New-York tribune., 1910-02-01
SWOPE CHARGES
FAMILY PHYSICIAN
SUES FOR 800, 900.
Niece's S Husband Says He Has
4ccased of MWder-Inti-
mates 4nother Is GuilfY.

Kansas City, Mo-, Jan. 3I.-The filing of
damage suits againsts an attorney and two
physicians connected with the investiga-
ton of the deaths of Colonel Thomas II.
Swope and Chrisplan Swope by Dr. B. c.
Hyde, the Swope family physician. for
sums aggresating 100000. marked his ac-
tive entrance into the case here to-day.
Following the filing of the suits state
ments were issued by DIR. Hyde and by
his wife, who is a niece of Colonel Swope
and a sister of Crisnan Swope. regarding
the deaths of the two men. Mrs. HYDE ex-
presses absolute confidence in her husband
The first suit filed was against John c.
Paxton, executor of the Swope estate, who
has been prominent in the inquiry. Sian
der is alleged. DR.. Hyde charges that Mr..
Paxton openly declared the physician had
poisoned Thomas H. and Crisman Swope.
causing their deaths, Actual damages OF
$4,000 and punitive damages OF $4,000 are
asked in this suit.
Mr.. Paxton, DIR. Frank J. Hall. bac-
teriologist. and DR. Edward L. Stewart
are named as defendants il the second suit,
which is for $500, 900. DR. Hyde alleges that
these men made defamatory statements re-
garding Lin in connection with the Swope
deaths.
DR. Hyde heard Of the result of the
animation of Colonel Swopes organs made
public i'll Chicago to-day. but declined 10
make any statement. Strychnine was found
in Mr.. Swope's viscera
Mr.. Hyde in his suit against Paxton, al
leges that on or about January Is Mr..
Paxton falsely. wickedly and maliciously
and intending TO vex, Cypress, impoverish
and wholly ruin DIR. Hyde, made state
ments that DR.. Hyde was guilty of pois~
oning Chrisman Svope and Thomas II.
SWoOe.
Mr.. PAXTON QUOTED.
The part OF the petition in which Mr..
Psxton's alleged statement is quoted, fol-
lows:
Il believe that Colonel Thomas H. Swope
and Chrisman Swope were poisoned and
did not die from natural causes. and be-
ileYe that Dr. Hyde (meanlng the plaintlIt)
poisoned caused them TO be poisoned.
and thereby caused their deaths. And l
believe that he (meaning the plaintiff in
oculated the Swope family with typhoid
fever germs and caused several members
of said family including Margaret Swope
and Lucy Lee SWope. to contract typhoid
fever
And that he (meanins this PLAINTIFF at
tempted to poison said Margaret .toht, swohe
and intending 20 mean and charge. and
being understood by him who heard such
tiff had murdered si'' Thon,ss n SWope and
Chrisman SUope and had attempted to kill
and murder Margaret Swope and Lucy Lee
Swope, and was therefore guilty of the
crime of murder and was liable for capital
punishment therefor. and also guilty Of the
crime of assault with intent to kill and
liable to conviction and punishment there
for in the penitentiary.
Dr. Hyde married the daughter of Mrs
Logan o. Swope, mother of Chrisnan
Swope He has been associated with some
of the leading physicians of Kansas City.
He was at one time city surgeon. and was
formerly secretary of the Missouri State
Medical Society and a member of the staff
OF the City Hospital.
DR.. HYDES STATEMENT.
DR.. Hyde's statement follows:
1t has been eighteen days since issued
today. was indescriba bly, shocked by the
newspaper statements regarding the su-
spicions surrounding the, the Illnesses s and
Trained from giving expression TO my ex-
preston of my feelings in the face of pal
pable insinuations contained in statements
alleged to have been made by various per
sons connected i'll one way or the other
with this matter. on the advice of friends
who stood Loyalty at my side in this try
ing situation, as well my counsel
l cannot and do not believe that any per-
son of fair mind could consider me such
a monster as to have even wished the
death of any or all of these unfortunate
people who were near and dear to me.
much less to have had hand in any of
their deaths.
The first publication came at time
when ] vas convaleSc1ng from an attack
gest through the press that any thorough
and fair investigation would be welcomed
by me.
the county coroner during all these days
of terrible suspense that justice to me de-
rnanded fair and speedy investigation,
an dive will gladly render this official all
the assistance in our power in such an in
0uiry and l have no doubt that the ef-
forts put forth in my own l1tigati Will |
be helpful in arriving at truthful con-
cluson.
eVnect will present the opportunity which
1 most earnestly crave of making search
ing investigation under oath into every
circumstance surrounding these deplorable
illnesses and deaths, to the end that I
may be completely Vindicated in the minds
OF my fellow men.
The consciousness of my own innocence
and the steadfast faith of those who were
in the best possible position TO judge my
conduct has sustained me throughout this
most trying ordeal.
feel that with the bringing of these
suits my vindication is, at least TO some
extent in my own hands. and / rely
upon that sense of fair play which I am
hold Judgment until I have an opportunity
of carving conviction to every mind that
T am an innocent man
MRS. HYDE'S STATEMENT.
Mrs 3 C. HYDE in her statement says
in part:
No person in the world is more inter
ested In the outcome OF an investigation
into the deaths of my beloved relatives
than myself OF the three who have
fathers oldest brother and Chrisman
SWope was my dear hroJneT. Moss Hun
ton was my fathers first cousin, and ever