Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-06
INDICTMENTS RETURNED
Physician Accused of Staying Swope
With Strychnine.
HOUSEHOLD PUT IN JEOPARDY
Three Attempts on Life of Margaret
Swope Charged-Accused Man
Takes News Quietly.

hAANo<Ao VI MI, hdTCn 0.-Dr.
B. Clarke Hyde. husband of niece Of
the late Thomas Fl. Swope, was indicted
on thirteen counts in eleven Indictments
returned by the grand Jury that has
been Investigating the Swope mystery
for the last three weeks, at 5:35 o'clock
tonight
Two indictments charge first degree
murder in connection with the deaths
Of Col Swope and Chrisman Swope.
DR.. Hyde is alleged to have given them
strychnine tablets.
One indictment accuses DR.. Hyde
Of manslaughter, by bleeding James
Moss Hunton, a cousin of Col. Swope.
in a neglectful manner.
Poisoned With Typhoid Germs.
Perhaps the most surprising of all
the indictments returned are the eight
in connection with the alleged poison
ing of the Swope family and visitors
and attendants Of the SwCpe house.
hold.
DR.. Hyde is accused in these indict-
ments, which contain ten counts. OF
poisoning with typhoid germs with in
tent to murder Margaret Swope. Stella
Swope, Sarah Swope, Luey Lee Swope.
ton, Mildred Fox and Leonora Copridge.
colored girl. All these persons were
stricken with typhoid fever while DIR.
Hyde was attending the Swope family.
Three counts in the indictment charge
the poisoning of Miss Margaret Swope.
The frat count charges that he at
tempted to poison her by administering
typhoid fever germs on or about No
trying to poison her by giving a hypo-
dermic injection December IL. In the
third count he is alleged to have at
tempted poisoning December Is by CIV
ing her strychnine and other poisons.
Capiases for the arrest of DIR. Hyde
will not be issued until Monday. He is
at present under a $4,000 bond in con
nection with the case now pending
against him in Justice Loars court In
Independence charging him with the
murder Of Col Swope.
Other Case to Be Dismissed.
Prosecutor Virgil Conklin said as the
soon as Dr. Hyde is arrested on the
charges brought by the grand Jury the
case in the Independence court will be
times.
DR.. Hyde received the news of the
indictments calmly.
In written statement given out at
his home tonight. DR.. Hyde said
This stain upon my character can
Ut TcfnOVcu Out one way, ClaI is Dy
a fair trial. by jury of my fellow
citizens. in a court where 1 can be rep
| resented. and where my vindication can
be made complete and final. Much as
| realize it to be an inevitable and 'neces-
sary step toward my final exoneration.
"Of course. the public will under
stand that a grand jury investigation
allowed representation.
Il am absolutely innocent / know,
on that account, that no harm can come
to me.
Those who know me best have as
sured me in thousands of ways of their
stanch belief in my innocence. l feel
zens who do not know me will suspend
Judgment in my case until in an open
and fair trial. they may be convinced
Of my innocence
Quick Trial Possible
When the trial Of DR.. Hyde will be-
gin is problematical It may be in a
few days if the defense is willing.
Prosecutor Conkling said regarding
the beginning of the case:
Il will be ready to start at any time
after one week. The defense may name
the time for the trial if it does not
make it more than three months hence
Judge Latshaw said he would be ready
TO Degm nearing lhe case next tuesday,
If necessary. There are but twenty cases
on his docket now find none OF them
is important
DR.. Hyde was arrested February 10
charged with the murder of Col. Swope.
His arrest at that time followed a formal
charge of murder in the first degree pre-
ferred by John G. Paxton.
The physician was released on a bond
of $4,000 His preliminary hearing was
continued until March IL, pending the
report of the granu jury.
February a coroners jury that had
Investigated the death of Col. Swope
brought in a report to the effect that
Col. Swope had died from the effects of
strychnine poisoning administered in a
capsule at the direction OF DR. Hyde
The jury was unable to determine
whether DIR. Hyue had been guilty of
feloniOus intent in directing that the
capsule be given to Col. Swope.