Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-13
USED VICTIMS KNIFE
Carmichael Also Had Brown
ing's Watch in Pocket. :
LETTERS TELL OF CRIME
Wife and Brother Receive Mes
sages Written Before Death.
MONEY HE TELLS OF MISSING
Deputy Sheriff Moore Declares
Clergyman's Motive Was
Mercenary.

BURLINGTON, Iowa. January IL
When the body OF Rev. John Haviland
Carmichael of Adair, Mich, confessed
slayer OF Gideon Browning, whom he
killed and cremated in Battle Run Metho-
dist Church. near Adair, Mich, passed
through Burlington last night on the way
to Port Huron, Mich. from Carthage,
ILL.,. where the preacher committed suicide
Monday, Deputy Sheriff Moore Of Port
Huron gave 1t as his opinion that Car
michael was entirely prompted to the
murder Of Browning by mercenary
motives.
he asserts. was to give the impression that
he himself was the victim, so his wife
might receive the insurance money. Car
michael then planned, the deputy said in
some way to get the money from his wife.
Sheriff Waggenseil and Deputy Sheriff
Moore Of Port Huron, Lieut.. Eli Baker of
the Detroit police department and two
yesterday and identified and took in
charge the body of Carmichael.
Detectives who made careful examina-
ton of the body discovered, it is said, on
one of the legs number Of hypodermic
syringe wounds They later found the
syringe with which they were made This
suggested to some that Carmichael was q
victim of drugs
In the dead mans pocket was discover
ed the watch of Browning. It was also
ascertained that the pocketknife with
which Carmichael committed suicide was
the property of Browning. This knife
was easily identified because 1t was one
of the scenic-handled variety, containing
pictures under transparent celluloid sides.
Carmichael's Course Traced.
Inquiry has developed that Carmichael
in his flight from Port Huron, Mich, rode
in Burlington train from Chicago to
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, arriving there
Thursday morning. He spent Thursday
| there, intending to go to Donnelson, Iowa
He had checked his baggage to that
point, but missed a train. He had the
station agent telegraph to Donnelson to
forward his baggage to Burlington.
whittier he came Thursday night and
where he stayed at a hotel until morning
shop Friday morning and had his beard
| removed, completely changing his appear
ance. He left for Carthage, ILL.,, Friday
afternoon on fright train. His suit
case. which had been expressed to Dom
| nelson, Iowa, was rechecked to Carthage
| through Burlington, arriving at Carthage
Saturday morning.
1t was from this suit case that he re-
| moved the articles which compose the
package expressed that morning to HE
brother, NJ. c. Carmichael, at Wellsburg]
w. Va.
Coward He Writes to Wife.
| The letter of Carmichael to his wife
| has been made public by County Judge
| Z. c. James. This letter reveals yet an
| other mystery In the case, and Sheriff
Bertschi has begun hunt for $1S5 which
the slayer declared he had on his per-
son, but which cannot be found.
The letter follows:
Dear Wife: I am SO tired Of being
| chased that [ have written to the sheriff
telling him all of the particulars of that
| awful tragedy. I cannot tell why it all
came about as 1t did.
my money 1 had kept concealed on my
| person while Joe was at home ano ]
| happened to have 1t with me on that aw-
| full night, so l have had plenty to use
shall be soon In the hands of the state
officials, or In those of Judge Of all.
| Il wish l had told you or some other
| friend OF the influence that man was
| gaining over me. but I feared that you
| would only laugh at the mention of it
| If had not been crazed in fear l would
have let Browning know Of the deed that
| night before it went SO far. But 1 was in
a state OF terror.
Hoped to Help Her Later.
II know now that ] should have been
brave and faced the matter squarely as
| soon as he was dead. I always was a
coward, and it has robbed me of my
| judgment. I thought l could get away
and hide and be helpful to you in some
| way when the excitement would be al
! over with.
| Goodbye to you and to each Of the
| children, Celia, Joe and kirtha- Your
loving husband,
| -. II. CARMICHAEL.
"P. S.-This is my share of the Axtel
| property. l shall never need it. l in.
close herewith the sum of $1S5."
Letter to His Brother.
WELLSBURG, w. Va, January 49,
Rev. John Haviland Carmichael, who
ended his life in Carthage, ILL.,, while the
agencies of the law were searching the
country for him in connection with the
tragedy in the little church at Rattle
Run. Mich, shortly before committing
suicide wrote his brother NJ c. Car
| michael of this place, confeSSing to tht
| Michigan homicide.
The letter came yesterday soon after
the receipt of an express package con
tanning some manuscripts prepared by thu
minister and few trinkets.
The letter follows:
Carthage, Ill. January 8. 1909.
an. c. Carmichael, Wellsburg, w. Va.
Dear Brother: No doubt you have
heard Of the horrible tragedy of which
have been guilty.
II can't tell you how I am suffering
now on account of it. I know that die
the deed, but hardly know how or why
only that Browning had such a hypnoti,
power over me that 1t gave me the hor
rorS.
). az have now shipped you little pack
age containing some things which ma!
be of Importance to my family. Blu
should you send them home they woult
be seized and held by the authorize!
| until all legal process had been ex
hausted.
"If any Of these can be published S,
!, that the family may get the good of them
ii might help a little in their living. TIL,
stamps and rare coins are valued becaus,
of special occasion Columbian exhibit
and ancient date.
please confer with the family after
things quiet down bit about publica
ton or disposition of them.
IT shall soon deliver myself to the stat.
authorities or to the Judge eternal.
can't stand this being hunted down.
II am now in a quiet place, where the,
may not find me in long time. But my
conscience Is here and hell itself can bt
but little more fiery.
II am sorry that have so shocked YOU
ALL but being sorry does not max,
amends. Goodbye and just pity me be
cause / am your brother. j. II. CO.
Two Brothers in Wellsburg.