Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-12
HYDE FACES TRIAL
FOR DEATH Of SWOPE;
JURORS ARE CALLED
Great Array of Legal Talent Is
Secured to Fight Case Which
Promises to Develop Into
Sensation
COURT FINDS JURY
is HARD TO SECURE


of first degree murder for the alleged
poisoning of Col Thomas H. swope, the
noted philanthrophist, several months
ago.
Probably the most talented array of
counsel ever gathered together in a
criminal trial in this part of the coun-
try is sitting in the court room, each
side in best condition for the fray, which
promises to be the most sensational muir
der trial known in the middle west.
On the side of the prosecution are Vir-
gil Conklfng. prosecuting attorney; John
G. Paxton. executor for the Swope es-
tate, and Assistant Prosecutors Henry L.
Jost and Edward P. Curtin. The defense
is represented by Frank P. Walsh, Judge
William T. Johnson, John L. Locas and
John NJ. Cleary.
CAN'T FIND JURY.
Several days will lapse before the real
taking of testimony will begin, as the
securing of a jury is considered hard
proposition. Judge Latshaw had double
the usual panel drawn, and with over $50
names to choose from, IL is hoped IL men
who have not expressed an opinion can
be found. Another great trouble is that
the prominence of those In the trial will
make it hard to find u men who do not
know either the defendant or some of
those on the other side.
AS soon as the case was called, the
examination of jurors began, but little
had been accomplished when the noon
recess was taken. Each of the jurors is
given a close examination by both sides
with especial stress laid on his attitude
in the case-the oft-repeated question,
Have you formed or expressed an opin-
ion?"
Interest in the Hyde trial is keen and
long before the case was called this
morning the criminal court building was
packed by curious throng, few of whom
could gain. entrance to the court room.
DR.. Hyde is to be tried on the charge
Of killing Colonel swope first. There are
other charges against him, as follows:
First degree murder, for the killing
of Chrisman Swope, Col. s. swope
cousin; six charges of assault with In
tent to kill in connection with the men,
bers Of the swope family and servants
being stricken with typhoid fever, the
germs alleged to have been administered
by DR.. Hyde.
On the outcome of the present trial Of
DIR. Hyde probably will depend the dis
him
HISTORY OF CASE.
The history of the Swope case is as
dramatic as it is uncanny, and public in
terest has never been so keen since the
famous Guinness tragedy.
II was on October last that Col.
Thomas II. Swope, a multiii-millionaire.
died very suddenly, and under most mys-
terious circumstances following a brief
illness. The attending physician was
DR. Clarence B. Hyde, the husband of
the dead mans niece, and he diagnosed
the cause of the coloners death as apo
plexy. 1t developed, however, that on
the fatal day Colonel Swope was feeling
in good spirits, until after he had swal-
lowed a capsule given him by DIR. Hyde.
He was seized with commissions, and one
hour later was dead. Just two days be-
fore the coloners death, James Moss
Hinton, his cousin and an executor of
the Swope will, also died of apoplexy.
Colonel Swope left an estate estimated
at S4,OOOOoO, the principal beneficiaries be-
ing the unmarried CHILDREN of his sister
in-law. Mrs. Logan o. Swope. To the
married daughter. Mrs. Frances Hyde,
wife of DR.. Hyde, he left s276.OO0.
No suspicion attached to the coloners
death until December, when an epidemic
hold.
Chrisman Swope, a nephew of Colonel
Swope, was one of the first to fall VIC
tim. Possessing a strong constitution,
however, he seemed on a fair road to
recovery, when on December 2 he was
suddenly attacked with commissions and
became unconscious exactly as his uncle
had done two months before. He died on
December 6.
Other cases in the Swope household in
cluded Miss Margaret Swope, Miss Cora
Dickson. governess, Coppage, a colored
servant; Stewart S. Fleming, a nephew
of Colonel Swope;' Mrs. Sara Swope. q
niece. and Miss Stella Swope, another
niece.
WAS SwOPE'S PHYSICIAN.
IT. hyde had been treating Chrisman
Swope and on the sudden death of tn e
latter. the nurses became alarmed and
refused to stay in the house unless Mrs.
Logan Swope would summon another
physician. This she did. but the physi-
clan was unable to locate the cause of
the typhoid. on December is, Miss Lu-
cy Lee. a daughter Of Mrs. Logan Swope.
was stricken with typhoid fever four
days after her arrival from Europe. DR..
Hyde had met the young lady in New
York and had treated her in the early
stages Of her illness.
Mrs. Logan Swope acquainted John G.
Paxton. the attorney for the Swope es-
tate, with her suspicious, and as a re-
suit the bodies of Colonel Swope and
his nephew were exhumed and autopsiss
performed. Strychnine was found in
large quantities, and an examination OF
stomach of Miss Margaret Swope. who
recovered from he attack Of typhoid,
revealed the presence of this poison.
Attorney Paxton and Mrs. Swope pur-
sued the investigation with relentless
vigor. and as a result Of their activity
DIT. Hyde brought a libel suit for $780,
600 against Attorney Paxton. DIR. Frank
L. HALL and DR. Edward j. Stewart, and
another for 100000 against Attorney
Paxton. Later the 100000 suit was
dismissed.
1t was on February that the coro-
ner's jury I'm Independence. Mo, handed
down a verdict holding DR.. Hyde respon-
sible for the death OF Colonel Swope.
Developments now came thick and fast.
The following day DR.. Hyde was arrest
ed. charged with murder in the first de-
gree, the warrant being ISSUED at the re-
quest of Attorney John G. Paxton, exec
utor of the Swope estate. DIR. Hyde took
his arrest ccolly and pleaded mot gull
ty' when arTaigned before Justice w. F..
Loar at Independence. Mo. ne was re-
leased on bond Of $4,000.
The climax came on March 5. when