Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-09
Nurse Keller Tells Jury Her Be-
lief That Mysterious Capsule
Given by DR., Hyde Caused
Death.
DETAILED STORY OF THE
MILLI0NAIRE'S DEATH
Will Taken From Dead Mans
Vest Pocket Five Minutes
After Death by Doctor and
Lawyer,
NY Morning Journal specinl ensed wireI

IBy Morning Journal specinl leased Wirel
Kansas City, Feb S.-With the tes-
fimony OF Miss Pearl Keller nurse Of
DR. Ludwig Hektoen. Of Mrs Logan
II. Swope and Of Or. Frank Han. in
the inquest over the body of the late
Colonel Swopc in Independence today,
came developments in the mystery Of
the millionares death more startling
than any facts heretofore adduced.
Miss Kellers detailed story Of the
last moments of Colonel SWopc's life
replete with startling features, pro-
duccd sensation. So carefully had
her story been guarded that not until
today had any one outside the inn
mediate circle interested heard her
narrative.
Miss Keller testified that immed
ately following the death Of Col.
Thomas Moss Hunton. Dr. b. c. HYDE
asked her to use her influence with
Colonel Swope to have him appointed
administrator of the Swope's estate.
Colonel Ilunton had been the admin
istrator
on the morning of Colonel Swope's
death she gave him three grain cap
sule. supposed to contain dyspepsia
medicine. This she did at the diree-
tion Of DR. Hyde Twenty minutes
later Colonel Swope was in a convul-
sion. His death soon followed
Several minutes after Colonel Swope S
death DR. Hyde appeared. and with
Attorney John g. Paxton, secured Col
onel Swopes will from his vest pocket
DR.. Hektoen testified that one-siXth
of a grain Of strNchnine was found in
one-seventh part Of Colonel Swope's
liver. He believed there might be a
grain in the entire organ. Half a
grain would cause death, Traces of
strychnine were found in the stom-
ach.
Strychnine might have been inject
ed into the body after death.
He did not believe the taking of
medicine containing strychnine would
leave as much as a grain of the poison
in the liver.
Mrs. Swope testified that DR.. Hyde !
knew of Colonel Swope's intention to
give S1,500.000 to charity and of his
plan to change his will to this effect. I
She also said that Colonel Swope had
told DR. Hyde he had planned to give
Thomas Swope the largest part of his
estate She denied she entertained
any i'll feeling against Dr. Hyde.
DR. Frank Hall said he was abso-
lutely certain Colonel SWope did not
die from cerebral hemorIhage or
apopleXy.
Q. H. Gentry. d druggist of Indepen
dence, said he prepared the medicine
for Colonel Swope that contained
elixir of iron. quinine and strychnine.
The strychnine. in teaspoonfbl,
amounted to but one one-hundred and
eightieth Of grain he said.
DR. Hyde was again present az the
inquest today and heard every word (
of the testimony Especially did he
follow the testimony of Miss Keller .
CLOSELY But he gave no sign that her
narrative perturbed him in the least
She told in detail how she gave the
man capsule and how he passed into +
convulsions. While raVlng; ne eilea;
"Oh. my God; WISH had not
taken that medicine: | wish l were
dead.
Miss Keller also said that DR.. Hyde
suggested to her that she ought To
charge S35 instead of $50 q week Tor
her services.
After shh had given most Of her tes-
timony and the room was quiet, Cor
oner Swart asked her:
DO you know Of anything that
might have caused Colonel SwOpe's
death other than that capsule
Il do not, she replied firmly.
The report made by DR.. Hektoen on
the liver WAS supported by affdavits
from Drs. Walter S. Haines and Victor
G. Vaughn. The report on the condi-
ton of the stomach was given verbally
bv DR.. Hektoen. Dr. Hektoen said the
examination of the organs of the body
had not been completed.
A question that may have great
hearing on The case WAS asked by
1uryman during the afternoon It
was
Gould the body absorb strychnine
that had been injected after death
Yes" DR.. Hektoen replied. If
had been injected after
death and the body had lain for a long
time the poison could have found its
way to other parts of the body through
diffusion. Strychnine would have to
be solution for that. ard it would
spread through the tissues.
Mrs. Swope told of the many eccen-
tricities of Colonel SWope. She said !
he had thought FOR twenty-five years
that his death was imminent.
I'm the same as a dead man,
she testified he once said TO rela-
tive I'm just walking around 10 t
save funeral expenses.
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