The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-10
HYDE ON STAND.
The Defendant Emerges From
His Cell Smiling.
Resumed His Testimony in Trial
for Murder.
MAKES GOOD WITNESS.
His Wife Completes Her Story
of SWOpe Tragedy.
Taking of Evidence in Famous
Case Nearly Completed.

Kansas City, Mo, May 10.-Emphat-
lcally denying that he ever poisoned
any member of the Swope family or
any other person, DR.. B. c. Hyde to-
day completed his direct testimony in
his trial for murder. His cross-exami-
nation was not completed at noon. Dr.
Hyde's dealings with cyanide of potas-
SUM formed the subject of the larger
part of his examination. The physician
acknoWledged his purchases of the
poison He said he used the drug to
kill insects, clean nitrate of silver
stains from his hands and to disinfect
towels.
On cross-examination DIR. Hyde said
while he had used cyanide for several
years he could recall any place he ever
purchased it except at Becklein's drug
store here where he bought 100 grains
of the drug last fall.
the physician testified he learned
from pamphlet that cyanide would
Kill bugs. Government scientists. he
said, had also recommended the use of
the drug for this purpose.
Some of the cyanide, the witness
averred, disappeared at the same time
that DR.. E. L. Stewart took germs from
the office. In this connection DR.. Hyde
also averred he planned as early as
August, 1908, to experiment with vari-
Gus kinds Of germs.
Prosecutor Conkling introduced on
cross-examination several patent hug
powders and asked DR.. Hyde why he
did not use them. DR.. Hyde said ne
used so much bug powder that proved
ineffective that he finally gave up ex-
perimenting with it and began the use
of cyanide.
Frequently during the morning Pros
ecutor COnkling and the defendant ex-
changed remarks, the witness express
ing his opinion that the examination
was improper.
Testimony in Detail.
Kansas City, Mo-, May 10.-Dr. B. C.
Hyde resumed his testimony in his own
behalf when the criminal court session
opened this morning.
The physician smiled as he came out
OF his cell and skipped up the steps
that led into the court room. Mrs. Hyde
was waiting for him.
"Testifying doesn't make me nerv-
ous," he said. ''I'm glad to have an
opportunity to tell my story"
Attorney Walsh said he would finish
his direct examined ton of Dr.. Hyde in
about an hour. The belief was that the
state would complete it's cross-eXami-
nation of the witness by noon.
did you ever after October 2, have
anything to do with the capsule you
gave the nurse for Col Swope?" asked
Mr. Walsh.
NO, sir" replied DR.. Hyde.
did Miss Kellar. ever say to you
that she would dislike to be held re-
sponsibie for Col. Swope's illness if he
got well, as he held the medicine re-
sponsible for his attack"
''She did not"
DR.. Hyde testified he gave Margaret
Swope a hypodermic injection of cam
phorated oil and nothing else. He said
on the morning following the giving of
the hypodermic, Margaret's arm was
swollen
The witness spoke in low voice and
Judge Latshaw was forced to ask him
twice to talk louder.
1t was generally agreed in the Swope
house, said DR.. Hyde that he should
go to New York and meet Lucy Lee
Swope. The physician denied he ever
put any germs in drinking water he is
said to have given the girl. But DIR.
Hyde said he did not recall having CIV
en- her a drink.
Explains Purchase of Cyanide.
upon your return from New York,