Evening star., 1924-09-25
DONE WITH HIGHT,
WOMAN DECLARES
I Mrs. SWeeten Asserts She
Never Wants to See Pas
tor Again.

Col never want to see that man
again" Mrs. Elsie Sweeten told her
father-in-l law. &, G. Sweeten, last
night in the Jail at Salem in re-
ferring to Rev. Lawrence NJ. Hight,
at whose suggestion she confessed
she poisoned her husband.
He made me do il, he made me
do it," she said over and over again
TO Mr.. Sweeten, who, despite his ad-
Nanced age. had ridden long miles
through the chilly night because,
"'after all, Elsie is the boys mother"
He wanted to talk with her about
the future of her three sons.
Not one harsh word did he say
when he met the woman who had
confessed she poisoned his son and
her husband, Wiford Sweeten.
My son is gone and nothing we
can do will bring him back said Mr.
Sweetcn today. But there are three
little boys to look after. They are
fine boys, and want to do right
by them. For their sake, / hope
Elsie does not hang"
States Attorney r. q. Thompson
accompanied Mr.. Sweeten, at the lat
ters request. When the aged man
confronted Mrs. Sweeten, he extend
ID his hand without a word. The
daughter law took it in both of
her hands and bowed her head.
He made me do it," she began.
II didn't want to-
II came to talk to you about what
to do with the boys" broke in Mr..
Swecten. Let me tell you about
it," said Mrs. Sweeten. Il didn't want
TO do it. When he first named it.,
/ said would not. But he kept
after me. l argued for month.
but he kept telling me to do it. I
was in his power. Anything he said
] felt like I must do.
Wants to Sec Children.
at was terrible for me to give
Wilford the first poison. When he
didn't die. Hight came to the house.
He banded me a peach and slipped
{" note in my hand al the sd me time.
which said to give him some more
Nj the time my husband was sick
he was coming ID my house and
giving me notes telling me TO give
more poison
The mother begged that the chill
dren might be allowed to come to
Salem and visit her in the Jail She
insisted that the boys not be sepa-
rated and that they be sent to a Ma
sonic orphanage
When her father-in-la started to
leave Mrs. Sueeten requested him to
stay longer. decla ring she was afraid
and awfuily lonesome" in Jail
She WAS Il good girl until the
preacher came" Sweeten said Il feel
sure OF that. ] can't understand it
thlnk my son was good to her. They
seemed To be as happy as most folks.
Ny boy had just finished building
new home for her. He worked hard
70 provide for her and the children.
n "a
Five Children Homeless.
Three Sad-eyed little boys mixed
with the crowds at the Mount Yer
non fair Yesterday unnoticed as their
grandfather, Mr.. Sweeten, was closeted
with states Attorney Thompson, talk
ing of their mother. Mrs. Elsie Sweeten
Homes must be found for five
homeless children. Hight. the
preacher who poisoned his wife.
leaves two. a boy and d girl, and
Mrs Swecten three boys.
II have hard row ahead of me-"
the aged man told Mr.. Thompson,
and need help. It's awful on US
Those who suffer most are these boys.
Their mother has left them a new
house and $500 in the bank. l want
your advice. These boys must have
care. ] have some ideas, but / am
perplexed
THE oldest one. Byford, Is, says
nothing much. but looks sad. The
next one is Stanton. two years
younger. I glory in his spunk When
their mother was arrested and the
paper came out showing the preach
er's confession about their mother he
rushed into the house. Look at that
he said to me. He says mommy did
it. DO you believe that?'
Il told him. I'm sorry, son; it. looks
that way. He threw the paper down
and shouted. I'll leave this house.
III never put my foot in it again
Poor boy. He came back this
morning and put his arms about nv
neck and cried.
And then there's my little boy
Harry Lee. s years old. He won't
have it that his mother is guilty. It's
not so he says.
Their mother, who killed my son,
was just as lovable as they are. She
never had one cross word for my
wife, who died last December or for
me. We were like one happy family
together.
II was like another father to the
boys. They never called me grand
father They called me Pa Sweeten,'
and my wife Ma Sweeten' and called
my son Poppy and their mother
"Mommy."
Here the States attorney broke in.
81 don't believe she had done a thing
wrong until she met the preacher"
he said. She was like putty in his
hands"
When they accused her" the old
man continued. Il told her I'd stand
by her. until she was proven guilty.
and then | said I'd help prosecute her
Thinking of the boys I didn't believe
] could do otherwise, honorably."
Tears flowed from Mr.. Sweeten's
eyes as he spoke of his grandsons and
Of the kindness of Mrs. Sweeten. who,
he said. fell into the preachers
hands"
He spoke of Hight's two children,
Mildred, 16-year-oId high school girl,
and Robert, IA, who is in the eighth
grade.
Haven Is Offered.
home for them has been offered
by the minister's daughter. the chill
dren's sister. and her husband, Mr..
and Mrs. Ray Eaton OF Tamaroa, Ill
They are fine children" Mr..
Sweeten said, I'D do anything I
could to help them"
He told how he had stood the three
boys in front of him before he
brought them from Ina to the fair
here.
Now. boys, I said, you can't live
by yourselves.
We must find homes and 1 want
you to pick your own
"Byford said he wanted to live
with Arthur Brown, who was like a
brother to my son.
Then l ask ed Stanton and he said
he'd like to live with Joe Williams
his uncle.
Then 1 asked the littlest boy" the