Coincidence being what it is, my wife and I somehow got on the subject of sin-eaters earlier this week. Sort of out-of-the-blue since we had never discussed it before. And my first visit to mudcat and I see there's a discussion going on about this custom. My wife had remembered the Night Gallery episode. Related to "scapegoat" and the symbol of Christ, poor, son of the Father, taking on the sins and being driven out for doing it? I'd be curious to hear an old-time southern mountain preacher get onto this subject.