Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-01-12
CONFESSION OF CARMICHAEL,
WHO MURDERED BROWNING
Pastor of Michigan Methodist Church
Tells Strange Story of Being Under
Hypnotic Power of His Victim.

Hypnotic Power of His Victim.
Carthage, ILL.,, Jan. 1.-THE confess
sion of Rev. ]. H. Carmichael, given
out this afternoon, follows:
Carthage, ILL.,, Jan. 9, 1908.
ITO Mr.. Waggonsteil, Port Huron,
Il Mich:
'Honored Sir: 1 write this letteE
to explain some things in connection
with the Columbus church tragedy. I
am guilty only because l am a cow
ard. The man had such a hypnotic
influence over me that 1 felt that
something must be done. l felt great
ly ashamed that man said to be
short minded should be able to COM
pei me to yield to his will. but I
said nothing about it.
Felt Bound to Obey Browning.
"At first he said: It's all right, ell
der, don't be afraid. Then he began
to talk about how we two could get
rich. Three times he came to the
rear of my barn and talked to me
through the manure hole twice he
was at the river when l went to wa
ter. my stock and each time 1 felt
that he was doing something that he
was proud of. Once when 1 was go
ing to Columbus he was on the pike
near the pink schoolhouse. When
overlook him he asked me to ride.
could not refuse. He asked me if ev-
er | had driven up the pike to Port
Huron, o which l answered no.
Then he said: Come. let's drive
up
Eyes Had Snake like Look.
1 dissented, but he kept on until
he persuaded me to go. He got out
and stood at the corner while / went
to the barn with the rig. Then, aft
er we had been at the restaurant, for
which he paid. also for the horses, he
gave me a half dollar and said he
wanted me to go across there and
buy a small hatchet for his boy to
play with. 1 began to tell him to go
and do his own buying. when he set |
his eyes upon me in the queerest sort !
OF a look, something like the look of |
a snakes eyes.
Influence Kept Tightening Its Grip. |
Then 1 felt his influence Tightening
his grip on my mind. so I went, in |
tending to go into the store and out |
the back way to get the horse and |
rush off for home. When l turned to |
close the door he stood looking upon
me through the window, and 1 Just
bought the hatchet and came out
again, but by that time he had dis
appeared. so 1 went to the barn, got
my rig and started for home. When
made the turn upon Military street
he was at the corner to get in. He
rode as far as South Park, where he
got out to take the car. He took the
natchet with him and said nothing
nor did 1 think anything at the time
about the change.
Il Felt as Small as Bantam Chicken"
Once at the depot at Adair he
came out of the house in his shirt
sleeves and exercised me by compell-
fn IL
while L felt as small as bantam
chicken. When he arranged with me
iDout MS wedding he said he would
30 to Port Huron and meet me on the
Dad between that place and the
,hurch. l thought he fully meant TO
;et married when he engaged nv SER
lces, but when we met on the road
ND he was alone 1 began TO feel un-
asy, but he said 1t was ali right. the
thers would come in a carriage. When
We went into the church 1 wanted to
light lamp. to which he dissented.
aylng, No elder, no light unless
hey should come Presently he said, !
Maybe you'd better have little fire. |
Q l went out and passed wood to
I'm through the window. When
ad put in what I thought would he
nough. he said, Now, elder, the moon
shining right on the front door.
nd If you go around there to come in
ONE one may see you. Just put up ;
ONE wood here and come in at this |
yindow.'
'hrilled With Queerest Sort of FeeIinq. {
I brought a few sticks and laid
1em across each other from the TOP
which he helped me into the build
lg. He let the window down again. g
nd we kept looking out through the
pening to see the others come down {
10 state road DTaeao4T1r I, | I
earty laugh, and said: There amt no I
Sc looking for there amt going to be
o wedding. c
He was sitting where the CLEANS of t
ght shown on his face, and his ewes /
ere so brilliant that I was thrilled h
trough and through with the queer 4
st sort Of feeling. I asked why then a
2 had made the present arrangements. 0
hen he said: Well, elder, I Just want@ T
to nave little fun. You consider Y
1urself an educated man, and look f
)Wn upon poor ignorant fellow like L
e, and l just thought 1 would show
I'M what | could do. l knowed if
'uld handle you l could handle other
en- too and make big thing out of Z
Then he said: Now, if I say raise a
'ur hand, IN she goes, see-that's no a
cam a
The Death Struggle. Z
Il felt my hand raise without no ef- .
TT on my part. Then he said: IF I .
y let down your hand, down it goes :,
I'd | felt it going down in a singular ~
amer. By this time was so alarm -
that l was in a cold sweat. 1 then @,
aned over to see if anyone might be ="
| the road, when he began to laugh
ain, and l saw that he was holding a
eapon of some sort up his sleeve. &
stantly ! made a grab for 1t and got al
e hatchet from him, and asked him b
hat he meant to do with that He m
Id. TT show you,' and from his over %,
at pockets drew out a knife in each Il
nd. He came at me, striking with el
tn hands, while I backed across the e,
urch, down the side aisle and across z,
e 'front.' put old not dare to turn al
out to open the front door. Then