The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-12
Rev. John Carmichael, Slayer of Gideon Browning, Kills
 Himself At Carthage
LEAVES LETTERS ID HIS
 WIFE AND THE SHERIFF
Claims That He Was Subjected To Hypnotic Power of Ills Victim and Murdered Hm In SeIf-Defense.
 Crime in Detail.

Carthage, H.. January 1.-The Rev John IT. Carmichael, who last Tuesday night in the little Methodist church at Rattle Run. Mich., killed Gideon Brown ing. the village carpenter, and then burned the body in the stoves committed suicide here today by cutting his throat with pocket knife.
 He died at the county hospital after he had been taken from the boarding house of Miss Miranda Hughes, where as stranger he had been living since last Fri day.
 In a long letter found in his suitcase, Carmichael told in detail the story of the killing of Browning how he had fallen a victim of Brownings hypnotic power and meeting him in the church Tuesday night was compelled to obey every com mand; how finally when Browning at tackled him with knives, Carmichael de- tended himself with a hatchet.
 After killing his victim with the hatchet he said the red hot stove in the church suggested itself as the best method of disposing of the body. Before putting the body in the stove, however, he exchanged some of the dead mans clothing for his own, which had become bespattered with blood
 Death Is Horrible.
 Carmichaers death was almost as hor- rible as that of his victim. When he ar rived at the Hughes boarding house he gave the name of John Elder. and as he said he was a woodworker and had come
 ,foin ac attached to his presence. Once he went to A Catholic priest, and declaring he was a Catholic, asked the influence of the mem bers of the church in helping him in his business Going about the town and in and out of the boarding house he gave no indication of breeding over the murder, although all this time he must have thought about it, for the written confes- sion had been prepared and was concealed among his belongings in his room.
 Although so far as he knew he was still beyond the reach of detectives, the crisis came this morning about 7:30 o'clock, when he informed Miss Hughes that as no satisfactory site for his factory could he found here he intended to go to Bowen, Ill.
 ; q think I will find better site there" he said "I'll take the o'clock train. :" Saving this he went out into the back yard.
 AS he delayed coming back, and had not returned at train time to get his suitcase, Miss Hughes instituted search. pass ing teamster was hailed and he joined the searchers But Carmichael, by his own hand so far as he was able, had expatiat- ad his crime In an old wooden shed back of the house he had cut his throat. The cutting had been done with pocket knife which lay by his side. The dying man was carried into the house, but he never recovered consciousness and died at 1 p. m.
 Clothing Is Searched.
 His clothing and suitcase were searched and two letters were found, one ad dressed to his wife at Rattle Run which was sealed and remains unopens' The other letter was the confession mich was addressed to the sheriff at Pc Hu- ron. Mich. There was also found in his pocket memorandum directing that his shirt and money be sent to his wife. The money consisted or sihaii aiiounl of change.
 Carmichael arrived here over the Chi cago. Burlington and Quincy road. On inouiring for a boarding house he was directed to that managed by Miss Hughes. He appeared in happy frame Of mind and talked freely with everyone of 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 inter- est in his project. Even up to the mo- ment when he suddenly said he had to leave town there was no token or any mental perplexity he might have been suffering. The statement in his confess sion that he constantly dreaded being captured by the detectives, as he knew he inevitably must be, was not borne out at all in his conduct here, for in- stead of acting as one in fear, he ap- peared to be cheerful, retired early and reappeared in the morning as fresh as if he had enjoyed good nights rest
 Coroner Jury's Verdict.
 At an inquest tonight the coroner's jury returned the following verdict:
 we, the jurors, find that the supposed John H. Carmichael came to his death by his own hand and by exposure to cold.'
 Carmichaers suitcase arrived here Sat- urday morning from Burlington, having been re-checked from Donnellson, Ia. This indicated that Carmichael had gone through burlington 10 DOnneilSOn and thence returned to Burlington Friday, allowing his suitcase to follow him. It is thus perhaps that the minister left Chicago on Wednesday afternoon or night, arriving here on Wednesday evening or Thursday and going on to ponnellson It is thought that he was originally bound for Kansas City but changed his mind.
 Letter To Wife.
 Late tonight the sheriff decided to open a Carmichaels letter to his wife, and found that 1t was practically duplicate of the confession. He said "dear wife and mentioned his three children by name. Saturday morning Carmichael sent an express package to his brother at Wells burg, w. Va.
 Dr. Blender. who attended Carmichael, eaid death was caused by exposure to
 
 lCONTMUnD ON PA0n s.)