Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-23
DR.. HYDE NAMED
SWOPE TO DIE
Predicted Aged MiIIionaire's Fate,
Nurse Says.
PATIENT WAS RECOVERING

Miss Keller's Efforts to Describe
Other Deaths in swope Family
Causes Profess From Defense
Point Still Unsettled When Court
Adjourns-crowds at Kansas City,
Mo, Trial Bring Their Lunches
Kansas City, Mo-, April 20.-"Col.
Swope will never return to Kansas
City" said DR.. B. c. Hyde shortly be-
fore Mr.. Swope's death, according to
Miss Pearl Keller. a nurse who testi-
fled in the trial of DR.. Hyde for the
murder of Col. Swope. Miss Keller
was attending Col. Swope at indie
pendence, Mo-, at that time.
DR.. Hyde's remark, said Miss KEEL
Ter, followed her informing the physi-
clan that Col. Swope planned to re-
turn to his home in Kansas City in
a few day.. Her patient was at that
time, testified the nurse, in better
! physical condition than he had been
for weeks. He was able to take daily
drives, and seemed in good spirits,
she said.
This was the only important bit of
testimony Miss Keller was allowed 20
give before a legal debate arose, and
she was excused while the court dis
nissed the jurors and heard argu-
ments on the law.
Defense Makes Objection.
Between the time DIR. Hyde is al
legged to have made the ominous re-
mark and Col. Swope's death, James
Moss Hunton, a cousin of Swope's
died. Miss Keller, taking up the
Swope mysteries in chronological or
der, had begun to tell of the illness
of Hunton when the defense objected
that testimony regarding other deaths
than that of Col. Swope should not
be admitted.
Arguments were not completed when
court adjourned.
Miss Keller was the first important
witness called by the State after
Frank P. Walsh delivered the open
ing statement for the defense, accupy-l
ing the entire morning session. His
address contained many rebukes for
Mrs. Logan O.. Swope, charges of
trickery against the chemists who
were employed to make the analysis
of the visceras of Thomas H. and
Chrisman Swope and a prediction
| that the defense would be able to dis.
prove every charge made against DR..
| Hyde by the State.
Miss kelIer's Testimony.
On September 10, 1909, at the re-
| quest of DR.. Hyde, Miss Keller testi-
/ fled, she went to the Swope home to
Iattend Col. Swope.
The physician told her that while
| Col. Swope was not in a serious con-
| dition. he was suffering from a bruised
| shoulder and needed some one to at
tend him constantly.
In order to refresh her memory,
| Miss Keller referred frequently to
her nursing chart. Examination of
| this chart by the attorneys showed it
| was not kept during the last week OF
| Col. Swope's illness. Asked to ex-
| plain, the nurse said:
"Col. Swope objected so strongly
| to our keeping a record that We had
| 20 give it Up, and DR.. Hyde SAID that
| the colonel was doing so well it would
not be necessary to keep a record.
Col. Swope, she said, was often irri-
table. The note refused attention"
appeared frequently on the chart.
Took strychnine Tonic.
The first record of Swope taking
any of the s%trychnine tonic, which he
obtained at a drug store nea his
home, appeared under the date of
September %.
Once or twice a day, at this time,
the patient would take a tablespoon
full of this mixture, testified Miss Kel-
Ter. He ceased to take this tonic four
days before his death, she said.
"Col. Swope was feeling unusually
we'll on October l." said Miss Keller.
"He talked of returning to Kansas
City, | was well pleased with his con-
| dition. We were taking daily drives
together.
But when l spoke to DR.. Hyde
about my p~atients's condition, he said.
"Col. Swope will never return to
Kansas City"
The courtroom was crowded. Two
! hundred persons brought their lunch
cons, and at the noon recess of two
hours remained in their seats that
they might hear the afternoon pro-
)naadipuc