The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-10
DIR. HYDE IS
EXPL AIMING
Why He Used Cyanide
and Experimental
Typhoid Germs

Kansas City. May lO-Emphatic-
| ally DENYING that he ever poisoned
| anv member Of the Swope family or
| any other person. Dr. r. c. HYDE to-
| day completed his direct testimony in
his trial for murder. His cross-eXam-
inatIon WAS not completed at noon
Or. Hyde's dealings with cyanide of
potassium formed ta> subject OF the
| larger part Of his examination. The
physician acknowledged his purchase
| of tho poison. He said he used the
drug TO Kill Insects. clean nitrate OF
silver stains from his hands ana 10
| disiniect towels.
On cross-eXamination. Dr HYDE
said while he had used cyanide for
several wears. he could not recall any
place where he ever purchased II OK
cept at Breokleln's drug store here.
whore he bought 100 grains Of the
drug last fall.
The physician testified that he learn
ed from pamphlet that cyanide
would kill bugs
Government scientists, he said. had
also recommended the use OF the drug
for this purpose.
Some of the cyanide the witness
ayerred, disappeared at the same time
that DR. Z. T Stewart took germs
from the office
DR. Hyde also averred that he plan
ned. as early as August. 1905, TO eX-
pertinent with various kinds OF
germs
Prosecutor ConklinG introduced on
cross examination several patent bug
powders and asked DR. Hyde why he
did not use them. DR. Hyde said he
used so much bug powder that proved
ineffective. that he finally gave up
experimenting with 1t and began the
use of cyanide
Frequently during the morning Pros.
ecutor Conkling and the defendant ex-
changed remarks, the witness express
Ing his opinion that the examination
was improper
DR.. B. c. Hyde resumed his testl-
mony In his own behalf when the
criminal court session opened this
morning, The physician smiled as he
came out of his cell and skipped up
the steps that lead into the court
room. Mrs. Hyde was waiting for him.
Testifying doesn't make me ner-
vous." he said. I'm glad to have AN
opportunity to tell my story"
Attorney Walsh said he would finish
his direct examination OF DIT. Hyde in
about an hour. The belief was that
the state would complete It's cross
examination of the witness by noon
Did you ever, after October 2. have
ANYTHING to do with the capsule you
gave the nurse for Col Swopc?" ask
ed AR Walsh
NO sir" replied Dr. HYDE
Did Miss Kellsr ever say 10 YOU
that she would dlslilie 10 be held re.
sponsitle for Col. Swopes illness, il
he got well, as he held the medi-
cine responsible for his attack2"
She did not"
Or Hyde testified he gave Margar-
ell Swope hypodermic injection oil
camphorated oil and nothing else
He said on the morning following the
giving of tho hypodermic Margaret s
arm was swollen
The witness spoke in q low voice
ana Judge Latshaw was forced 10 ask
him twice TO talk louder
II was generally agreed. in the
Swope house, said Or. HYDE, that he
should 60 to New York and meet
Lucy Swope Hn 1
The physician denied he ever put
any germs in drinking water he is
said to have given The girl But DIT
HYDE said he did not recall having
given her a drink
Upon your return from New York
did you find anything missing from
your ofice2" queried Walsh.
Yes. there were germs and poisons
missing Among other things gone
were some typhoid and diphtheria
germs and some cyanide of potassium
capsules answered the witness
Had you planned 10 experiment In
! bacteriology?'
Yes. even as early as August. 1908
! arranged for space for laboratory
in the building in which my Office Is
located"
Asked about cyanide DR. Hyde ad
mitted he bought II of local drug
Glst
What were you going TO do with
the cyanide?" continued Mr.. Walsh
Mr.. Hyde explained Il was gcing
to use 1t TO Kill vermin. The soiled
towels in my Office attracted reaches
and bugs, and as look tho towels
home every Saturday night wanted
them as free from Insects as possible
II also used the dry cyanide Il
sprinkle on towels when they were
spotted with blood and in cleaning
nitrate OF silver stains.
THE reason | had the drug In cap
sules WIS because 1t is a volatile pol
son and this was convenient form lr
which to have 1t put up to keep II
from wasting"
WAS any of this cyanide ever civ
en- to any human being?"
NO SIR
Did you ever give Margaret. Col
onel or Chrisman Swope any poIsor
except for medicinal purposcs?'
Il never gave poison to any one
for any other than medicinal pur
pose"
Did you throw away capsules O.
any kind in street in independence
on last December iS2"
Il did not"
At this point the defense closed it'
| examination of tho witness.
- 1on,HVT7I TU0