of the man at the
Methodist church, near Richmond.
The sheriff declines 60 say N II
was Rev. Mr.. Carmichael or 0id-
con Browning, who was killed.
PORT HURON, Mich, Jan. 7.--Mss.
Carmichael. wife OF Rev. John H. Car
michael. whose dismemDered body was
found in stove In the little Methodist
church at Rattle Run, has been detainr
ed by Deputy Sheriff Charles L4pke.
The deputy sheriff said that Mrs Car
michael was wanted In Port Huron t.
talk over the murder with the OK
hcers.
The villagers Of Adair have thecry
that during the battle In the church
the minister slew Gideon Browning
the carpenter, who Is sought by the
police to throw light on the mystery.
Two soap boxes containing the r..
mains of the victims are in the cedar
of the county Jail In Port Huron. Tho
clothing is that Of Rev. Mr.. Car
michael, or a man of his size. He
weighed 70 pounds more than BROWN
ing.
Rev. Mr.. Carmichael and Browniuuk
were bound together by some mysto-
rious tie. For two months past thoE
preacher had picked up the village
carpenter, sailor and Jack-of-alirtradeo
and carted him about with him ON nh
lonely country drives. Browning 70
ceived letter with 81 on Monday lant
with instructions to come to Port Hur
ron. Browning told his sister Of thio
fact. She lives In Adair.
Later the two men had a very ser
ious interview. Browning would NOT
tell his sister what 1t was about. Tues.
day morning, Rev. Mr.. Carmichael had
another interview with Browning
on the depot platform, where Brown
ing was waiting for a train for Port
Huron. Mrs. Barnard. OF Adair, who
lives opposite the depot, saw them
talking. Browning left for Port Hw!
ron, II Is supposed, and tho mtuiooof'
followed his circuitous route To the
| church.
Detectives Baker and Fenton. Of the
Detroit force, have arrived In this "
cinity to assist In solving the mystery.
Farmer Discovers Crime. n
The murder was discovered ~ Ny@
ron Brown, q farmer, who takes care
Of the church and who lives short
distance away. Brown stepped into
the doorway OF the building to get
shelter from the wind. He noticed =
window broken and the door unlatch-
ed.
A neighbor who was passing was
summoned and the two men entered
the church. On the door was q pair
OF trousers, blood-stained. and nearby
was a long butcher knife and q dag-
ger. Both we're covered with blood
PAL italy dried. In one corner were
several pieces Of clothing and there
were signs VI a fierce struggle having
taken place.
Pieces of The body were found IN
the old-tashiS ned wood sieve. The IN
terror Of the stove was covered with
blood. Erovp reported his gruesomo
discovery ord the news sIrtd ,Hpsdr
l~ Crowds Of people from every sec-
Ition crowded the little church and yard
until nearly the entire community for
miles around had gathered N ise spot.
she,i Wcsenseil. Of Pot huron, was
notified and hurried to the scene with
deputies.
Rev. Mr.. Carmichael was pastor Of the
churches at Adair, China and Rattle
Run. He left his home, In Adatr.
Tuesday morning to visit his parish
toner's In the vicinity. He had planned
to begin a series OF revival meetings
"Wednesday night.
None has been found who saw him
Tuesday and 1t is not known where
ne spent the afternoon. 1t IL believed
that he had an appointment at his
church with some person and went
there late In the afternoon.
There are many conflicting rumorD
today regarding the tragedy. Robbery
could not have been the motive. Over
81 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. C.. o. Conat. q
mail carrier. and a 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 and told his In
formants that they need not accuni-
pany him farther. He added that he
had an important appointment with
"a man at the church.
Leaves q Family.
Rev Mr.. Carmichael Is survived by a
. widow, Mrs. Ida Carmichael; two
daughters, Kirtha, 10 years old. who
lives with her parents at Adair; Coils.
81 years old. who is employed as
stenographer by the J. B. Ford Chemi-
cal Co, of Wyandotte, and Joseph Car.
michael, 10 years old. who Is employed
by Z. T. Bird, an undertaken, OF De-
ltroit.
Rev. John Haviland 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 a charge ia
Benkelman. Neb. In 1897 he was trans
ferred 10 the Detroit conference and
assigned to parish work In ubly. Hu.
ron county, where he served two years.
! From Ubly he went 10 Metamora. La
peer county. and two years later left