The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-12-18

and singing hymns in the grimy county
jail here, was told. He persisted that
he knew nothing of the poisoning. The
Jefferson county officials cross-ques-
toned him mercilessly all night and at
dawn, on the suggestion of States At
torney Thompson that he might have
done it to put his wife out of her pain,
he said: That's it. That's why l did
it" He signed a confession. Thirty
minutes later he acknowledged he had
poisoned MILFORD Sweetin, giving the
same reason.
Elsie Sweetin was arrested at her
home in Ina few hours later and
brought to the Jail here. She asserted
she was innocent, and supported the
pastors statement that the couple had
not been intimate.
That afternoon, Monday, Sept %,
Rev. Hight, under the exhortation of
Rev. c. C. Hall, superintendent of
the Mt. Carmel district of the Meth
odist Episcopal church, confessed
again, this time telling the true story
of the crime.
Elsie Sweetin denied all night that
she had poisoned her husband. Size
denied she loved Rev. Hight. At a.
m. the authorities placed the two to-
gether in room, listening at the
door. The pastor urged the woman
to make clean breast, as he had. She
was obdurate. She said she didn't
know what he was talking about
An hour later the woman, complete
ly exhausted from nervous strain and
lack of sleep, admitted the truth of
Nights confession and gave complete
details of the crime. She dictated a
long statement, signed it, and immed-
lately fell into deep sleep.
A few hours later she and Hight
were rushed out to adjoining county
seats for safe keeping during the coun-
ty fair, when large crowds gather here.
Mrs. Sweetin was kept at Salem, where
physicians reported her condition was
serious from the nervous excitement.
Hight was brought back later.
The two slayers have talked at length
since their confessions, explaining their
drop from righteousness into deepest
sins of the Ten Commandments. They
wanted to be free to love. This 40
year-old minister was tired Of his wife.
This 34-year-old wife was tired of her
husband.
Hight was born at Metropolis, Ill.
He had lived and worked in the stock
raising and horse racing business of
his father until about 1909 when, fol-
lowing "protracted meeting" revival,
he "got religion" His education was
only a grammer school one, but he
| studied and was ordained in the min
istry within a year. He held Circuit
rider" pastorates through southern
| Illinois-that is, he was the pastor for
five or six small towns, making one his
home and preaching at each in rota-
ton.
He was a good husband, mad Anna
Hight was good wife. They have
three children: Mrs. Marie Eaton, "a,
Tamoroa, Ill.,, and Mildred, 16, and
Robert ID
collection of photographs of pretty
girls of his former congregations,
found in his personal effects after his
confessions, however, indicates long
repressed desire for feminine beauty.
Investigation of the relations of Hight
with the originals of the pictures has
failed to show any Irregularities.
Blames the Devil.
Hight believes firmly in the apostol-
ic creed. There is God, devil, heaven
and hell, sin and repentance. He be-
lieves the devil caused him to commit
his heinous crimes, and thinks and