Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-14
WHEREDOCTORSARE DIVIDED
TRIAL OF POLICE SURGEON HYDE,
SUSPENDED, IL BEGUN.
Nearly Thirty Physicians Summoned
but Only "A Portion Of the Tes-
timony Was Heard Yes
terdny.

Tie trial Of Police Surgeon 3. {. Hyd"
upon the charge OF cruelty in the treat
meut Of Annie Clements, a young coiorfc
woman who had attempted suicide, was
begun by the police board at 2%J O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. After hearing the 'He-
timOuy OF a large number Of witness ia'
board adjourned the trial until next FTl-
day afternoon at . o'clock. III" accusation
against the police surgeon. who Is under
suspension, t. that he applied oil Of mus
tsrd to a portion OF the wOman's body
while she was under treatment for NOR
phine poisoning at police headquarters.and
that he assaulted and beat her when she
complained Of the pain caused by the ap-
pIiCatiou Of the oil. Nearly thirty Of the
leading physicians OF the city were sub
pOeuaed AMI about twenty or them ap-
peared and gave testimony. With a few eN-
ceptions they testified that the use OF oil
of mustard as Or. Hyde claims he used
81. in such cases. was proper when il was
desired to counterfeit the effects or NOR
phine. Among those who Endorsed the ac-
ton Of Dr. Hyde in using the oil were the
following: Drs. c. I. Wainwright. John
Punton, J.. NJ. Langsdale, W. Z Morrow,
George HALEY, G. +. Wilson, L. ". Lusch-
er, W. J.. Chapple. J. e. Rogers, J. y
Jackson. r. j. Beattle. +. r. Lewis, " T..
Kuhn and r. r. Smiley
For the prosecution Drs. j. J.. Moss. W.
c. BrOWnlee andl W. ). Wheeler testified
that they would hesitate TO use oil OF mus
tard in the way that DR.. Hyde was alleged
10 have used II. They considered II more
severe than oil OF turpentine, oil or cln-
namon or capsicum.
The complainant. Annie Clements. who Is
q very dark negress. said that she was
taken to the police station from her room
at ~ WyanuOtte street "A week ago last
Monday, about 10 o'clock at night. after
having swallowed a small quantity Of NOR
phine. She was not unconscious when TAX
en- there OF at any time subsequently DT.
Hyde began his treatment OF her. she said,
by cursing and ordering everyone out OF
the room except herself and Jailer Smith.
He then threw her down and applied the
oil Of mustard. after which he ordered her
out Of the room and told her not 10 come
back again. She said she could scarcely
walk out Of the station. and after walking
a couple of blocks fell down. She was then
taken back again and DIR. Hyde applied a
cake Of ice to the part where he had pre-
viously applied the oil OF mustard. She pro-
tested against his treatment and he then
struck her on the side Of the face and upon
the nose with his fist.
JaiIer Smith confirmed the statement Of
the woman in regard TO Or. Hyde striking
her, but he said that she attempted to bite
the doctors arm.
Several other women. one of them white.
testified that they had been treated in the
same way as Annie Clements claims she
was treated after they had taken morphine
with suicidal intent. None OF them. how
ever, was struck or otherwise abused.
There is a great deal of interest mani
Tested by the medical profession of the
city in the trial. Several OF the physicians
summoned by DIR. Hyde asserted that the
use Of oil Of mustard as an Injection would
bring about respiration in persons who
were IN a dying condition from the effects
of morphine. BY causing the patient to
breathe freely life would be prolonged or
saved. If ne were not too far gone when
treatment was begun.
DR.. Hyde does not deny the use Of oil
of mustard upon the complainant. hut he
does deny using IL in the way she says
he did. and he also denies striking her
with his FIST.