The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-01-12

CARTHAGE. H., Jan. l2.-Rev.
John II. Carmichael, pastor OF the lit
tie Methodist church at Adair, Mich,
la which he slew Gideon Browning,
carpenter aLd roustabout, IS dect
mere from self-infiicted wounds Ho
cut his threat with a pocketknife in
the toilet room at the boarding place
OF Miss Miranda Hughes, and died
several hours afterwards without re-
gaining consciousness.
Carmichael left letter in which he
confessed the killing OF Browning.
The letter was addressed to the
sheriff OF st. Clair county, Mich. The
minister says he killed Browning be-
cause the carpenter exercised a hyp-
motto influence over him. Il am guilty
only because | am coward" tho
confession begins. II Is rambling In
some places and clear and concise In
others. Detectives who arrived here
after the suicide say some OF the
preachers statements do not agree
with the facts, and they believe that
the writer had drawn upon his mag
ination as he penned 1t. They believe
that Carmichael had been suffering
from a hallucination from the time
the murder was committed; that from
the time he killed Gid" Browning
he had been maniac.
After he killed Browning with a
Ratchet, the minister says, he dismem-
bered his body with knife. piece by
piece, and incinerated the human
parts In the stove. He does not ex-
plain satisfactorily how he and Brown
ing came TO go to the Rattle Run
church. or why both seemed bent on
keeping their presence there secret,
except TO say that Browning wanted
the preacher To offlciate at Browning's
wedding that night. The account does
not explain the fact that the preacher
/ evidently knew that Browning already
had one wife. IL not two.
Had Shaver Face.
Carmichael arrived In Carthage last
Friday evening. He alighted from a
Chicago train and sought a boarding
place on Q-st. He was six feet tall,
with reddish brown hair and shaver
face. He had no baggage and gave his
name 10 Miss Hughes as John Elder
He said he was a cabinet maker ald
thought OF opening a shop in Carthage.
Saturday morning he telegraphed TO
Burlington. Ia. for his valise and II
came that day.
He appeared in happy frame OF
mind and discussed freely with every
one his plans for coming here and
starting factory. Going carefully
about the town he inspected all the
business places. His keen interest In
Carthage aroused interest In his pro-
ject. The statement In his confession
that he constantly dreaded being cap
tured by the detectives as he knew he
inevitably must be was not borne out
at all in his conduct here. Instead OF
acting as one I'm fear, he appeared
cheerful, retired early and reappearcd
in the morning as fresh as II he had
enjoyed a good nights rest.
Carmichaels suit case arrived hero
Saturday morning from Burlington.
having been rechecked from Donneli-
son. Iowa. This indicates that Car
michael had gone through Burlington
to Donnellson and thence returned to
Burlington Friday, allowing his suit
case TO follow him. Ii is thus prob
able that them mister left Chicago on
Wednesday afternoon or that night.
arriving here on Wednesday evening
or Thursday aud going on to Donnell-
son II is thought that he was origi.
nally bound for Kansas City, but
changed his mind
He went downtown Saturday fore
noon and also In the afternoon. and
told in the evening OF having visited a
poultry show. He talked and ale lit
tie
Refused to Eat.
Saturday morning he asked Miss
Hughes for some wrapping paper say
ing he wanted TO send a package away
by express She did not have the pa
per. and sent him downton for II.
Sunday he slept most Of the tim =
and refused to eat, saying his fast
was not over. He led Miss Hughes 10
think that he was Catholic. lie
went out on Sunday for u short walk,
but did not say where he had been.
Monday morning Miss Hughes placed
an elaborate breakfast before him.
thinking that he would be hungry, nut
he ate little. lie acted rather strangc-
" all thew lille. but she thought little
about IL AT the time.
After Mondays breakfast he pack sal
all his belongings In his yalice and.
leaving his room in perfect order. paid
his bill ald asked Miss Hughes when
train would leave for Bowen / :
miles south OF Carthage. Al : A.
O'Clock he went out TO the outhousc
and nothing more was seen or hea. q
or him until about O'Clock
Then Miss Hughes went out TO feed
her chickens She heard q moaning III
the clubhouse Looking in the door she
saw the man on the floor with MS
thtuat cul. She ran to call her neef
est neighbor. j. w shepherd As h.
Was not AZ home she called the mail
carrier. Andy i.owery. who was pass
ing. and be called Lee Price. The two
men carried the wounded man int
The house and called Mrs Callihan.
Frszier and Blehder.
/ The doctors found that the man had
cut small slit In his throat, but the
knife had not touched the jugular