Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-04-19


the state completed its opening statement
in the murder trial Of Dr. b. c. HYDE to-
day when Or. G. T. Twyman. one OF the
prosecutions most important witnesses.
died al a local hospital He was stricken
last Saturday. Acute diverticulius caused
death
Dr. Twy-nan was for years the swope
family physician. when the nurses struck
at the residence and accused Dr. Hyde
they carried their complaint 20 DIT. ivy
nan He called Dr. Hyde TO his offics
and told him he was suspected. In other
matters than those pertaining to his duties
as a physician. Dr. Twyman was a confl-
dent OF the swope family. Upon him the
stste depended largely to prove that DR..
Hyde bled James Moss Hunton 10 death
He was also expected to testify regarding
the alleged attempt Of DR.. Hyde to poison
Miss Margaret swops Miss swope was
DR.. Twyman's patient when It is said Dr
Hyde tried to kin her.
When Dr. Hyde's attorneys took a deposit
tion from Or. Twyman he refused TO criti-
else DR.. Hyde. without going into detail.
DR.. Twyman said he approved, in general,
DR.. Hyde's work in connection with the
illness Of various members OF the swops
family.
Valuable stare htNmeaas
So valuable did the state consider the
testimony OF Dr. Twyman that at one time
Prosecutor Conkling thought Of dismiEsine
the jury. which had been chosen but rot
sworn. and awaiting the recovery OF the
physician before beginning the trial.
DR.. HYDE sat calmly between his wife
and his father in the criminal court room
toeay and heard himself described as
~ made him
a prisoner and murderer.
! II was Attorney James A. Reed who u
the course Of delivering tho prosecuticna
opening statement in the case. thus painte
the physician throughout the long ordeal
Of hearing the excoriatins address Hydf
listened attentively. Al 40 time did he re-
veal a SIGN OF perturbation. When Mr.
Reed closed, Mrs. Hyde turned, patted her
husband on a shoulder and said: ''for
dic fine
A few feet behind the Hydes sat Mrs.
Logan o. Swope mother OF Mrs. Hyde.
! and employer OF Attorney Reed. shee, too
raid strict attention to the address, bu
displayed no emotion.
I Many members OF the swope family were
present when court opened The stat OBJ
Jectcd to the presence Of Mrs Hyde Judg'
/ I.atshaw ruled that all witnesses in th'
]
/ should be excluded from tie room
Lawyers CIaah.
Clashes between attorneys kept kept TIN
I spectators alert The defense made cariy
and active objection 10 the state telling thS
jury Of any incidents In the Swope homS
not directly Onnected WITH the death Of
Colonel swope The court decided to ad-
NIT all circumstances which the state aver
will tend to shom that plot existed to ex.
terminate the entire Swope family. Al
I though this ruling was made early in tn,
/ morning session the counsel for the de-
fense never ceased 10 make strenuous ar
I gument against such procedure. At one
Z time rank r. Walsh. chief counsel for DIT.
Hyde, became so severely exercised oveE
I the point that he made e vicious ATTACK
OF states witnesses. characteTizing soma
OF them as liars and thieves"
As a result Of the courts decision regard
ing this Introduction Of testimony. the
whole panorama Of Incidents in the Swope
residence from the first Illness Of Colonel
Swope was displayed Every death In the
house. every illness Of members Of the
Swope family and others. which the state
alleges DR.. Hyde caused. and a great num-
Der Of suspicious that have been formed
was reviewed.
I ~ one tiiLe IL seemed Are tnuHTUuEf
secrets OF the domestic warfare in the
swope family would be exposed. When
Mr.. Reed launched on the history OF the
Z eourtship OF Dr. and Mrs. Hyde. which
ended in an elopement ana for years caused
family estrangement spectators leaned
forward eagerly. Mr. Walsh quickly in
/ terposed an objection TO the telling OF this
story and the coudt sustained him
COurt Room Crowded. - -
Hundreds OF epople were unable TO get
into the court room The seats were filled
an hour before the session started. Later
the aisles filled. Many spectators brought
lunch with them. The crowd was quiet and
orderly.
Ehe charge that Dr. Hyde poisoned
Colonel Thomas II. and chrlsman swope
I by the use OF cyanide o. potassium as well
/ stryehnine. wa sthe only new feature
brought out in Mr.. Reeds address. Dr.
Hyde purchased large quantities OF cyanide
OF potassium capsules at a local drug
store which was recently burned. it was
said. According to Mr. Reed, however. the
/ poison" books OF the druggist. containing
records Of Hyde's purchases. we're saved.
simultaneously with the buying OF the
eyaniee capsules. said AR. Reed the ply
sician obtained a quantity OF Hollenden
/ digestive tables. similar IN appearance 10
: the poison, By the use Of the digestive
capsules. the attorney charged, Dr. Hyde
hoped TO cover up the fact that he had
administered poison TO his victims
Mrs. HYDE AIIowec 60 stay.
/ After prosecutor conkiing lad read the
Indictment Mr. Reed approached the court
and said;
Your honor. We object 20 the presence Of
Mrs. Hyde In thc court room during the
making Of this statement"
Mrs. Hyde heard the remark Leaning
Z forward she listened eagerly to ever:
word the court said on the matter.
! Judge Latshaw ruled that Mrs Hyde an.
Mrs- sWODe might remain in the courf