Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-09-04
INQUEST IN THE RUSTIN CASE
Coroner Brewer Will Hold Hearing
Next Tuesday Morning.
NOT CERTAIN YET AS TO HOW SHOT
Suicide Theory IL ScOHed by Many
Since Pistol Cannot BE Found
and Wound is in the
stomach, gEB


Undecided finally as to the cause and
manner OF the death Of Or. Fred Rustin.
Chief Of Police Donahue is continuing
viglant search for possible clues and an
inquest has been decided on. The inquest
win be held Tuesday at 9 a. m. although
the body will he buried Saturday.
Chief Donahue, County Attorney English
end Coroner Brewer held a conference
Thursday morning and came to the con-
clusion an inquest was demanded by the
circumstances of the case and should be
held Tuesday for several reasons. First,
It could not be held before Saturday, as
the police could not complete present plans
of investigation before then and It was not
desirable to hold It on the day of the
funeral. the widow would have to testify
1t would not be legal Sunday or Monday,
the latter being labor day. So Tuesday was
the earliest CONVENIENT date.
The coroner's jury was impaneled Thurs
day afternoon and in company with Coroner
Brewer visited the scene of the tragedy
and viewed the body of DR.. Rustin. The
men who will serve in the case are: c. z
Black, SsO9 Farnam street, halter and mems
furnisher; Ed Haney. 1921 Farnam street.
retired w L. sefby 1908 Davenport street,
second avenue, real estate; F. B. Barrett.
III North Thirty-eighth avenue, Barrett
Johnson company, tailoring; Victor White,
2sOs California street Havens-white Coal
company.
Every clue to the mystery which sur
rounds the death Of Dr. Rustln, who was
found by Mrs. Rustin on the front porch
of his residence Wednesday morning,
shortly after o'clock with bullet hole
in his abdomen, is being run down by the
police.
Not Satisfied with Suicide.
Chief Donahue Thursday said he was still
unable to dismiss the theory of suicide en-
tirely from his mind, and yet was not
ready to say finally that such was the
manner of death.
The inability of the police or any one else
to find the revolver that fired the fatal
shot and the fact that no skilled surgeon
It seems, would shoot himself in the
stomach are the two chief obstacles to the
suicide theory. BY many this theory, in
the face of facts, Is hooted.
The recent discovery that Dr. Rustin did
not go home at o'clock in the morning
but was going there after mid
night. has had much to do with changing
views IN various minds as to the mode
of death. He was seen by Harold Under
hill at Fortieth and Farnam streets
going home about 12 o'clock, maybe a little
before, maybe a little after This young
man, who was waiting for election re-
turns at the voting place there. says the
doctor walked and appeared to be normal
and went straight toward his home.
The police and Mrs. Rustin, however. ara
certain the doctor was shot about 3 clock
perhaps little later. The shot aroused the
neighbors at that hour, as at least three
have stated.
Mrs. Rustin, Chief Donahue said Thurs
day. has not yet fully made up her mind
that her husband killed himself. She ex-
presses no fixed opinion now, though at
one time she felt certain it was murder.
Many Witnesses Summoned.
A large number of witnesses will be sum-
moned TO appear before the coroner's In
quest, and everyone who saw the physi.
clan late in the evening Tuesday has been
closely questioned by the authorities
especially the night watchman, who claims
to have seen DR.. Rustin mount his front
steps as late as 1 80 Wednesday morning
What transpired on the front porch dur
| ing the following two hours or until the shot
was heard is stiT undetermined, 1t being
| matter of conjecture that he dozed in a
| chair on the porch.
Chief Donehue and Chief OF Detectives
Savage spent some two hours in consulta.
ton with Mfs. Rustn at the family home
and they, with Mrs. Rustin, made a vgor.
Gus search for the revolver, but failed tc
| find It.
Mrs. Howe of Massachusetts, mother OIL
Mrs. Rustin and Mrs ]. H. Mcintosh o.
New York sister of the doctor are ex
pected here in time for the funeral. Rev
T. j. Mackay will conduct 1t Saturday a
p. M, at All Saints church. OF which
Mrs. Rustin is constant attendant.