Dr. Bennett Hyde was married to Frances Hunton Swope, daughter of Logan Swope and Maggie (Chrisman) Swope, niece of Col. Thomas Swope. In 1909 Col. Thomas Swope was living at the mansion of his brother Logan Swope in Independence, Mo, with other family members. Logan Swope had died in 1900. James Moss Hunton, a cousin of Col. Swope, became suddenly ill and died the following day on Oct 1, 1909. Two days later Col. Thomas Swope died after a month long illness. Kansas City newspapers reported Dec 1, 1909, that there had been a Typhoid outbreak at Park College in Parkville, Mo. William Chrisman Swope came down with Typhoid, and died the following day on Dec 6, 1909. Several other members of the Swope household also contracted Typhoid, but did not die as a result. Nurses suspected Hyde and reported their concern, following which autopsies revealed traces of poisoning. It was felt that Dr. Hyde had administered poison, and introduced Typhoid into the water supply of the Swope home. There was evidence that Dr. Hyde had obtained poison and Typhoid cultures. He was tried and convicted of murder, but later released after appealing the verdict. A second and third trial apparently resulted in either a hung jury or mistrial. Frances Hyde had used a substantial sum of money from the Swope fortune, to hire the best lawyers, even though her brother William Chrisman Swope was one of the family members that had died. The popular opinion was that the Hydes had bribed jurors. After the trials, the Hyde's moved to Lexington, Missouri, where the Bennett Hyde had been born. He established a medical practice he continuted to work in until his death. Frances Hyde divorced Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde in 1920.
Dr. Bennett Hyde was married to Frances Hunton Swope, daughter of Logan Swope and Maggie (Chrisman) Swope, niece of Col. Thomas Swope. In 1909 Col. Thomas Swope was living at the mansion of his brother Logan Swope in Independence, Mo, with other family members. Logan Swope had died in 1900. James Moss Hunton, a cousin of Col. Swope, became suddenly ill and died the following day on Oct 1, 1909. Two days later Col. Thomas Swope died after a month long illness. Kansas City newspapers reported Dec 1, 1909, that there had been a Typhoid outbreak at Park College in Parkville, Mo. William Chrisman Swope came down with Typhoid, and died the following day on Dec 6, 1909. Several other members of the Swope household also contracted Typhoid, but did not die as a result. Nurses suspected Hyde and reported their concern, following which autopsies revealed traces of poisoning. It was felt that Dr. Hyde had administered poison, and introduced Typhoid into the water supply of the Swope home. There was evidence that Dr. Hyde had obtained poison and Typhoid cultures. He was tried and convicted of murder, but later released after appealing the verdict. A second and third trial apparently resulted in either a hung jury or mistrial. Frances Hyde had used a substantial sum of money from the Swope fortune, to hire the best lawyers, even though her brother William Chrisman Swope was one of the family members that had died. The popular opinion was that the Hydes had bribed jurors. After the trials, the Hyde's moved to Lexington, Missouri, where the Bennett Hyde had been born. He established a medical practice he continuted to work in until his death. Frances Hyde divorced Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde in 1920.
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