Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-24
MRS. SWEETIN and
HIGHT TAKE LONG
farewell IN JAIL

Mount Vernon. Ill, Sept. 23-with
confessions of their poison plot ro-
nance in the hands of States Attor-
ney Thompson. Reverend Lawrence
n. Hight and Mrs. Elsie Sweetin
were taken from Mt. Vernon Jail to-
night and placed in jail at Salem and
Belleville. respectively.
Not SO much the fears OF Sheriff
Holcomb that threatening crowd
might assemble. promoted the move.
the sheriff said, as that there are no
quarters here for women prisoners.
So the two principals in this strik =
ing love story of mining town cir
cult rider were separated after a
brief but fervid farewell, each under
charges of murder.
The two were together almost
three hours this mornIng and this
meeting furnished the missing link
in the double murder, namely Mrs
Sweetin's part in the Confessed poi
son plot. Their meeting was filled
with affection, as was their separa :
ton tonight.
Only Sheriff Holcomb and few OF
his deputies witnessed the short, i'm
FASHIONED fayewell of the two. Look
ing down into her eyes. the clergy
man approached the woman for
whom he had confessed his love,
grasped her hand and pressing back
the tears from her eyes, murmured
In a depressed tone:
Goodbye, my dear. l hope, some
how, we meet again.
No response came from the wo-
man, who still showed outward Ell
| fects of an all night vigil, during
which she was pressed for his con-
fession.
Tonight the states attorney was
sleeping deeply. having spent TWO
sleepless nights in obtaining the con-
fession of the couple, Never before
he said, had he met two prisoners
so willing to have the crime investi-
gated for which they had been ar
rested as were the poison plot"
couple. who insisted steadfast1y that
they were not guilty. Yet without
threats and harsh words, but with
kind words the prosecutor succeeded
in getting from both a complete con-
fession of their part in the double
killing.
Up to the time Mrs Sweetin, at
Gaybreak today, leaned forward and
bent over the typewriter used by the
states attorney to sob out her con
fession. she had been considered the
strongest willed woman ever brought
{ to the Jail. 1t was the meeting with
the clergyman, his carresses as seen
, from without. that moved the woman
to admit that she had been implicated
I in the plot, and that she had given
her husband poison.
"You loved me before. are you go
! ing BACK on me-" was one of the
! first questions with which the clergy
! man softencd her heart after the two
lad EXCHANGED words of greeting. the
first since his arrest last week.
This appeal. the states attorney
! said, did more In his opinion. to move
the woman to confess than did the
! many hours of questioning. Then
after being left alone and later be-
! ing closeted with the clergyman, she
weakened and told in detail how she
had administered poison to her hus-
! band on three occasions until he
! finally succumbed.
During the time Mrs. Sweetin was
| telling the states attorney what part
! sue Iidtt pldNct III ttit 6HtSCu B'iS'i
plot. the clergyman sat in nearby
! room recounting the details Of his
| life. beginning from his boyhood DAYS
! His body quivered as he leaned his
! head on his knees and sobbed loudly
! what has God intended in letting
| this come upon me? love her.
| can't help 1t. although I struggled
, lard. But what have I done? l lose
her in trying to win her, I lose her
! and my children to whose training
my whole life had been devoted un-
| til she came. Now they are alone"
! 1t is nsidered probable that the
| two will be kept in their new places
| of confinement until the trial is
| called. The grand jury meets Octo-
| her 10. Both have waived a prelim
! mary hearing and their cases have
been turned over to the grand jury