Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14
JURY RETURNS VERDICT AFTER
INVESTIGATION OF SUICIDE OF
REV. JOHN CARMICHAEL AT
CARTHAGE.
HIS CONFESSION
is MADE PUBLIC
MURDER RELATES GREWSoME
INCIDENTS OF CHURCH CRIME
AND CLAIMS BROWNING HAD
HIM HYPNoTIzED.

Adair, Mich, Jan. 12-Sitting
in the same little country church
in which Gideon Browning was
murdered week ago tonight, a
coroner's jury today brought in a
formal verdict finding the murder
was committed by Rev. John H.
Carmichael and that he burned
the body in the church stove. Lit
tie that was new developed in the
testimony of the witnesses at the
inquest.
Barr held an inquest over fine body of
Rev. John Carmichael at Carthage, H.,
late last evening and heard the testi-
mony Of those who had anything to do
with the case Nothing new$alas de.
veloped. The jury has returned a
verdict that the supposed Carmichael
came to his death by his own hands
and by exposure to the cold''
Weird Scene Before Death Blow.
The scene IN the little country
church, wit the two men sitting and
glazing at each other in the last mo-
ments before he death .ow-outside
the quiet of the white night, inside, the
raging OF minds, never strong, and at
length torn from their moorings-is set
forth in the following letter of con
fession by Carmichael:
ITO Mr.. Waggensell, Port Huron,
Mich, dated Carthage ILL.,. Jan. 9, 1908.
l-Honored Sir: | write this letter 20
explain something in connection with
a Columbus creek tragedy. am guilty
| only because l am a coward. The man
had such a hypnotic influence over
me that felt that something must be
done l felt greatly ashamed that a
man said to be short minded should be
able to compel me to yield to his will,
so said nothing about it.
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 mo.
| Twice he was at the river when l went
to water my stock, and each time
felt that he was doing something ne
was proud Of
Once when | was going out to Co.
lumbus he was on the pike, near the
pink school house, when l overlook
! him. He asked to ride, which l could
not refuse. He asked me if ever had
driven the pike to Port Huron, 20
which l answered no. Then he said :
Como on, let's drive up to Pot
Huron which I resented, but he kept
on until he persuaded me to go.
"Look That of Snakes Eye"
"He got out and stood at the cor
ner while I went to the barn with the
rig. Then after we had been at the
restaurant, for which ne paid, also for
the horse feed he gave me half dol
lar and said he wanted me to go across
there and buy small Ratchet for his
boy to play with. l began to tell him
to go and do his own buying when he
set his eyes upon me with the queerest
sort OF a look, something like Look
OF a snakes eye.
All the while I felt lis influence
! tighten its grip On my mind, so went
intending to so into the store and on,
the back way to get the horse and
rush off for home. When l turned e
close the door he stood looking upon
me through the window and | just
bought the Ratchet and came out
agail4. but by that time he had disaD
peared, SO I went to the barn, got my
rig. and started for home, when as
made the turn into 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, and he tool
the Ratchet with him and said nothing
nor did l think anything at the time
about the change.
/ Felt ae Small as Bantam.
when a. the depot at Adair ht
came out of the house in his shir
sleeves and exercised ne by compell
ing me to walk the rails. All tn,
while I felt as small as bantam
chicken. When he arranged with N,
about the wedding, he said he woul,
go to Port Huron and get the licens
and meet me on the road between tina
place and the church
Il thought that he really meant ::
get married when he engaged my sery
ices, but when we met in the road an
he was alone | began to feel uneasy
but he said it was all right, the other
would come in a carriage. When h
went into the church ] wanted to lign
, lamp to which he dissented, saying
T No, elder, no light unless they Shout
come But, presently, he said mays
, we better have little fire So wen
out and passed wood to him throug
a the window.
, "When I had put in what I though
would be enough. he said: Now, eide
: the moon is shining right on the frol
door, and if you go around there
. come in some one may see you Ju!
j pile up some wood here and come j
at this window | brought few stitch