Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1900 — The Lyda Muyder Trial. [ARTICLE]

The Lyda Muyder Trial.

The following is condensed from Thursday’s Monticello Journal. The testimony of Ella Heisler, servant girl of the Lyda family, yesterday was in substance about as follows: Tnat Cox had frequently visited there for seven or eight years and had partly made bis home there, either working on the farm or paying his board when not employed. That Cox and Mrs. Lyda were often together, alone. On one occasion she heard them in a room alone kissing. The witness also testified as to Lyda’s sickness aud that he bad taken a capsule and cap of tea on the morning of the day he died, before going to town; that Mrs. Lyda and Cox had tried to keep Lyda from going to town that morning; that Mrs. Lyda went with him and that they started abqut 6 a. m., and' Mrs. Lyda returned and said she had left Mr. Lyda in town at the doctor’s office, that he had taken sick on the way and vomited violently; that she left him speechless and unconscious and would likely be dead by the time she got back. She returned to town as soon as she had eaten a slight lunch. She had brought from town some binder repairs that they had gone after. Cox. who was cutting oats for Lyda, come to dinner and when told that Lyda wss bad sick in town said he did not. know it as Mrs. Lyda had not had time to cell him; said Cox seemed excited and trembled while he ate. That Mr. and Mrs. L came home that evening; that Mr. L came in and sat on the porch and pulled off his boots and went upstairs and came down shortly to supper; took medicine and ate supper; went out in the yard in a few minutes had a violent spasm; came into dining room; had another spasm. A physician was sent for; Lyda expressed fear he would not last until doctor arrived and asked them to hold him when spasms were approaching. Died after 3 or 4 spasms; that Mrs. L went into the yard and cried and screamed; that Cox walked her around and laid her down and took her head on his knee; that she afterwards came in and passed through the room where her dead husband lay and did not look toward him. Charles Randolph, who lived within a mile of the Lyda home on the road that Lydas would travel to go to Fowler, and said he had seen Statr Cox go frequently to the Lyda home after Mr. Lyda had passed on his way to town; Has seen this for four or five years. He testified to a conversation with Cox in which Cox said that Mr. L ate an exceptional hearty supper the evening he died. Marion Moss. Saw Cox go frequently to the Lyda house after Lyda would go away. Cairus Patterson. Saw Lyda die; was having spasms; Starr and I were holding him; head would go back; legs and arms jerk and stiffin and he would relax and after while would have another; in the interval he sweat profusely. During intervals would talk; seemed conscious; his muscles were very hard spasm; doctor arrivSff about 20 minutes after Mr. L died and Mrs. L came in and said give me something to put me asleep that will keep me from ever waking; doctor asked about medicine on table; Cox put capsule and tablets in a little pitcher and took them to stove; there was no fire; was paper in the stove; Cox lit a match and set fire paper; saw Cox and he said ‘‘dont see how they can put it on me;” came up that there was talk about Lyda being poisoned. The medicine was burned immediately after the doctor went away.

Frlrtay ’a Monticello Journal: Dr. Cook’s testimony supported the theory that Lyda died from the effects of strychnine poison. The hypothetical question of the state, however, covers all the facts that they have proven. The defense in its cross examination of Dr. Cook showed that perhaps Lyda might have died from kidney trouble and that the spasms peculiar to strychnine poisoning were caused from various other causes. Mrs, Campbell was at the Lyda house the night after Lyda’s death and said that Mrs. Lyda was much worried and in a high state of excitement; that she got up in the night and ra-n down-stairs screaming and said that a man in white with a black face was pursuing her. Outside of this statement her evidence threw no light on thescase. wn convening of court this morning Judge Palmer excused the witnesses for the defense until Monday. The state put Dr. Jas. Mavity on the stand and his evidence was a corroboration of Dr. Cook, although they differed his answer to the hypothetical questions were virtually the same as given by Dr. Cook. Mr. Haywood in his cross examination of the doctor elicited the fact that Lyda could have died from spasms caused by kidney trouble. The entire forenoon was taken up with Dr. Mavity The Lyda murder trial now in progress at Monticello is attracting wide interest, not only in this but also in adjoining states. Today’s Times-Herald, of Chicago, for instance, has an extended account, together with the pictures of the parties. The trial was adjourned from Friday noon until Monday morning. 'the most important evidence, Friday, was that of Dr. flillis, an expert who testified for the defense in the celebrated Pettit poisoning case. He testified that he and Prof. Vanderkleed of Purdue University made the analysis of the stomach, and also of the kidneys. After discovering the presence of strychnine they computed the quantity aud found the parts contained a little over a half grain. One third of a grain is sufficient to cause death. Then made a physiological test by injecting a small solution of the matter discovered into the back of a mouse. The mouse was then placed under a glass beil where its movements could be watched. In a very short time it began to exhibit sysptoms of strychnine poisoning; and in eight and one-half minutes died in a spasm such as result from strychnine. The two young men who were working in the oats field with Cox on July 19 were also examined. They said that on her return from Fowler Mrs. Lyda stopped and called Cox out to the buggy. They talked about 15 minutes; Cox returned with the reaper repairs and said Lyda was very sick. Obed Barnard, who formerly lived in Brookston, then took the stand. Said Mrs. Lyda sentjfor him on Tuesday after the funeral. Wanted to consult him about, her business affairs. Said to Mrs. L., “You better have this man (meaning Cox) leave.” Cox, who was present, said; “That wouldn’t do. If I leave now they will think me guilty sure.”