Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-10-01
WOMAN CONFESSES
IN POISON CASE
Mrs. Sweetin Admits Killing
Spouse for Love of
Rev. Hight.

Mount Vernon, nl.-Three develop
ments marked the inquiry into the
lives and loves of Lawrence NJ. Hight.
the jockey who became pastor, and
Mrs. Elsie Sweetin, his parishioner,
whose mutual infatuation caused the
poisoning and death of the mans wife
and the womans husband.
Mrs. Sweetin confessed she gave
poison to her husband She said the
minister urged her to do it and fur
nlshed the death potion. She admit
ted three attempts were necessary to
kill her spouse.
Both Mrs. Sweetin and Hight were
removed from the jefferson county
JAN here to nearby county seats be-
cause OF threats of violence against
them.
The two probably will be tried in
the October term of court. They prob
ably will be tried separately on MUIR
der charges, he for killing his wife,
she for killing her husband.
Mrs. Sweetin's Confession.
Mrs. Sweetin's confession reveals
what the law terms, the prosecutor
says, IAN abandoned and malignant
heart." The confession, signed in the
presence of three witnesses, including
Dr. ). A. Thompson, who has in the
past been in attendance or her, says:
Inc first time / noticed Lawrence
M. Hight had any affection for me was
in April, 1924. My husband for some
time had treated me without affection
and Rev. Mr.. Hight continued his
advances until 1 finally discovered 1
returned his affection.
About three months ago Rev. Mr..
Hight suggested that he give me some
poison to give my husband He said
he would like to do the same with
his wife.
AT first I was Mortified. but he
talked so plausibly and 1 had such
confidence in him that it seemed to
me to be right to do it.
Plotted Double Killing.
I'VE then finally agreed that 1 was
to administer poison to my husband,
MILFORD, and he was to give it to his
wife, Anna,
When my husband was hurt in the
mine near Benton Doctor Hight gave
me paper package which he said
contained poison, and he told me TO
put 1T in anything to eat or drink and
give it to MILFORD. One day we went
to Benton. On the way home 1 gave
hI1c
chocolate candy in which l had mixeo
some of the poison. which Hight had
given me.
He grew very ill, but on the Tues
day following seemed to grow better,
and I CAV, him some more poison in
oatmeal-Doctor Hight having given
me some more poison in the meantime.
Gave Him Third Dose.
with medical attention MILFORD
seemed TO grow better again. and
after DR.. S. A. Thompson had waited
on him on Friday I administered to
MILFORD Sweetin the final dose of poi
son, and he grew much worse and died
on July %, 1924. 1 gave him the final
dose of poison in some tomato sou0.
every time Lawrence Hight came
to our house during Wilford's illness
he gave note of encouragement to
give MILFORD more poison
81 did not know and he did not tell
me when he poisoned his wife, but
when she became i'll and died 1 had
supposed he had poisoned her.
Until l became infatuated with
Reverend Hight had led blameless
life and had always been a true wife
and mother, and this is the truth, so
help me Cod"
Contrasted with flights first confess
sion that he killed both Sweetin and
Mrs Hight, the confessions that he
repudiated, this is damnlng docu-
ment, Prosecutor Thompson says.