Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-29
MORE LIGHT
THROWN UPON The OPERATIONS OF THE
RUST FAMILY.
IN Interesting Experiences Of Wheeling Busi-
ness Man at New Castle Pa.-AnOthsr
Arrest at Martins Fsrry-Gensral
Criminal News.

Later developments regarding the
disappearance OF Mr.. and Mrs. Rust, OF
the South Side, as related in this paper
yesterday morning, makes it appear
that there is a good deal more crooked
ness in the case than appeared upon the
surface at first. 1t is confidently as
serted, for instance, that not only were
merchants deliberately victimized to
large amounts, through goods supposed
to be intended for family consumption,
but people upon terms Of intimacy with
the family, were likewise used to obtain
goods. In support Of this, it is asserted
that upon several occasions money was
given the RuSts to make purchases for
friends. This money was kept by the
Rusts, and the goods purchased and
charged up to the family accounts.
What the total OF the operations will
reach is not yet definitely known, but
perhaps 1t will run up to three thou
sand dollars. Several Wheeling credit
ors yesterday called upon
prominent attorney, for the purpose OF
ascertaining II the family could be ar
rested and brought back here upon
criminal proceeding, but at present
there does not seem to be much ground
upon which to base such an action.
One retail merchant, whose losses
will perhaps reach couple OF hundred
dollars, went up to New Castle, Pa,
Wednesday and returned yesterday.
lie had lively experience. Mrs.
Rust's brother, mother and sister reside
in New Castle, and as the Wheeling
merchant approached the house, he saw
Mrs. Rust at an upper window. lie
went to the front door, rang the bell,
aad was admitted TO the presence of
Mr.. Rust, the fugitive. His interview
with that gentleman was not very sat
isfactory, and Mrs. Rust's mother COM
ing into the room, Mr.. Rust slipped
out. After pursuing an Improbable
conversation for some time, the Wheel
ing man asked for Mr.. Rust, and was
told:
"Oh, he just heard that our little boy
had fallen through the ice in the creek,
and he has gone to see."
"Did he go without his hat?" asked
the merchant, pointing to the fellows
tile.
The woman said nothing. The mer-
chant then asked for Mrs. Rust, and her
mother said:
"Oh, she's in Pittsburg, at the Mo-
nongahela House?"
The business man, remembering to
have seen her at an upstairs window as
he was coming in, said nothing at that
time, but little later, when the woman
repeated the assertion, he said:
"Im a little surprised that an old wo-
man like you would lie that way; Mrs.
Rust's up stairs. saw her at the win
dow"
The woman changed the subject.
Later Mrs. Rust's brother came in,
announced himself as an attorney, and
said:
~ have advised these people in this
matter, as an attorney. The fact is,
they got the goods, they can't pay for
them, and they are not prepared to give
them up. What are you going to do
about it?" The merchant couldn't do
anything about it, but he expressed his
opinion in a somewhat vigorous manner,
and took his departure.
Mrs. Rust is welI-known in Wheeling.
Years ago, before she was married, she
was an inmate Of Madame Lii. Wells
house of i'll fame, on Market street near
the corner Of alley -, and only left the
place when married. There is we'll
founded suspicion that some further and
still more sensational features of the
case will be developed in few days,
showing a regular plot to obtain goods
and dispose of them without any inten-
ton of ever paying for them.