The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-04
Most Important Witness for
State in Hyde Murdeg
Trial Is Heard.
PRESENCE OF CYANIDE
AND STRYCHNIA ALLEGED
Day One That Seems to BOde no
Favorable Outlook for
the Defense.

KANSAS CITY. May 3.-Dr. Victor
c. Vaughn, toxocologist of Ann Arbor,
Mich, and regarded by the state as
its most important witness in the Hyde
murder trial, began his testimony lato
today
Searches for poison made by him
alone and also with DIR. Walter s.
Haines of Chicago, said DIR. Vaughn,
had resulted IN the discovery of the
following;
Twentvsi1 thirty thirds of a grain
of strychnia III the entire liver of Colo
mel Swope; signs of cyanide in the
stomach; trace of strychnia in al
kidney; suggestion, but no positive
proof Of cyanide in the stomach of
Chrisman Swope; strychnia in the con
tents of the stomach of Miss Marga-
rot Swope; cyanide in capsules said to
have been thrown into a street by DR..
Hyde the night he was expelled from
the Swope home, last December Is.
In reply to hypothetical questions re.
gsrding the convulsions Of Colonel
Thomas H., Chrisman and Margaret
Swope, DIR. Vaughn said. in his opinion
they had been caused by the admins
tration Of some convulsive poison. Cya-
nide or strycbnine would produce such
symptoms, said the witness.
Sums UP Conclusions.
Judging from his investigation of
the tragedies, said the toxicologist, he
did not believe Colonel Swope died
from apopexy or uraemlc poisoning,
or Chrisman Swope from meningitis.
While on the stand DR.. Vaughn pro-
cured what was purported to be strych-
MIA taken from the liver of Colonel
Swope. Attorney Reed held up the
exhibit and announced what the scien-
Mrs Swope cried Mrs. Hyde listened
attentively 10 the attorneys words.
Jurymen were permitted to look at
the alleged drug through magnifying
glass. Attorneys for DR.. Hyde made
strenuous objection to this, but were
overrulcd. There probably was two
hundred and fftieth of grain Of the
half grain, he testified, would kill a
person,
Strychnia when administered with
cyanide, said DR.. Vaughn, would have
a tendency to prolong life. Had spots
such as, are said to have appeared on
convulsions might indicate cyanide
poisoning, the physician testified.
Or. IlaineS was the only witness be-
sides DR., Vaughn today. He said the
traces of strychnia he said he found
in the bodies he examined referred to
PARTICLES of the drug of less than one
two hundred and fortieih of grain.
Review of Testimony
In his testimony yesterday DR.. Halnes
told of finding traces of strychnine in
the ejecta of Margaret Swope, IN the
brain and stomach of Colonel Thomas
III. Swopo and the liver and stomach
Of Chrsman Swope. There was no large
amount in either case, he testified Cy-
anIde was found by him and DIR. Vic
tor G, Vaughn in the stomach of Colo
mel Swope and on capsules which DR.,
Hyde IS alleged to have discarded IN
n street in Independence, he said.
The motion made by the defense yes
terday to strike out the testimony OF
DR., Hainos, on the ground that it was
speculative and irrelevant, was over
ruled by Judge Latshaw at the open
ing of court today, The court did not
pass on the motion until it had read all
the scientist IS testimony,
Envelopes which contained the cap
sules and the cards upon which they
were fastened were offered in evil
denee Stains upon the paper were
made by cyanide and melted snow, tes
titled the witness. There was no pos
sibility of the poison found having
come from any constituent part of the
paper, said DR.. Haines. A small frag
ment of capsule was also exhibited.
"What is the odor of cyanideS''
asked Mr.. Reed.
the witness.
: This odor could be readily detected
on the hands after cyanide had been
handled, testified the physician.
Describing the nature of cyanide, DR..
Haines said:
''The poison may disappear from a
body in a few days or may remain for
several months. 1t is volatile poi
SON.
Embalming fluid would harden the
tissues and tend TO prevent the escape
of the poison, said tho toxicoiogist
Yolatilzation of the cyanide would |
be prevented, in measure. if 4 body |
was frozen, said the witness.
Question of Amount
'FWhat are fatal doses OF strychnine
and cyauide7" queried Mr. Reed.
GA third to half grain nS strych-
njne and from three to Gve grains of
Attorney Walsh took the witness,
"What dc you mean by trace OF
strychniDc?" asked Mr. Walsh.
"Au amount so small that it can.
not be weighed" F" reulied the witness.
Further questioning developed that
strychnIne IN amounts o: l-b1Oth or
grain could be weighed.
The frequently discussed question of
the sdmiSslbility OF the testimony regard
ing the attempts Of DR.. Eydos repre-
seutatives to obtain the viscer.is from DR..
Haines argued again today. This
question occupied tho greater part Of the
morning. Tho testimony was not ad-
mitted,
When on March the first demand was
made for the organs DR.. Haines had ad
mitted that no poisons In dangerous guam
titles had been found by him. Mr.. Walsh
therefore held that * was only fair al
that time 10 have permitted Dr. II. y
Smith. one OF DR.. Hydc's chemists, known
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