Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-09
Coroner's Jury Found 1t Resulted
From Strychnine Administered
In Capsule by DR.. Hyde.
WAS THE INTENT FEL0NI0US?
No Answer Attcmpted-Last Day of
Inquest Was the Most Scnsa-
iional of All.

came 10 MS uealh Dy reason OF Strycn-
nine administered In capsule by DIR
j. C. Hyde. but whether by felonious
intent or not, we. the jury. arc unable
TO say"
1t lacked just few minutes Of being
an hour after the end of the inquest
when it was announced that the jury
was ready TO report.
After the six Jurors had taken their
eeats Coroner Zwart asked.
Gentlemen, have you arrived at a
verdict?"
I'VE have" replied Samuel H. Wood
son, the foreman, who then read the
document.
I'VE, the coroncr's jury" he read.
Summoned urgently to inquire by
what means Thomas II. Swope came to
bis dclth. find from the evidence ad-
duced before us and from our knowl-
edge. that said deceased came to his
death by strychnlne poisoning. and we
believe said strychnine poison was ad-
mirlstered in a capsule at $50 o'clock
a. m. on the day he died by the dlrec
tIol of DR.. B. c. Hyde, whether with
fclonious intent we. the jury. are unable
TO decide"
The reading of the verdict caused Dr.
Hyde involuntarily to start forward
in his chair.
Turning TO John NJ. Cleary. one OF
his attorneys. DR.. Hyde asked:
What does that mean?"
Mr. tfl0arX axnIafnnI thn illrV
was unable to determine from the evil
dence presented whether there was
any intent 10 Kill or not.
DR.. Hyde nodded.
Il see." he said
That was all the comment he made.
DR.. Hyde and mis- attorneys soon
were walking down the street on their
way to luncheon. A crowd of sew
eral hundred persons followed. talking
OF the case and predicting what the
future steps might be.
After the verdict, Prosecutor Conk-
ling said he had nothing TO say at this
time as TO the course OF his Office.
This verdict was rendered at O'Clock
this afternoon by the coroncr's jury at
Independence. after being out one hour.
Into the superlatiye OF intensity went
the Swopc inquest today, into the dark
ness OF conjecture and mystery was
again carried the death of Col Thomas
Swopc. For. Dr. B. Clark Hyde, physi-
clan TO Col Swope on the day he died,
prescriber OF digestive capsule which
preceded death only a short while, re-
fused 10 testify to the coroner's jury
and refused even to be sworn.
The scene lasted only q few mo-
ments. In that time more excitement
occurred than for TWO days.
1t was q space OF time in which
pulses bcat with excitement and in
which the eyes of jurymen, spectators,
Witnesses and even the stenographers
forgot everything else except to direct
thelr attention TO the figures which may
determine an arrest in the death In the
case OF Col Swope-Frank p. Walsh,
Hyde's attorney; DR.. B. +. Zwart. coun-
ty coroner; Virgil Conkling, prosecuting
attorney OF Jackson county, and DIR.
Hyde
The morning barely had started when
Dr.. ZwGrt looked at a piece of paper
upon which he carried the list OF wit
nesses. His lips were just beginning
10 frame the name OF DR.. Hyde when
Atty Walsh arose and bent over the
table. The courtroom became suddenly
quiet. MI Walsh began slowly:
DIR. HYDE ADVISED
"Thc attorneys for DR.. Hyde have
advised him not 10 testify" Mr.. Walsh
said
we don't care for him to testify
here and therefore at our suggestion
he must decline to be sworn
Another man was standing close by
ut this time and in his hand there
was copy of q newspaper. the pages
OF which were being rapidly turned to
certain place The man was VIr-
gll ConklIng. prosecuting attorney. He.
TOO, spoke his words slowly. with pre-
cis.on and almost coldness.
I have here a copy OF a newspaper
OF Feb L. he began. 1t contains
signed statement by DR.. B. c. Hyde.
and In the light of his refusal TO tcsti-
fy. desire to"
There was an interruption from Mr..
walsh and this time the slowness OF
inc speech OF the attorney was gone.
II this Is done for the purpose of
publication, ho almost shouted i"
Or. Zwart was on his feet and be-
tween the two men and for a moment
ne and Mr.. Conkling conyersed in
whisper
II must insist upon It," Dr. zwart
said to Mr. Conkling, and just what
'ne conversation was about the audi
ehce did not know. Soon there came
Ire explanation.
Certainly. I'll see you privately"
Mr Conkllng said. and together they
left the room.
"hen the coroner and the prosecut-
ing attorney returned, DR.. Zwart said:
still hold that the coroner has the
right TO examine witnesses and that DR.,
hyde was subpOenaed In the regular
way and is therefore entitled TO testi-
fy"
REFUSES TO BE SWORN.
J stated bcforc that on the advice OF
counsel DR.. hyde refuses TO be sworn
TO testify" promptly replied Atty.
walsh, and since that
There had come another interruption
by Prosecuting Atty. conkling.
The prosecutor asks thnt the same
rule apply as With all Witnesses he
said vchcmentiy
We refuse to allow the witness to
testify" insisted Walsh.
The coroner insists" DR.. Zwart an
swered hastily.
Counsel refuses to allow the witness
TO testify"
DR.. Zwart sat down. Then Virgil
Conkling still with the newspaper
copy OF Dr. Hydes statement In his
hand, the statement In which DR.. Hyde
said that he was ready and willing TO
testify at an inquiry. that he was eager
FOR an investigation and anxious that
the mystery OF Col Swopc's death be
cleared UP. looked at DR.. Hyde at al
torneys and at the spectators HIS
voice became hard Then" he said