The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-30
Hyde Murder Trial Enters Up
on Hypothetical Question
Stage, and Witnesses Are
Piled With Technicalities.
DEFENDANT ASSISTS
HIS LEGAL ADVISERS
Important Facts Concerning
Condition of Col, SWope'S
Vital Organs at the Time Of
Autopsy Brought to Light,
WIFE OF JURYMAN SICK

Kansas City, April 9.-With the call
ing Of DIT. Frank L. Hall, a pathOlOgist,
TO the witness stand today, the Hyde
murder trial entered the complicated
realm of expert testimony
DR.. Hall assisted DR.. Ludwig HektOen
of Chicago to make the autopsy on Col.
Thomas H. Swope's body on January II.
and later conducted an investigation to
determine, if possible, the source of the
typhoid epidemic in the Swope resi-
dence. Practically all the examination
of the pathologist dealt with the cOndi
ton of Col. Swope's vital organs at
the time of the post mortem eXamina-
ton.
on direct examination, Dr. Hall said
he believed there was nOtHing alLUt
the organs to indicate a death from
natural causes.
.iDo you think Col. swope died Of
apoplexy2' asked Attorney Atwood for
the state.
a do not" replied the pathologist.
Prompted by DR.. Hyde, and bringing
into use scores of medical terms At
torney Frank P. Walsh cross examined
the witness. He developed that neither
OF Col. SwOpes kidneys was normal
One had tumOr two inches in length
upon it. Both were cOngested, afro
phied and granular.
If Col SwOpe had died from uraemlc
poisoning, there would have been con-
vuisions, and IT would have been impos-
sible to have located the poison. The
symptom of uraemic poisoning closely
resemble those of cyanide poisoning.
Humorous Growth in Intestines.
There was a humorous growth in the
intestines of Col Swope. Col. SwOpe's
aorta was hardened from the arch 10
below the diaphragm.
In closing his s-eXamination, Mr.
Walsh asked DR. Hall if he did not tell
l. Trrr oh hot he ha1
been called upon to give a death GER
tifieate in Col. Swopes case he would
have ascribed the cause to senile de-
bility.
81 did" answered the witness.
After presenting a long hypothetical
question in which the symptoms of Col.
Swope we're fully described, Mr.. At
wood asked:
Now, in such a case what would
II should say the patient had been
poisoned" replied DR.. Hall
Mr.. Walsh then asked a Hypothetical
question emphasizin the old age and
weaknesses Of Col SwoDe and asked
e. provided IL was not known poison
had been administered. the witness
would say death had resulted from pol
soning.
Could Not Locate Source of Typhoid.
No. 1 should not say it in that case"
responded DR.. Hall.
The witness said he was unable to
locate the source of the typhoid cpl
demic in the Swope residence. 1t seemed
TO him, he testified, that the germs had
been introduced in a mass by some one
bent upon scientific experiment. This
suggestion, made to Mrs. Swope,
shocked her, said the pathOlOgist.
DR.. Elmer T. Wyman testified during
the afternoon session that he made sew
eral tests for meningitis upon Chris
man Swope, and none or them showed
he was suffering from this affliction.
DR. Hyde cOntended, however, this was
the cause of the young mans illness,
DR.. Twymdn said Tests for typhoid
fever were readily responded TO- added
the physician.
Telling of a conversation between his
father and DR.. Hyde before Mr.. SwOpe,
the witness said:
My father said: 'Chrisman has had
enough strychnine, and I believe he
should have a hypOdermic of glycerine,'
DR.. Hyde replied. All right
Later, claims the state, DR.. Hyde gave
a strychnine injection.
When typhoid is present, said DR..
Twyman, the white cOrpuscles are be-
low normal and above normal in cases
Of meningitis.
The Vidal Test.
You applied the Vidal test?" was
Yes. sir" ne answered.
What did you find?"
That the white cOrpuscles were be
low normal"
On cross-examination the physician
positive proof of the presence of ty-
phoid.
Mr.. Walsh tried to prove that mas
much as Mr.. SWOpe was suffering from
acute mania when the tests were made
his brain was involved in his ailment