Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-02
Sam Hyde, EIeCtroCuted at Co.
Iumbia Today, Makes Queer
Request in Death Cell.
PROMISES MEDICS FROM
HOME TOWN HIS REMAINS
Slayer of Wife and Father
Confesses Crime as Hour of
Execution Nears.

The body of Samuel Hyde, taken
from the electric death chair at CO.
lumbia. S. c., today, is on its way to
Atlanta. It " the property of three
medical students who knew Hyde be
fore he committed the crime which was
eXpiated today. The condemned man
bequeathed his body to the young men,
that they might use it for anatomical
studies.
The three students, J. n. Webb j. c..
Milford and c. c. Horton. are from An
derson, S. c., former home of Sam
Hyde. and all are attending the At
lanta College of Physicians and Sur
geons. They will meet the body at the
train bear it to the dissecting rooms Of
the college, and use 1t throughout the
remainder of the term for studies in
anatomy. Perhaps the skull of Sam
Hyde will in time adorn the college
museum and serve to prove or disprove
the theories of criminologists. His
finger bones may become highly priced
souvenirs among the students, for
medicos have grewsome ideas some
times.
HYDE murdered his wife and her ia
Their early last year, and his case fur
nished one Of the most noted legal bat
ties In Carolina history. His trial was
a dramatic one and resulted in convtc-
ton. Later the officials of the state
penitentiary began to doubt Hyde's
sanity and a commission of alienists
was appointed to investigate. After a
long examination the experts reported
that Hyde was sane and should be ex-
ecuted in expiation Of his crime.
Wasn't First to
Die in Chair.
Hyde was the first Carolinan SEN
fenced to death in the electric chair,
which has just displaced the gallows
It was his own desire that he be given
this grewsome distinction. But the
examination into his sanity delayed
matters; he was given long respite,
and in this time four other slayers
went to their death in the chair in the
state penitentiary at Columbia.
To several newspaper men in Co
lumbia Hyde confessed his guilt yes
terday afternoon and said he deserved
to die, and did not desire further res
pite. He said he hoped to meet his
wife in heaven and had been praying
that both his victims were there. He
seemed to have no doubt of his own
salvation. He had talked much with
ministers recently. and said he knew
his sins had been wiped out by re-
pentance.
The bequest of his body to the medi-
cal students was drawn up in strict
legal form. Some time ago Hyde eX
pressed desire to leave his body to
some scientific institution and the three
Anderson students, learning of this,
made a formal request that they be
given the body 49,
Here is copy of the contract signed
by Hyde and returned to the young
medical Students:
State of South Carolina-County of
Anderson.
Contract between S. n. Hyde, of
the first part, and j. I. MlIrOrd,
j. n. Webb and c. c. Horton,
for the second part, in regard
to the disposition of the body
Of the former
1t is understood and agreed by
the party of the first part, who is
sane. and who is about to be ex-
ecuted, that the party Of the first
to the second party his body, and
said first party orders his body to
be turned over to second party as
soon as the execution is over. Said
first party gives his body an aid
to said students in their medical
work
(Signed) SAMUEL n. HYDE.
This 26th daV of March 1912