The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-08
PATENT MEDICINE
MAY HAVE KILLED
New and Sensational Feature in
Investigation of Col.
SwOpe's Death.
MILLIONAIRE REGULARLY
TOOK SOME STRYCHNINE
This May Account for Alleged
Poisoning and Upset Theory
of Murder.

KANSAS CITY, Feb THAT Colo
mel Thomas II Swopc, the millionaire
whose death, on October 3, has been
the last month 10 determine if he died
from poisoning, took a patent medicine
containing tincture of iron. qulninc and
strychnlne up TO 4 few days of his
death, developed at The inquest over
his body in Independence, Mo-, today.
This testimony was given by Miss
Pearl Keller. Colonel Swope nurse.
1t was the most significant piece of
evidence brought out in the inquest,
which opened TODAY.
Miss Keller cared for Colonel Swopc
from September IL unit the day Of his
death. She testified that the million
aire took tho mixture daily in addition
TO the treatment given him by DR.. b.
c. Hyde.
Corroborative Evidence,
Previously. in deposition taken in a
damage suit Of B. G, Hyde. against an
attorney and two physicians who are
interested in the Swope investigation.
5. w. Spangler. office partner of Colo
mel Swope, testified that Colonel Swope
took patent medicine containing
strvchnine while at his office. 1t Is
supposed that this is the same mixture
to which Miss Keller referred in her
testimony, Mr.. Spanglcr said Colonel
Swope took large quantities Of the
medicine daily.
Physicians say that the fact of Colo
mel Swope having taken much OF this
concoction would explain the presence
of poison i'll his vital organs.
II alcn pniDtod ppf that C'olOppl
Swope was in a weakened condition
when he last took the medicine.
Eight Witnesses Heard,
Eight witnesses besides Miss Keller
testified during the day. They were:
Dr. Edward L. Stewart, DIR. G. r. ivy
man, who testified regarding the an-
topsy; James Craig, r. B. Mitchell. w.
f. Slime, III. s. Cook and Thomas l.,
Nicholas. sll Of whom told Of the bur
ial Of Colonel Swope's body. DR.. Stew
art said that while he had no part in
the autopsy other than- writing down
The records, he knew that no hemor-
rhage of the brain. visible TO the naked
eve, was found. Colonel Swope was
supposed to have died from apoplcyy.
The calling of the inquest today
brought together for the first Time in
several weeks members of the Swopc
household and Dr.. b. c. Hyde. Mrs.
Logan II. Swopc and her daughters,
Miss Lucy lee Swopc. Miss Sarah
Swope and Miss Margaret Swopo SAT
on one side of the room with their
attorneys while DR.. HYDE and his at
torncvs were ON the other. There WAS
no sign of recognition between the two
parties, Mrs Hyde was not present.
Her husband explained that she was
too i'll TO attend,
Libol Suit Figures.
Diving the day Mrs Swopc and Miss
Keller were served with subpocnas by
an attorney from tho office of Frank
p. Walsh, DR.. Hyde : counsel, TO ap-
pear and give their depostions in The
libel suits brought by Or. Hyde
against Attorney John G.. Paxton and
Drs Frank Hall and Edward l.. Stew
art. Attorneys have been attempting
to serve subpocnaes for week. The
women readily accepted service.
DR.. HYDE filed suit for 100000 for
alleged slandcr against Attorney John
g. Paxton today and scrNlcc wns OBJ
tanned upon the attorney at the in
quest.
A similar suit against Mr.. Paxton
was dismissed by DR., Hyde in order
TO keep from giving his deposition be
fore the inquest began over the body
of Colonel Swopc.
Miss Keller testified regarding the
actions of Colonel Swopc. when his old
friend. Thomas Moss IIuntop, died
from aropleXv two days before the mil.
bonairc $ death.
The blow OF his friend s death
gricved Colonel Swopc greatly and he
went into secluSiop for bourS. refusing
TO sec anyone, but Mr., Spanglcr, his