Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1909 — PASTOR SOUGHT AS SLAYER DEAD [ARTICLE]

PASTOR SOUGHT AS SLAYER DEAD

Rev. Carmichael Cuts His Throat at Carthage. WRITES HIS CONFESSION Declares That Gideon Browning Held Bome Strange Power Over Him and Describes Battle He Says Occurred In Church—ln Statement the Mlnl*ter Declares He Visited Chicago and Provided Himself With New Clothing—Document He Left Indicates an Abnormal Mind. Carthage, 111., Jan. 12.—The Rev. John H. Carmichael, who in the little Methodist church at Rattle Run, Mich., killed Gideon Browning, the village carpenter, and then burned the body in the stove, committed suicide here by cutting his throat with a pocket knife. At Miss Miranda Hughes’ boarding establishment, Carmichael gave his name a a John Elder. He said has was a cabinet-maker, and thought of locating in Carthage. He told of having visited the fine poultry show that was in session on Saturday.

Had No Appetite. He talked very little and did not have any appetite. Sunday lie slept most of the time and refused to eat, saying that his fast was not over and led Miss Hughes to think that he was a Catholic. Monday morning Miss Hughes placed an elaborate breakfast before him, thinking that he would be very hungry as he had fasted the day before, but he ate very little. After breakfast he packed all his belongings, came down and paid his bilL Two hours later he was found helpless from loss of blood and almost frozen. He had gone into a building near a chicken house and made an incised wound in his throat While here he went to a Catholic priest and, declaring that he was a Catholic, asked the influence of the members of the church in helping him in business. The minister’s strange confession follows: “To Mr. Waggonsteih, Port Huron, Mich.:

“Honored Sir—l write this letter to explain some things in connection with the Columbus church tragedy. I am guilty only because I am a coward. The man had such a hypnotic influence over me that I felt that something must be done. I felt greatly ashamed that a man said to be shortminded should be able to compel me to yield to his will. “He gave me a half dollar and said he wanted me to buy a small hatchet for his boy to play with. I 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 snake’s eyes. Then I felt his influence tightening his grip on my mind, so I went, intending to go into the store and out the back way to get the horse and rush off for home. When I turned to close the door he stood looking upon me through the window, and I just bought the hatchet and came out again, but by that time he had disappeared, so 1 went to the barn, got my rig and started for home. When as I made the turn onto Military street he was at the corner to gpt in. He took the hatchet with him. Made Him Walk Rails.

“Once at the depot at Adair he came out of the house in kis shirt sleeves and exorcised me by compelling me to walk the rails. All the while I felt as small as a bantam chicken. “When he arranged with me about the wedding he said he would go to Port Huron and meet me on the road between that place and the church. 1 thought he really meant to get married when he engaged my services, but when we met on the road and he was alone, I began to feel uneasy, but he said it was all right, the others would come in a carriage. “When we went into the church I wanted to light a lamp, to which he dissented, saying: ‘No, elder, no light unless they shiuld come; but presently he said. ‘Maybe you'd better have a little fire.’

he took, a big hearty laugh and said ‘There ain’t no use looking, for there ain’t going to be no wedding.’ He was sitting where the gleams of light shown on his fape and his eyes Were so brilliant that I was thrilled through and through with the queerest sort of feeling. I asked him why he had made the present arrangements. He said, ‘Well, elder, I juat wanted to have a little fun. You consider yourself an educated man and look down on a poor Ignorant fellow like me. And I just thought I would show what I could do.’ ♦ “Then he said, 'Now if I say raise up your handt up she goes. See, that's no dream/ and I felt my hand raise without'any effort whatever on my part. ' "By this time I was so alarmed that I was in a cold sweat. 1 then leaned over to see if any one might be op the ,road when he began tolaugh again and 1 saw that he was holding a weapon es some sort up his sleeve. “Instantly I made a grab for it and got the hatchet from him and asked what he meant to do with that. He said, Til show you,’ and from his overcoat poeket drew out a knife In each hand. He eame at me, striking with both hands while I backed across the church down the side aisle and across the front. J ' "Then I threw the hetohft ggf •u *

•truck him and he fell. I then turned to open the door when he grabbed me by the leg and threw me down where my hands came upon the hatchet There was a desperate struggle in which I used the hatchet until he was quiet and still. “I cannot tell all that happened after that. I was wild to dispose of the body. Took Dead Man's Clothes. “I was in a horrible terror, so I began pulling off his garments that I might drag the body away somewhere and hide it. Then when my eyeß fell upon one of those knives I flew into a rage and began to cut. He woke up and grabbed me again. Then for a while I Used that hatchet until I was sure he was dead. "Then I saw that the fire was hot enough to make the stove pipe red nearly to the elbow, so I grabbed him by the feet and dragged him down there and cut him to pieces, putting in each part as it was dismembered. Then I began to put the garments into the front stove when I remembered that it had a poor draught and the things might not burn. "Then I saw that my clothing was torn and bloody, while some of his were yet whole and I exchanged and then took all but a few of mine and piled them in along with the body. I then went up nearly to Tunnel station, where I turned my rig about and started It on the back track. My big coat hid my torn and bloody garments until I got to Chicago, where I purchased others. ‘‘l am tired of trying to hide, though I have succeeded In eluding the detectives so far. If you get this while I am yet alive come and gst me. I shall not be far from Carthage, Ill.”