The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-04-11
HYDE CASE
IS ON TRIAL

Kansas City, Mo-, April 11.-Dr. c.
B. Hyde appeared before Judge Lat
shaw in criminal court here today to
answer to the charge of numbering
the late Colonel Thomas H. Swope.
the millionaire philantnropist and an
uncle of the physicians wife Colonel
Swope died October third, last. The
death certificate gave apoplexy as the
cause of death DIR. Hyde was in at
tendance and the State charges the
physician with poisoning the million
aire hy administering strychnine to
HIN in capsule form.
The mor.ve o. the alleged crime,
says the State, was to obtain wealth.
by the terms of Colonel Swope's will
Mrs. Hyde was to obtain a snare of
her uncle's property and some money.
Other charges OF murder and at
tempted murder are pending against
DIR. Hyde but will not enter into the
present trial.
Mrs. Hyde, who was among the
first in the court room. stared straight
ahead. apparently obliviUs of lher
mothers presence when Mrs. Swope
came in. AS Mrs Swope sat down she
p-CEC0 at HtT uttuSutti ouu-
denly DIR. Hyde turned in ais chair
and faced her. For just a moment the
two stared defiance at each other. DIR.
Hyde was the first to move his eyes,
He turned and smiled at his wife. who
arose from her chair and took a seat
directly beside her husband.
DIR. Hyde is well pleased with the
manner in which the case is moving. |
He expressed Ainself as especially |
well satisfied with the condition of
his wife, who is expecting a visit |
from the story during the next four |
months.
Prosecutor Conkli7g today for the |
first time, announced his intention of |
asking for the death penalty in case |
a verdict of guilty is returned.
Kansas City, Mo. April l1.-Mystery |
and tragedy. such as would battle the 1
intelligence of a Sherlock Holmes, |
are the warp and woof of uhe Swope \
case. Whether the local detectives |
and police have succeeded in unraveF |
ing the tangled skeia will soon be de |
termined, wnen blind Justice, from |
her temple. points an accusing finger |
at DIR. B. c. Hyde. The trial of the |
physician is set to begin today. and |
the Judge has announced that con |
tinaIance will be granted only for the |
most valid of reasons
DIR. HYDE viii be tried first for the |
alleged murder of Col. Thomas II. |
Swore. an eccentric millionaire of this |
city. Since mis- indictment by the |
grand jury. tne doctor has been at lib |
erty on 100000 bail He steadfastly |
81 HI
ems suit against those instrumental in |
causing his arrest Besides the mur |
der of Col Swope, DIR. Hyde is ac-
cused of the alleged murder of Chris |
man Swope. a nephew of Col. Swope, |
the alleged manslaugnter of James |
Moss Hunton and the alleged poison |
ing OF eight persons.
In several counts DR. Hyde is accus |
ed OF poisoning with typhoid fever
germs with intent to murder the en-
tire Swope household including guests |
and household nelp. All were strick |
en- with fever while DIR. Hyde was at |
tending the Swope family and seeking |
to effect the cure of Col. Thomas |
H Swope, whose sudden death arous |
ed suspicion, and later led to an in |
dictnent for murder Another indict |
-ne7t accuses DIR. Hyde OF ma1SlaIgh
ter by bleeding Col. James NJ. Hun
ton. cousin Of Col Swope. in a neg.
lectful manner.
On Feb .. a coroner's jury that had
Investigated the death of Col. Swope
brought I'm a verdict that the aged
capitalist had died from the effects
of strychnine administered in a cap
eule at the direction of DR. HYDE hut
the jury was unable to determine
whether DIR. Hyde was guilty of fell
onious intent in directing that the
capsule be given.
DR.. Hyde Is nephew by marriage
of the late Col. Swope. He has many
friends among the wealthy people of
Kansas City and Independence who
steadfasbly believe IN his innocence.