Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-09
WANTED TO SAVE INSURANCE
According to Remarkable Story Told
coroner's Jury by Mrs. Rice, the
Man With Whom She Lived Sought
Some One to Take His Lie
Widow On Stand.
(Ry Associated Press.

OMAHA, NEB., Sept. S.-The cor
oner's inquest into the death OF Dr.
Frederick H. Rustin, who was louhd
fatally shot at the door of his home
in this city, developed several sen
sations today. Mrs. Abbie Rice, the
woman who was last known to be III
DR.. Rustin's company on the nlgh'
of his death, declared that DR.. Rustin
had been talking Of committing sui
eide, but that he wished to disguise
the act so as to protect his life III
surance for the benefit OF his family.
After much importuning he induced
her to promise to kill him and thch
take her own life. Arrangement TO
this end were made for Friday nlsht'
August %, but her nerve failed. oh
Tuesday night following, DIR. Rust'a
pofpted out to her on the street car
a man who, he said. had promised 10
do the deed. He said it would be
done that night.
Later she identified Chas. z. Da-
Wis a clerk in a local bank and
member of a prominent family, as
the man referred to by DR.. Rustin.
Davis vas placed on the stand ana
testified that he attempted to COM
NIT suicide on the night in question
nv taking drugs furnished him o.
DIR. Rustin, but denied that he prom
ised to kill the doctor. or that he
had anything to do with the latter :
death. He said the drugs he haa
taken made him sick and he Vomlteo.
thus saving his life. He gave no
snecial reason for wishing to END
his life, except that he had no de-
sire to live. He said he had MADE
previous attempts at suicide.
Davis Not Arrested.
Davis has not been arrested. DR..
r. W. Lavender, the coroners phy
sician, who made the post mortem
examination, described how the bali
had passed straight through the alb
domen and liver and lodged near the
spine. He produced the bullet when
he removed from DR.. Rustins BODY.
Two witnesses who saw DIR. Rustih
at midnight a block from his home
were called and testified TO that TACT
One Of them. a special watcnmah'
had stepped into the Rustin yard on
his regular duties about O'Clock
but saw no person. DR.. Langte'd''
the first physician to reach the Rus'in
home after the shooting. said Mrs.
Rustin telephoned him and he ran
to the Rustin home only partly ciad'
He found DR.. Rustin lying on some
cushions. The witness said Dr. Eus-
tin asked in a sarcastic way:
You are not afraid Of shot?
Witness searched the dying man.
but found no pistol on him, only some
money and a watch. DIR. Langfe'dt
told the coroner's jury he did not be-
H.ye the wound was self-inficted-
Mr.. Rustin On Stand.
Mrs Rustin was called. She was
we'll composed. hut spoke seriously
throughout her examination. wh'cn
lasted for over an hour. Her dead
husbands mother attended her. MIS-
Rustin went through the ordeal with
out apparent emotion and told
straightforward story.
In reply to questions by Attorney
English. Mrs. Rustin told this story
Of the shooting:
NY married life had been happy.
although We have been besc; villa
financial difficulties. had som"
money which came TO me from my
relatives In Haverhill. Mass when
ne we're married ten years ago. nut
Thai has bccn spent I had been an
sen, visiting friends. In Ellsworth
,xo weeks prior to the death OF r'
Rus,in. having returned four DAYS
prcv,ous. On the nigh, nc was SHOT,
he d,ped nj home and sent down
town about Z O'Clock. Ny youngest
daughter and myself walked about
h,ock With him and ] asked him ."
br home early. Hc kissed the hao'
sooS bye. and car~ssed "" hsn''y.
He ,e,cphoncd about 10 o'clock that
- vas starting homo. road VINO
.sd went to bod. leaving tho hsh'
b.rn,ne IN the hall was awakened