Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-27
HIGHT AND WOMAN
SHOW NO EMOTION
At GUILTY VERDICT
Two Jurymen Voted Death
for Minister-Compromise
on Mrs. SWeetin's Penalty

and Mrs. Elsie Swcetin for the
poison murder of her husband, VIII
ford Sweetin, early today returned
a verdict of guilty" Hight was
given life Imprisonment, while Mrs
Sweetin was given thirty-five years
in the penitentiary.
After celebrating all night the
jury reported at $50 o'clock this
morning that it had reached an
agreement Reports said the jury
had been in disagreement over the
degre of guilt.
The jury had deliberated about
eleven hours, retiring at 10 o'clock
last night. 1t considered the case
almost continuously during the night
and this morning, except for short
time for breakfast. The jurors stated
after the verdict that the jury had
been unanimous for finding both de-
PENDANTS guilty from the first bal
lot, but that there had been wide diff
ference as to the punishment to De
inflicted on Mrs. Sweetin. The de-
cision as to her, the jurors said, rep
resented a compromise.
Only two Of the jurors had favored
lnfliction of the death penalty on
Hight. None voted for the hanging
of Mrs. Sweetin.
The two defendants received the
verdict with no outward display of
Attorneys gave notice they would
ask for new trial.
Defendants Comment
81 still think | have been misun-
derstood,'' said Mrs. Sweetin calmly,
after the verdict had been returned.
Il was led into a trap. That is why
I am able TO receive the verdict as
[ do. L am innocent"
II am not guilty but I amt mad
at nobody" said Hight, IF | have
to go to the penitentiary, | have to
go, that's all. | am not guilty. l
wasn't afraid of death, the penitenti-
airy or anything else.
Judge j. c. Kern gave the defense
attorneys until December p to file
motions for new trial. and said he
would hear arguments on the mo-
tions on January 3.
well, they didn't hang him." was
all the comment Attorney Layman,
for Hight, would make on the YER
dict.
Prosecutors Statement
Prosecutor Frank Thompson said
The contention of the prosecution
has been from the first that there
was equal guilt in This case, and
our last words to the jury were that
the woman was a guilty as the man.
Unless the parole board usurps the
given the two are the same, as 30
years is equivalent to life for per-
sons of this age.
There is always a disposition to
deal more leniently with a woman
than a man in a criminal case, but
we felt that if there was ever d case
in which there was equal guilt, this
was it. and we fought for equal pun
ishment. | never question the jury
in it's decision in criminal case in
which | have appeared. 1t is the
function of the attorney to present
the case and the function of the jury
to decide. We must accept that de
cision."
States Attorney Joe Frank Allen,
in discussing the verdict, called atten-
ton to the fact that there had not
been hanging in Jefferson county
in more than isXty years, the last
one having been prior OF the civil
war.
No comment would be made by of
ficers as to what action might be
taken in the other case in which
Hight and Mrs. SWeetin were joint
ly indicted for the murder of his
wife, Anna Hight, whoes death from
poison occurred two months after
that of MILFORD Sweetin. This case
is now on the calendar and might be
tried by the state if it were decided
a further effort should be made to
send Hight to the gallows.
While the jurors deliberated
outside in the courthouse square the
tights on four gayly decorated Christ
mas trees cleaned and grew dim.
The jury received the case after
seven hours of argument, in the
course of which the state asked for
the death penalty for both.
In delivering his charge to the
twelve men, nine of whom are farm
ers, Judge j. c, Kern instructed III
six possible verdicts. He informed
the jurors they could find one de-
PENDANT guilty and the other not
guilty or find both guilty.
In the case of guilt, he instructed
A. t. al
ties of death, life Imprisonment or
sentence of not less than fourteen
years.
IF you find the defendant Hight
insane at the time the alleged crime
was committed. then he must be &C
quilted" Judge Kern said.
While Prosecuting Attorney Frank
c.. Thompson dashed the defendants
in his closing arguments, Hight and
Mrs. Sweerin retained their com
posture, remaining calm when the
jury left the courtroom.
They stand there two murderers
equally guilty under the law,
Thompson declared. Under your
oaths and before your God, do your
duty"
Death Penalty Urged
Hight said that they wanted
mercy. not justice" said Thompson,
bat in Illinois we still have the
old Mosaic law of an eye for an
eye \ life has been taken in JET
ferson county and death should us
imposed
Thompson characterized Hight>
insanity plea as an "arttul dodge.
Nothing ever was heard of this
man being insane until after he
was arrested and charged with this
crime he said. This insanity dodge
is a man of straw. The fact that
man is sub-normal does not excuse
the commission of crime.
Thompson declared that after his
arrest Hight said. Elsie Sweetin Is
in this with me- and that / came
hanging on her skirts
Now he seeks To abuse the mem
oIy OF his dead father by saying he