The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-16
Friends Are
at
Crime
Youth Who Shot Parents Was
Popular in School and
Regarded as Model
Young Man.
Love for Autos Blammed
Special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee.

SDftihf Disphtsh " Ahb obhAho Dtos
Shenandoah, Ia, Nov. 15.-Pressed
by anguish at the awfulness Of the
crime he committed against his par
ents. Claude Carmichael, 81, who has
confessed to shooting his father. Bert
Carmichael and who also wounded
his mother. occupies a cell TO think
of the things which turned him from
the straight path to the one which
led to hopelessness.
Life Imprisonment or worse, II his
father dies, stares him in the face.
Shooting with intent to commit MUIR
der, a crime punishable by an in
determinate sentence of a minimum
of 80 years in prison, is the alterna-
tive 1t may be one or the other. re-
gardless OF what is asked by the dot
ing mother or the father. II he re-
covers and forgiYes.
And the dazed friends are wonder
ing why the son got himself hope
lessly involved In a net OF alleged
forgeries. Scarcely more than a year
ago Claude was a popular member
of the large senior class OF 1921 OF
the high school, He was singled out
by the most conservative youths as
do the right thing.
Planned College Course.
The farmer youth for several years
had planned to enter Iowa State col
lege at Ames. but Cupid interviewed.
a school romance. in which Bernice
Lemon, star basketball forward. was
the leading lady. resulted IN mid
night wedding IN August at the Meth
odist parsonage. The sons wayward-
ness first began to worry his father
early in the year, when his father.
renter, bought an S0-acre farm for
the son and gave hi mmoney to buy
stock. Claude used the funds to
take an auto trip to Wyoming. Then
he started an oil wagon out OF Coin
and had dreams OF striking II rich
in oil. He passed an alleged forged
note for $1,000 and deposited 1t at
Blanchard. telling the banker 1t was
to finance three new oil stations. His
father learned of the note and gave
the boy until Monday to straighten
1t out. Another check for $500. given
a Coin banker, led TO warrant for
his arrest. and the return Of another
check for 1883 given In an automo-
bile transaction ughtened the web.
Fond Of Automobiles.
Love OF automobiles had its in
fluence upon tho youth. who was the
owner Of the most highly decorated
car in the county. with lights on
every fender. But he wanted larger
car. His father. spelling one deal.
the boy confessed he had been fool
and promised not to do 1t again. I'm
mediately he went to another dealer
and got possession OF an automobile.
In three days he drove II 667 miles.
outside his family the person who
has taken his downfall the hardest
is member OF the faculty who took
"A particular interest in the lad. She
broke down and wept
Mrs. Bernice Lemon Carmichael.
girl wife of Claude. visited her hus-
band In the county jail this morn
ing, the first time she had seen him
since he was arrested Mt the home
following the shooting. where protests
against his arrest were made by the
mother and the young wife.
Affectionate Greeaing.
The dramatic meeting lasted but
five minutes. Both seemed glad to
see each other. While her father.
T.. Z. Lemon, and her brother, Cecil
Lemon. who works for young Car
michael In an oil station at Coin.
looked on. the couple exchanged af-
fectionate greetings and then bust
ness matters regarding the oil sta
ton were discussed.
The father. who Is patient at
Hand hospital, is reported to have
spent a fairly restful night and his
condition Is no worse. His chances
for recovery, however. are still un-
certain and for that reason no
charges will be filed against the son
before Friday or Saturday.
The son has not asked for hear
Ing nor has he engaged an attorney.
Broken. haggard and thoroughly re.
pentant. he seems satisfied to take
his medicine. In case his father lives.
the charges will be assault with in
tent TO murder stated County Attor-
ney George Anderson.
Friends OF the young wife say she
did not know OF the alleged forgerles
which caused tho tragedy and that
she did not suspect her husband had
done the shooting until he was ar
rested at his fathers homo on his
rctttru thai night