Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-15
CHASTITY MURDER
T0LO BY MINISTER
REV. JOHN CARa1CHAEL, WHO
KILLED VILLAGE CARPENTER
IN CHURCH. LEAVES HARROW
ING LETTER THAT TELLS PLOT


michael. self-confessed slayer of Gideon
Browning at Rattle hun, Mich. have
fully satisfied themselves as TO the cir
cuFnstances attending the last act In the
tragedy, IL is expected that inquiry will
turn to a possible motive for the initial
crime.
Insanity Not Believed.
1t is a curious fact that dispatches from
l.Adfchiaan reveal an unwihngness on the
| part Of officials and others to accept the
theory OF Cxrmichael's insanity as
evolved fnom his strange confession. One
OF the first to voice this skepticism was
Prosecutor Brown. of Adair. Mich, who
rejected the idea that browning had used
hypnotic influence.
Il shall always believe" said Mr..
Brown. that there was a deep motive
behind the crime" =.
Similarly Under-sheriff Petit, of Port
Huron asserts hts belief that Carmi-
cliaelE last letter was not Intended for a
death-hed confession. but was written
with the idea thar he would be brought
back to stand trial y fs
The letter is as follows:
a-szsz- CARTHAGE, H.. Jan. B. 1909
ITO Mr. Waggonsteill. Port Huron, Mich.
'.Honored' Sir-I write this letter 20 ex-
plain things In connection with the Co
lumbus church tragedy. I am guilty only
because / am coward. The man had
such a hypnotic influence over me that
felt that something must be done. 1
felt greatly ashamed that a man said to
be short-minded. should be able to compel
me TO yield to his viii, but ! said nothing
about Il. Al first he said; It's all right,
elder. 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 man
ure hole; twice he was at the river when
went TO water my stock. and each time
I felt that he was doing something that
he was proud of. Once when / was go
ing out 20 Columbus be vas ON the. pike
near. the Pink school house. and when I
overlook him he. aslosdssf >sveDnI had
driven up the pike 20 Port Huron, to
which, ansWere No. 7114 ~
Then he said Come. let's drive up.
to which Isdissented, but he kept on until
he persuaded me 10 gog He got out and
stood at the corner. while I went to the
barn with the rig; then after we had
been at the restaurant. for which he paid,
also for the hOrse,- he gave me a half
dollar and said. he wanted me TO go
across there and buy a small Ratchet for
his boy TO play with. began TO tell him
to 20 and do his own, buying, when he
set bis eyes upon me In the queerest sort
OF look. something like the iook4of a
snakes seyes. ~ - 15aa Oils bs 4aig
''Then felt his influence tightening his
grip on nay mind, SO 4 went. intending to
so into the store and out the back way to
get the horse and rush off for home.
When turned to close the door he stood
looking upon me through the window and
just bought the Ratchet and came out
again, but By that time he had disappear
ed. so went to the barn, got my rig
and started for home.
when made the turn onto Military
street he was at the corner TO get IN
He took the Ratchet with him and said
nothing nor did I think apxthing. at the
time and about the change Once at the
4 depot at Adair he came out of the house
In his shirt sleeves and exercised me by
compelling me to walk the rails. All the
while I felt as small as a bantem
chicken. When he arranged with me
about the wedding he said he would go
| 20 Port Huron and meet me on the road
between that place and the church. /
thought he really meant to get married.
when he engaged my services. but I met
him on the road and he was alone, ! be-
ing little uneasy, but he said that>t was
all right, that the others would come In
carriage.
''When we went into the church I want
i
ed, saying: No, elder. no light unless
they should come But presently he
said: Maybe you had better have a lit
| tie fire, So went out and passed wood
10 him through the window, When had
nut In what I thought would be enough,
he said: Now. elder, the moon Is shining
right on the front door. and IL you go
] around there 20 come. lna some one may
see you. Just put UP some wood here
Il a. -.
.ssI brought. "a few sticks laid 5athern
across each other. from the top Of
which he, helped me into the building
HE let the window nearly down again
and we kept looking out through the
i opening 20 see the others COME down the
state road. Presently be took a big hear
| ty laugh and said: There amt no uses
| looking, for there ain't going TO be no
i wedding He was sitting where the
| CLEANS of light shown on his face and
/ his eyes We're. so brilliant that I was
\ thrilled through and through with. the
aueerest sort Of feeling 1, asked, him
why, then, he had made, the present ar
raneement, when he said. Well elder ]
Just wanted to have a little fun You
consider yourself an educated man and
Hook down on poor ignorant fellow like
me- .er r-,r
a.And Just thought I would show you
what I could do. 1 knowed II could
handle you ] could handle other men.
j too, and make big thing out Of It.
1 Then he said: Now. II ] say, "Raise your
hand..''s up she goes. See, that's no
| dream and felt my hand raise with
out any effort whatever on my part
Then he said: Now. when / say, LET
down your hand, |" down It goes. and i
felt It going down In a singular manner.
by this time was so alarmed that
L was in cold sweat. I leaned over
to see II any one might be on the road,
when he began tohlaugh again. and ] saw
that he was holding a weapon of some
Sort up his sleeve. Instantly I made a
grab for II and got the, Ratchet from
l him and asked what he meant to do with
that He Bald; I'm show you. and from
i his overcoat pocket drew sout knife in
each hand. He came at me. striking with
both hands. while / backed across the
church, down the side aisle and across
the front but I did moi dare TO turn
about to open the front door
Then I threw the Ratchet and strucl,
lhim. and he fell. then turned TO opesn
the door. when he grabbed me by the
leg and threw me down where my hands
came on the Ratchet There was des.
perate struggle, In which used the
Ratchet until he laid quiet and SIM. 1
cannot tell that happened after that,
was wild TO dispose of the body. ls.
II was in a horrible terror so I began