Evening star., 1924-09-25

4. NJ. BALDWIN. JR.
here in connection with the poison
plot that cost the lives of his wife
Anna and the husband of his con-
fessed accomplice, Mrs. Elsie Sweeten,
today showed no outward strain of
his plight, while Mrs. Sweeten. in Jail
at Salem, Ill, worried more over the
future of her three children than her
Imprisonment.
Mrs. Sweeten and / are still sweet
hearts and will remain sweethearts
until death parts u.s." the minister
said
Pastor Is Jovinl.
Jail attendants said Rev Mr. Hight
was jovial and talked freely. He
mentioned his children and said for
their sake he repented more than
ever of having committed the crime
through which they lost their mother.
Mrs. Sweeten was visited yesterday
by Christopher c. Sweeten, her faith
erin law. and their conversation
mainly regarded the future of her
children. She has expressed desire
that they be cared for in a Masonic
orphanage.
Mrs. Sweetens apathy to food has
aroused concern. The only nourish-
ment she has taken since Tuesday
was glass of milk. late yesterday.
DR.. 5. A. Thompson said last night she
was on the verge of a nervous break
down.
The clergyman yesterday related
I hn n Sf q cr
ness of his wife, caused by meat.
she suffered an attack of ptomaine
poisoning he said. And for a while
was very i'll, but recovered soon" To
relieve her pain. he added, he gave
her poison, and then he conceived the
idea of carrying out his end of the
poison plot.
What was left of the poison" he
said. II gave to Mrs. Sweeten, but l
Woman Near Breakdown.
By the Associated Press
SALEM. Ill. September 25.-The
strain of questioning. coupled with
the worry over her children and
subsequent loss of appetite has
brought Mrs. Elsie Sweeten. who has
confessed that she poisoned her hus-
band in q plot with Rev. Lawrence M.
d.
Gus breakdown. Her condition has
become such that upon instruction of
her physician. DR.. S. o. Thompson.
nobody is permitted to see her unless
she requests il.
Il have offered to get her anything
to eat she desires" said Sheriff IL. h.
Vogt, but she always replies that she
cannot eat. She is also becoming
very reticent.'
The greater part of the time she
has been in Jail Mrs. Sweeten has
been on her iron cot, either sitting or
lying down. Since her arrival she has
men ntioned her confession. made at
Mount Vernon Monday, only once,
saying she would not have confessed
had it not been at the urgent request
of the clergyman, when the two were
in d cell for nearly three
hours
Last night Mrs. Sweeten received
note purporting TO be from her moth
er and brother assuring her of their
and promising to take care
of her three children. who are now
with their grandfather at Ina. She
was also advised in the note to en-
ploy counsel and not to worry over
the future.
Stricken with Remorse.
Remorse is fast overtaking Mrs.
Sweeten. according to the sheriff. He
added that in his opinion worry over
her children was pressing more on
her mind than the circumstances that
brought her to Jail
In a lengthy interview with a
newspaper man Mrs. S~eeten told how
her relations with the minister be-
gan and how they gradually grew
more intimate until she realized she
had fallen in love with the clergy
man, who lived only two blocks from
her home.
"One night in April" she said, "he
won my confidence. l thought he
was great religious man. After he
had won my confidence 1 yielded to
his suggestions in every way"
When asked whether she was
sorry that she had poisoned her hus-
band she answered.:
Yes, L am sorry. very sorry; 1
certainly am sorry.
No apparent emotion was visible
in the woman's features or attitude
at the mention of the minister's name,
either directly or indirectly.
Her answer to the direct question
whether she had poisoned her hus-
band was vague.
HE tthe Rev Mr.. High) said I did
it seems 1 did not l do
not know. l do not know why and
how ] could do it"
A glass of milk taken by Mrs
Sweeten yesterday was the first kind
of nourishment she has had since she
was brought to this Jail. 1t was
served by Sheriff Vogt, who asked her
whether she wanted more and she re-
piled in the negative. Milk, it is said,
L4 @r1x rfc1v
which Mrs. Sweeten has sustained
herself since the death of her hus-
band.
1t was related by Sheriff Vogt that
he had learned from a woman in Ina
who purchased milk from Mrs.
Sweeten that milk had been her only
food since the death of Sweeten, July