Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-05-21
HYDE IS CONVICTED
BY OWN TESTIMONY
Doctor Who Poisoned Col. SwOpe
Gets Life Sentence,
CYANIDE EVIDENCE DID 1T
Juror Who Held Out Tells Why He
Changed His Mind-ssys Hyde Was
His Own Worst Enemy in the Trial
History of the Famous Case.

History of the Famous Case.
Kansas City, May 17.-Dr. b.
Clarke Hyde, whom a jury yesterday
found guilty of numbering Col. Thorn
as II. Swope by poison and sentenced
to life imprisonment, owes his eonvic-
ton to his own testimony on the wit
ness stand, according to a statement
made last night by w. c. Crone, the
Juror who decided the physicians fate
after nearly three days of balloting.
Until Saturday night Crone and r.
johnson, a farmer, held out for ac-
quittal against the rest OF the jury.
Remembering DR.. Hyde's demeanor on
the stand. Mr.. Crone finally decided
the physicians fate by voting for con.
viction and persuading Johnson to do
the anne
Hyde Was His Own Worst Enemy
OR. Hyde was his own worst
enemy in the trial" said Mr.. Creme
last night. His own testimony CON
victed him.
when DR.. Hyde said he had bought
cyanide for ten years and yet could
not remember where he bought it, he
damned himself as a witness. If he
had not testified as he did | think he
would not be in the position he is.
AT first I believed Hyde innocent
and until Sunday night i voted TO ac-
quit him. Then l recalled his test
mony about his cyanide purchases and
l decided he was guilty. / told Mr..
johnson had changed my vote and |
talked about NY decision. think my
reasoning had an effect on him"
Cpone's son. Albert, was recently
sentenced to eighteen years in the
~penitentiary for numbering Bertha
Boyler, his sweetheart.
Imprisonment For Life.
The return of the verdict yesterday
was marked by the absence Of dra-
matte features. Mrs. Hyde cried when
she heard the verdict in the court
room. DR.. Hyde did not change his
usual stoical appearance. Mrs. Logan
Q. Swope was unnerved when at her
home in Independence she heard the
outcome, but she soon ~regained her
composure. 1t was what she had been
fighting for, and she was satisfied, she
said. MY home is still open 20 my
daughter" she added. 81 feel sorry for
her
The jury had ben out since Fri
day. The court sentenced DR.. Hyde
TO Imprisonment for life. His attorneys
have four days in which to make an
appeal.
History of Hyde Case.
DR.. B. Clarke Hyde has been under
suspicion in connection with the mys-
FERROUS illness and deaths in the
Swope family ever since the death of
Col. Thomas II. Swope, October 3,
1909. The death of Col. SwOpe follow
ed soon after he had suffered a severe
CONFUSION, it was charged by other
members of the Swope family, follow
ed Immediately after the administr4-
ton of a capsule given by direction
of DR., Hyde. DR.. Hyde said it was a
digestive tablet.
wac pAONNA at ~ 3 LAaL ~
Hyde had purchased cyanide of potas-
SUM in fve-grain capsules, and he vas
prosecuted in the belief that he gave
one of these capsules to Col. Swope.
Dr. Hyde claimed he bought the
cyanide capsules to kill reaches in his
Office Two days before the death OF
Col Swope, Moss HuntOn, a cousin Of
the millionaire phiIanthropist, died at
the SVope home, following a stroke of
apoplexy. DR.. Hyde and DR.. G. T. ivy
man of independence treated Hunton.
The patient was bled profusely, it is
charged at the suggestion of DR.. Hyde.
After six pints of blood was taken
IRON Hunton the bleeding process
was stopped, but not until DR.. ivy
Ia had repeatedly protested that too
muck blood was being taken from the
old man.
Epidemic Of Typhoid.
Beginning early in December an cpl
demic Of typhoid fever broke out in
the SWope household, during which
ten members OF the family were stric
en and one, Chrisman Swope. a bro
thor Of Dr Hvda'c wifa diad