Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-03
EXPERT DESCRIBES
FINDING Of POISON
Chicago ToxicoIogist Admits at
Hyde Trial He Discovered
Little Himself
MRS. SW0PE WILL TESTIFY
Widow of Millionaire Expected to
Tell an Interesting Story
Tomorrow
MRS. SWoPE WILL TESTIFY
Associated PressI

KANSAS CITY, May 2.-Dr. Walter
S. Haines, the Chicago toxicologist,
told at the Hyde murder trial today the
alleged results of his search for poisons.
In so far as the toxicologist's person
al Investigations were concerned, he
admitted they had resulted in finding
but little dangerous drugs. With but
one exception, said DR.. Haines, he had
found cyanide of potassium only when
collaborating with DIR. Victor Z.
Vaughn Of Ann Arbor, Mich.
In a part of the stomach of Col.
Thomas II. Swope, testified DR.. Haines,
he found two-hundredths of a grain of
strychnine. The physician said a small
trace of the same drug was located IN
the brain. With the aid of DIR. Vaughn,
DIR. Haines testified, he discovered some
cyanide in the stomach.
Only slight traces of strychnine were
claimed by DR.. Haines to have been
found by him in the stomach and liver
of Chrisman Swope. 1t was the belief
of hemself and DR. Vaughn, said the
witness. that there were signs of cyan
ide in their test of the stomach, but
they were unable to locate definitely
any of this drug
DR.. Haines said that both himself
and Dr. Vaughn found cyanide In the
have thrown away.
Strychnia was found in the ejecta of
Miss Margaret Swope both by himself
and by DR.. Vaughn, said DIR. Haines.
Telling of his examination of the
viscera of Chrisman Swope. the witness
said:
WITNESS TELLS OF TESTS
II took half of the stomach contents
and testing it for strychnine, found a
of
"A preliminary test of the stomach
for cyanide showed none of this poison.
Collaborating with DIR. Vaughn later
we found on a preliminary test what
appeared TO be cyanide. None OF the
drug was shown on conclusive test,
however. Continuing my work alone, l
located no cyanide.
.The liver revealed small amount
of strychnine, but no cyanide
DR.. Haines could not tell the exact
amount of strychnine he found.
Examinations of the capsules said TO
have been thrown away by DIR. Hyde,
and the stains on the envelope contain
ing them, revealed cyanide, said DIR.
Haines Tests for other poisons showed
nothing. he testified.
Poison was also found in the viscera
of Col Thomas II. Swope, said the
physician.
ach for strychnine and found less than
a two-hundredth of a grain" said DR..
Haines Making a preliminary test
for cyanide / failed to find it. DR..
Vaughn and 1 later located small
amount of cyanide in the stomach.
The test was a decided one. In the
liver there was revealed a trace or
strychnine There was also a response
to the strychnine test made by me on
the BRAIN"
DEFENSE MAKES OBJECTIONS
IL la
terInined effort to have the court eX-
clude that portion of the testimony
relating to the tests made upon the
eiecta of Margaret Swope, the result
of the findings in Chrisman Swopes
viscera and the examination OF the
capsules, holding that it was irrele,
want to the trial. The court adjourned
the session early in order that 1t
might have a copy of Dr.. Haines' tes-
timony to study and be able to pass
intelligently upon the objection tomor-
row morning
Attorney Frank p. Walsh resumed
his cross-examination of DR.. Ludwig
Iiektoen when court convened this
morning. Progress was slow and
wrangles between attorneys frequent.
1t was then that Judge Latshaw an
nounced he would hold night sessions
of court until the evidence is COM
pleted
Mr.. Walsh attacked DIR. Hehtoen's
testimony in part with a textbook
which the pathologist collaborated in
writing. Among the things done in
the autopsy on Col. Swope and advised
against by DR.. Hektoen in the book
were
Hot water was used in thawing out
the body.
The brain was taken out while frozen
hard.
The brain was severed at the base
nf LOi
The brain was cracked in the course
of removal.
Dr. Hektoen's book was urgent in
it's warning regarding thawing out
body with water The law of Germany
prohibiting such action was cited by
the textbook.
Only the accidental severing of the
base of the brain prevented his using
a knife, said the witness.
The contents of the bladder were
thrown away. The text said traces Of
strychnine were readily found in the
urine.
on direct examination the witness
said that but one of Chrisman Swopes
lungs was congested Today he said
both were affected.
MRS. swOPE To TESTIFY
Mrs. Swope who IS financing, in the
main, the prosecution of DR.. Hyde,
will be the last states witness. Her
reached Wednesday. Interest now
centers in her appearance on the
stand as it is believed her story will
be full of human interest. When Mrs.
Swope gave her deposition recently in
a civil suit brought by the accused
physician she refused to confine her.
self to answering the questions asked
her.
The fight between Dr. Hydes attor-
neys and Drs. Haines and Vaughn will
center on the alleged finding of cya-
nide of potassium in the viscera of
Col. and Chrisman Swope. The de-
Tense AYERS this only an eleventh hour
report made by the chemists in order
to support the states case. The charge
that cyanide of potassium had been
used by DR.. Hyde was not made until
Attorney James A. Reed delivered the
opening statement for the prosecution.
Judge Latshaw today upheld the
states objection to the defense's in
ouiry of Dr. Ludwig Hektoen if rep
) resentatives of DR.. Hyde did not call
upon him on March 1 and demand
parts of the viscera of Col. Thomas H.
and Chrisman Swope.
The defense did not request the
court to appoint commission of med
. ical experts to examine the remaining
parts Of the viscera of the Swopes.