Swope Murder Trial: a Virtual Cemetery

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Swope Murder Trial

Thomas Hunton Swope (October 21, 1827 – October 3, 1909) was a real estate magnate and philanthropist in Kansas City, Missouri. His death in 1909 became the focus of one of the most publicized murder trials in the early 20th century. In one of the most notorious trials in Kansas City's history, a jury found Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde guilty of murdering Kansas City real estate developer and philanthropist "Colonel" Thomas H. Swope on May 16, 1910. Despite strong evidence linking Hyde to the crime, this verdict would be overturned by a higher court in a few months time, leaving the city to ponder whether Hyde had committed the murder. Born in Kentucky in 1827, the Yale-educated Thomas Swope speculated in mining and real estate in New York and St. Louis before moving to Kansas City at the age of 30. Once there, Swope entered into the real estate business and eventually owned more land than anyone else in the city. One of his most notable real estate ventures, known as "Swope's Addition," was located at 10th Street and Grand Avenue. Swope is best remembered today not for his real estate activities, but for his gift of Swope Park to Kansas City. The park's expansive 1,334 acres, located adjacent to the Blue River, provided a space where eventually the city's residents could enjoy picnics, a night at Starlight Theater, trips to the Swope Park Zoo (now the Kansas City Zoo), and golfing. When the park opened in 1896, nearly 18,000 people arrived to celebrate. Nearly a hundred years ago, however, mention of the name "Swope" would instantly summon conversations about a string of mysterious deaths in the Swope family. On October 3, 1909, just two days after the unexpected death of the executor of Swope's will, Thomas Swope himself died of an apparent "cerebral hemorrhage." Two months later, typhoid fever took the life of Swope's nephew, William Chrisman Swope. Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde, the Swope family's physician, came under suspicion for the mysterious deaths. Dr. Hyde was the respected, but widely resented, president of the Jackson County Medical Society. He also had married Thomas Swope's niece some time before the deaths. As a confirmed bachelor, Swope had no children of his own, a fact which placed Dr. Hyde in line for a share of the inheritance of Swope's fortune of $3.5 million. Prosecuting attorney James A. Reed therefore had little trouble establishing a motive. Evidence against Dr. Hyde also seemed abundant. Investigators revealed that Hyde had purchased cyanide capsules just days before Swope's death. Surviving witnesses in the family likewise testified that Hyde had given Swope a pill just before his sudden death. Hyde had also purchased typhoid samples shortly before the outbreak of that disease in the Swope mansion. Consistent with the growing conspiracy theory, the Hyde family had avoided infection even though most of the Swope family fell ill. A jury accordingly convicted Dr. Hyde for murder on May 16, 1910. As in modern times, however, a legal defense team supported by extensive financial resources could hold a great deal of sway in court. Dr. Hyde's wife, Frances Hyde, paid for an appeals process that resulted in the overturning of the first trial's verdict by the Missouri Supreme Court. A mistrial ensued, and the jury failed to convict Hyde in a third trial. The evidence against Hyde seemed conclusive on the surface, but ultimately the courts ruled that it was merely circumstantial evidence that did not prove his guilt. After seven years of court battles, Bennett Clark Hyde was legally cleared of suspicion in the murders. Public suspicion proved harder to subdue. The trials had ruined Hyde's career, and he eventually divorced Frances Hyde. In 1934, Dr. Hyde died without ever confessing to the crimes, leaving the people of Kansas City to wonder what really happened in the Swope mansion in 1909. Below are family members, ministers, undertakers, doctors, lawyers, jurors, witnesses, reporters, newspapermen, etc., associated with the Swope story. For more in-depth reading see "Deaths on Pleasant Street" by Giles Fowler.

Thomas Hunton Swope (October 21, 1827 – October 3, 1909) was a real estate magnate and philanthropist in Kansas City, Missouri. His death in 1909 became the focus of one of the most publicized murder trials in the early 20th century. In one of the most notorious trials in Kansas City's history, a jury found Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde guilty of murdering Kansas City real estate developer and philanthropist "Colonel" Thomas H. Swope on May 16, 1910.  Despite strong evidence linking Hyde to the crime, this verdict would be overturned by a higher court in a few months time, leaving the city to ponder whether Hyde had committed the murder. Born in Kentucky in 1827, the Yale-educated Thomas Swope speculated in mining and real estate in New York and St. Louis before moving to Kansas City at the age of 30.  Once there, Swope entered into the real estate business and eventually owned more land than anyone else in the city.  One of his most notable real estate ventures, known as "Swope's Addition," was located at 10th Street and Grand Avenue. Swope is best remembered today not for his real estate activities, but for his gift of Swope Park to Kansas City.  The park's expansive 1,334 acres, located adjacent to the Blue River, provided a space where eventually the city's residents could enjoy picnics, a night at Starlight Theater, trips to the Swope Park Zoo (now the Kansas City Zoo), and golfing.  When the park opened in 1896, nearly 18,000 people arrived to celebrate. Nearly a hundred years ago, however, mention of the name "Swope" would instantly summon conversations about a string of mysterious deaths in the Swope family.  On October 3, 1909, just two days after the unexpected death of the executor of Swope's will, Thomas Swope himself died of an apparent "cerebral hemorrhage."  Two months later, typhoid fever took the life of Swope's nephew, William Chrisman Swope. Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde, the Swope family's physician, came under suspicion for the mysterious deaths.  Dr. Hyde was the respected, but widely resented, president of the Jackson County Medical Society.  He also had married Thomas Swope's niece some time before the deaths.  As a confirmed bachelor, Swope had no children of his own, a fact which placed Dr. Hyde in line for a share of the inheritance of Swope's fortune of $3.5 million.  Prosecuting attorney James A. Reed therefore had little trouble establishing a motive. Evidence against Dr. Hyde also seemed abundant.  Investigators revealed that Hyde had purchased cyanide capsules just days before Swope's death.  Surviving witnesses in the family likewise testified that Hyde had given Swope a pill just before his sudden death.  Hyde had also purchased typhoid samples shortly before the outbreak of that disease in the Swope mansion.  Consistent with the growing conspiracy theory, the Hyde family had avoided infection even though most of the Swope family fell ill.  A jury accordingly convicted Dr. Hyde for murder on May 16, 1910. As in modern times, however, a legal defense team supported by extensive financial resources could hold a great deal of sway in court.  Dr. Hyde's wife, Frances Hyde, paid for an appeals process that resulted in the overturning of the first trial's verdict by the Missouri Supreme Court.  A mistrial ensued, and the jury failed to convict Hyde in a third trial.  The evidence against Hyde seemed conclusive on the surface, but ultimately the courts ruled that it was merely circumstantial evidence that did not prove his guilt. After seven years of court battles, Bennett Clark Hyde was legally cleared of suspicion in the murders.  Public suspicion proved harder to subdue.  The trials had ruined Hyde's career, and he eventually divorced Frances Hyde.  In 1934, Dr. Hyde died without ever confessing to the crimes, leaving the people of Kansas City to wonder what really happened in the Swope mansion in 1909. Below are family members, ministers, undertakers, doctors, lawyers, jurors, witnesses, reporters, newspapermen, etc., associated with the Swope story.  For more in-depth reading see "Deaths on Pleasant Street" by Giles Fowler.