Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-27
DR.. HYDE BOUGHT
CYANIDE BEFORE
COL. SW0PE DIED
Druggist and Three Clerks Tell
Jury of Purchase Of Twenty
Capsules of Poison.

KANSAS CITY, April 27-Cyanide of
potassium, the deadly poison which
the State accuses DIR. Hyde of giving
Colonel Thomas H. Swope, causing his
death, played an important role in the
physicians murder trial today.
Hugh Brecklein, a druggist, and 49,
of his employees testified that on three
occasions. in September and December,
1909. DR.. Hyde purchased a total Of
twenty five-grain capsules of the poison
at their place of business.
So dangerous was this poison and SO
rare were sales OF 1t in capsule form,
said Mr.. Brecklein, that he at once in
formed DR.. Hyde of its deadly qualities
and told him that unless he promised
to handle the capsules himself and
throw away what he did not use, he
would refuse to sell them to him.
To this, testified the druggist, DIR.
Hyde answered he was acquainted with
the nature of the poison and wanted
only to kill dogs with it.
The physician made nc mention of
desiring to rid his office of vermin,
said Mr.. Brecklein. This was the use
the poison vas put TO, claimed the
defense in it's opening statement.
Just before the moor recess DR.. A. L.
Stewart, a bacteriologist, took the
stand. 1t was from him DIR. Hyde OBJ
tanned the typhoid germs with which
he is alleged to have inoculated the
Swope family and others.
The story Of DR.. B.. c. Hyde's alleged
purchases of poison entered actively
into the trial this morning when Miss
Ada Hoover, a bookkeeper and phar-
macist, employed by Hugo Brecklein,
a druggist, took the witness stand.
She brought with her books in which
was Hyde's account.
Brecklein's pharmacy was burned last
December, but the books were stored in
a safe and were not injured.
Miss Hoover was questioned on DIR.
Hyde's alleged purchase Of culture
media and some digestive tablets dur
! ing November, 1909. The books showed
that during this month the physician
bought POI culture media such as are
used for development of typhoid germs.
Cyanide of potassium was first men
toned by Prosecutor Conkling when
he read the accounts offered as evil
dence. They showed DR.. Hyde was
| Slial with dA ildoiii6 lOai an
capsules of cyanide September 10, four
December 8 and twelve on December y.
Lazier Williams, a clerk at the
Brecklein store, testified to an alleged
purchase of six five-grain capsules of
cyanide of potassium by DIR. Hyde on
December 5. The order, said Williams,
vas first telephoned to the store and
Mr.. Brecklein, suspecting error, ordered
the clerk to telephone DIR. Hyde and see
if it vas correct.
II called DR.. Hyde and asked him
is he ordered the cyanide" said Will
Jams.
He answered he had. l inquired
what he wanted to do with it. He said
lhe desired to kill dogs"
Attorneys for DIR. Hyde objected to
the testimony, maintaining that the
events narrated took place two months
after the death of Colonel Swope. The
court overruled the objection
did you ever sell cyanide of potas-
SUM in capsule form to anybody but
DIR. Hyde?'
mo, sir"
DR.. Hyde, said Brecklein, called at
the store for the capsules on December
S. 81 told him." said Mr.. Brecklein'
that he knew the poisonous nature oil
the drug and it was very dangerous
to have around the house. Some one,
1 told him, might mistake the capsules
for some other kind and take them
which would result in death. | told
him l would give him the poison only
with the understanding that he
it himself n destroy the part of it he
did not use.
did he mention that he wanted y
kill dogs or ~cockroaches in his office?
asked MI. Conkling.
"He did not answered the witness.
In his experience. he testified, ne
never heard of cyanide being used to
kill vermin. Neither did he recall ever
having sold any cyanide in lump form
Two capsules filed by Mr.. Breekleln
were exhibited. The druggist said ne
had taken one three grain capsule and
put into it five grains of cyanide ant
one grain OF strychnine.
Attention was called by the State to
the similarity in appearance between
digestive capsules and the cyanide cap
sules.