Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-07
SURGEON HYDE SUSPENDED.
HE TEsTIFIEs TO USING OIL OF MUS
TARD IN A MORPHINE CASE.
only Remedy Given by h Police Sur
Eeon-ExcruciatinE Tortures In
ficted Upon n Helpless
COIOred Woman.

Police Surgeon B. c. Hyde was yester-
day suspended by the board of police COM
missIoners pending an investigation into
his alleged brutal treatment of an I'M
fortunate colored woman who was taken
to Central police station last Monday night
for treatment for morphine poisoning. DR..
w. c. Iuen was appointed police surgeon
to fill the vacancy caused by the suspen-
sion of Hyde.
When the board met yesterday Messrs.
Jones and Gregory were the only commits
sioners present, as Mr.. Scarritt is out Of
the city. Mrs. Clemens, who says she was
maltreated by Surgeon Hyde. was unable
to be present, as she is still suffering from
the effects of her dread experience at pc
lice headquarters. the details of which are
unfit for publication. Her attorney was
there. however. and he said he was willing
to risk the case on the testimony of the
accused, DR.. Hyde. DR.. Hyde was sworn
and testified that he had injected oil OF
mustard into the Clemens woman, for the
reason" he said. that the effect produced
is one of excitation and stimulation He
said such an effect was very much TO be
desired in morphine poisoning cases. 1t
keeps the patient from going to sleep he
us oil of mustard commonly used as an
antidote in poisoning cases2' asked COM
missioner Gregory. his face flaming with
suppressed indignation.
mot as an antidote." answered DIR.
Hyde. but il is employed. as we will en-
deavor TO show at the proper time as an
Are there not other ways of arousing
a p%erson?' - ,,obo5
or slapped. or the electric battery IS used:
why did you use oil Of mustard in TINS
particular case?'
DR., HYDE failed to answer this question
to the satisfaction of the board. He was
asked why he did not use the electric bat
terry or some other excitant commonly en-
ployed in cases of narcosis, but replied that
'it didn't occur to him.
| Here Mayor Jones turned inquisitor and
put Di. Hyde through a fire OF questions.
This application vas simply 70 keep the
Yes"
.Did you administer any antidote?"
ct did not"
"Did You use the stomach pump?'
81 did not"
why did you not?'
Ssh would not let me-"
"Did she object to your treatment
Would not the same force necessary to
making the application of oil of mustard
have sufiiced to have administered an anti
dote2"
DR.. Hyde could not answer this question.
Mayor Jones continued:
al nave seen the stomach pump used In
the police surgeons office when 1t required
six policemen to hold the victim
DR.. Hyde denied that III cursed the
woman or beat her. as alleged. He said she
bit him and he slapped her with his open
hand"
DR.. Hyde during the investigation init
mated that the woman was only Stimulating.
Commissioner Gregory wanted TO know II
persons given the heroic treatment admln-
istered TO the negress ever came back. Dr.
Hyde cited one case out of ten where the
patient returned.
verify of the treatment in his questioning,
while Major Jones brought out that 1t was
a primitive measure. since nothing was
| done TO overcome the effects of the NOR
phine. Attorney James 4. Mclean repre-
sented the Clemens woman, and Joseph A.
| Walker. United States district attorney. de-
| Tended DR.. Hyde. The matter will be thor
oughly investigated at the meeting next
Friday. Each side processes to have an ar
| raw Of reputable physicians in its favor.
| DR.. Hyde enters an unqualified denial OF
all the charges of cruelty preferred. Annie
was taken to the station Monday night be-
/ tween II and IL o'clock by two colOred
women. She had taken morphine with SUI
| cidal intent and Dr. Hyde was awakened
| and summoned from his office to the sta
ton. The accusation charges that the
| woman was forcibly thrown upon a cot
/ and. with vile imprecations from the doc
/ tor at the idea of a Niger" waking him
upat that hour of night. subjected to eX;;
cruciating pain from the injection or oil
OF mustard. The petition states that the
pain was more eXcruciating than had a
1 poker heated ten times hotter lndn Wnllt
heat been driven into her body The
woman was taken away, but at a little dis
lance from the station she fell and her
piteous cries of agony caused her return
10 the station. Here she was given sweet
of and ice water for the irritated parts.
She is now under the medical care of Dr..
J. c. Brownlee. and is very low, according
to her attorney.
DR.. Hyde said after the meeting: THE
charges are false in a measure. ! have a
great many physicians in town who are
friends of mine and are working for me.
! have no fears"
DIR. Hyde was appointed police surgeon
by George NJ. Shelley and Frank G.. John
son in the police shake-up two years ago.
DIR. w. c. Iuen. who will fill the vacancy
caused by the suspension of Surgeon Hyde.
is one of the best known surgeons in Kan
sas City. He filled the office Of police sur
geon for seven years prior TO the appoint
ment of Hyde, during which period he
| ~ avraTlapf catfGfactiop