The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-28
Large Quantity of Cyanide of
Potassium Bought by Doctor
Accused of Murder.
STRANGE CASE DEVELOPS
ADDITIONAL SENSATIONS
Gave as Reason for Securing the
Poison That He Wanted TO
Kill Dogs.

KANSAS CITY, April 27.-Cyanide
Of potassium, the deadly poison which
the state contends Dr. Hyde gave
Colonel Thomas II. Swope before his
death. played an important role in the
physician s murder trial today. Hugo
Brecklein, druggist. and three of his
employees testified that on three oc-
casions, in September and December,
1909. DR., Hyde purchased a total of
twenty fve-grain capsules of the poison
at his place of business.
So dangerous was this poison and
so rare were sales of it IN capsule form,
said Mr., Brecklein, that he once
warned DIR. Hyde of its deadly quail
ties and told him that unless he prom
ised to handle the capsules himself and
destroy what he did not use he would
refuse TO sell them to him.
To this, the witness said, DR.. Hyde
replied that he was acquainted with
he nature OF the poison. and wanted
It only for the purpose of killing dogs.
The physician made no mention of
desiring to rid his office of vermin, said
Mr., Brecklein, This was the use the
pOiSOu WAS put 10. utlcHoS
| In its opening statement.
Before the noon recess DR.. A, l.
| Stewart, bacteriologist, took the
| stand. it was frum him DR.. Hyde OBJ
| tanned the germs with which he is al
legged to have lnocuJated the Swope
family and others.
Record Shows Purchases
The story of Dr. b Clark Hyde IS al
legged purchases of poison entered ac-
lively into the trial this morning, when
Miss Ada Hoover, bookkeeper and
pharmacist employed by Hugo Breck-
leln, druggist, took the witness stand.
She brought with her books in which
were Hyde IS account.
Brecklen's pharmacy was burned
last December. but the books were
stored in safe and werc not injured.
The state said IN Its opening statement
1t would show DR.. HYDE purchased cya
nide of potassium at the drug store
several times last fall
Oscar Brecklein. another pharmacist,
identified the entries made in the
books by Miss Hoover.
Cyanide of potassium was first men
toned by Prosecutor Conkling when,
after Mr. Breckleiu had been excused,
he read the accounts offered as evil
dence. They showed DR.. HYDE was
charged with purchasing four five grain
capsules of cyanide on September 13,
four ON December aud twelve on De-
cember 9.
Fred W. Sulten, druggist of ST
Louis, testified that coctina pills were
heart stimulants, but contained no
strychninc, The pills were in use in
the Swope house.
Lazier Williams, clerk at the Breck-
lein store, testified to an alleged pur-
chase of six tiveg grain capsules Of eva
nide Of potassium by DR.. Hyde on De-
cember 5. Tho order. said Williams,
Mr. Brecklein, suspectng error. ordered
the clerk to telephone Dr.. Hyde and
see if ii was correct.
Had Plausible Explanation
f'I called Dr. Hyde and asked him
If he ordered the cyanide said vii. |
liams. He answered he had. ] in.
quired what he wanted to do with it. |
He said he desired to kill dogs"
"Did You then fill the order?' asked |
Prosecutor Conklipg.
"I did -
"Did you ever before sell cyanide
of potassium 10 a physician1' queried |
Mr., Conkhng
''Never,' was answered
"Did You ever sell it in capsule form
to anybody but DR., Hyde?'
ENo. sir -
Attorney Walsh asked but one oues.
tiou on cross examination if the poi.
son was ever sold in lump form. The
witness said II was not
John Massman, another of Brecklein s
clerks. was next called.
Mr., Massmap merely corroborated
the sale OF cyanide TO DR.. Hyde on Sep
tember l3
Hugo Brecklein was the next wit.
ness.
Dr. Hyde. said Mr., Breckleln. called at
the store for the capsules on December ;
and a conversation followed.
Druggist Was Suspicious.
II told him" said Mr.. Brec<lcIn that
he knew the poisonous nature OF the
drug and II was very dangerous TO have
around the house. Some one. | told him
might mistake the capsules for some
other kind. and take them. which would
result I'm death. ! told him I would give
him the poison only with the understand
Ing that he handle II himself and de-
stroy the part OF il he did not use.
"Dr. Hyde told me he wanted TO XIII
some dogs which had bothered him con
did he mention that lie wanted TO kin
bugs or cockroaches In his office" asked
Mr., ConSling.
HE did not" answered the witness.
Mr., Brecklain said In twenty three
years he had been a druggist he never
had sold cyanide for medicinal purposes
aud never before in capsule form, In /
his experience, he testified ho never ,
Conijnue1 IN pnuo 1'wn =