Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-18
MAN, FEARING JAIL,
FOUND DEAD AFTE
RESORT TO LIQUOR
Ellis C. Hightman, 43, Was
Unable to Raise $3.50
for AIimony Debt.
FRIEND FINDS BODY
ON FLOOR OF OFFICE
Cause of Death Not Determined
Pending Autopsy-Traces of
Poison Found.

Facing Jail sentence for non-pay-
ment of alimony, Ellis c. Hightman, AZ
year-old security salesman, borrowed SIS
from bootlegger last night, purchased
a pint of synthetic gin and proceeded
to drink himself into forgetfulness.
At 5 o'clock this morning James B.
Archer, former assistant District attor-
ney, heard crash in his law Office on
the fourth floor of the Fendall Building
He investigated and found Nightmare
body on the floor, the nearly empty gin
bottle by his side. In his pockets were
black pills which he had been taking
in an effort to rid himself of insomnia.
Death Cause Is Unknown.
just what caused Hightman's death
could not be determined this morning,
and Coroner hewitt ordered the body to
be removed to the morgue for an
autopsy.
Members of the Fire Department
rescue squad and physicians from
Emergency Hospital. who were sum-
moned by Archer, declared there were
indications of poison. but could not say
whether these resulted from the gin
or the pills.
Hightman had offices at 1901 G
street. according to police. He recently
moved into an apartment at Seven
tenth street and Park road. Archer,
who has acted as his attorney for a
number Of years, was also his closest
friend.
HE came to my Office about 0 o'clock
last night Archer said, land told me
he wanted to talk about his future. The
man was beside himself with fear at the
prospect of going to jail today. He was
supposed to have been committed to jail
Saturday because he owed his wife $3.50
alimony, but Justice Stafford consented
to defer sentence until noon today to
give him chance to raise the money.
HE hadn't been able to raise the
money when ] saw him last night and
he was in a dangerous mood He told
me he had borrowed SIS from boot
logger. and he had a pint of gin in his
pocket. He offered me drink and then
raised the bottle to his mouth and
gulped down half its contents in one
drink. Ellis YVES always that way-went
to extremes In everything he did.
II argued with him for an hour and
tried to cheer him up. But he was so
sure he was going to jail that couldn't
do anything with him. was dead for
sleep myself and at 10 o'clock I left
him. He was slumped over on my desk
with his head on his arms as I went to
a couch in an adjoining room.
Doubts Man Committed Suicide.
cat 5 O'Clock I heard him fall. I
went in the room and saw him lying on
the floor. He was breathing heavily
and I thought he was only drunk. I
tried to arouse him, but he was in a
stupor and could do nothing with him.
After a few minutes went back to my
ROOM
1.-TWO hours later I went back and
he was still lying there. I felt his
hands; they were cold. Then I real
lied he was dead The bottle was w.
ing there, about spoonful of gin left
in it. 1 don't believe Ellis deliberately
took his own life-he wasn't that kind.
I think the combination of gin and fear
was too much for his heart, and it just
gave way.
HE was good salesman before his
domestic troubles started him drinking
heavily, and at times he had plenty of
money. He was a real friend, too. I
remember once when G big husky came
in here to beat me up. Ellis happened
to be with me at the time, and he
threw that tough boy out of my office"
Archer notified police headquarters
and Lieut.. E. j. Kelly and Detective
Sergt. George Darnell were sent to his
Office.
Members of the rescue squad worked
over the body for an hour, but their
efforts at resuscitation were fruitless.
Hightman's estranged wife, Mrs. Lor-
eta j. Hightman, lives at 2001 Six
tenth street She refused to talk
about her husband this morning.
Divorced on Wedding Anniversary.
According to the petition of Mrs Lor-
retto Hightman, 2001 Sixteenth street.
filed April Z, 1927, for a divorce from
Hightman the wife said they were mar
ried February Is, 1911. The divorce
granted by Justice Gordon last Friday
marked the eighteenth anniversary of
the wedding of the couple. Mrs. Hight
man charged that her husband began to
drink about two years after their mar
rage and carried on clandestine af-
fair with woman named as core
spondent He maintained Offices, she
said, both in this city and in the CAL
vert Building in Baltimore and appeared
to be very successful as a stock pro-
moter and bond salesman, spending
large sums of money on himself They
have one daughter, Jean Elizabeth
Hightman. now II years old, according
to the petition. Attorney Edward STAFF
ford represented the wife