Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-11
DAVIS ARRESTED
IN RUSTIN CASE
MAN OMAHA DOCTOR HOPED WOULD
KILL HIM HELD PENDING
INQUIRY.
ADVISED BY CORONER'S JURY.
Mrs. Rice Is Recalled and Tells of Al
lodged Pact for Proposed Muir
der and Suicide.


INSURANCE POLICIES LAPSED.
OMAHA Ncb, Sept 1O-Charles Ed
ward Davis was late yesterday after
noon placed under arrest in the Rustin
murder mystery. This is the first arrest
since that of Mrs. Abbie S. Rice, al
though more than a week has elapsed
since Rustin was found by his wife dy-
ing in a chair on his porch from a bullet
wound. The revolver from which the
fatal shot was fired has not yet been
discovered
Davis is the famous ''other man with
whom Mrs. Rice testified DIR. Rustin
had u compact to give him enough
poison to kill himself and in return the
other man was to shoot and kill Rustin
before taking poison. At the police sta
ton Davis was booked simply as sus-
poet and was released on $4,000 bail
furnished by his brother Fred Ii. Davis,
vice president Of the First National
bank.
Jury Orders Probe.
The cOrOner's jury, after celebrating
two hours. this afternoon returned the
following verdict:
We find that the late Frederick Rustin
came to his death by gunshot about $50
O'Clock Oh Wednesday morning, September
2, at or near his residence, 41O8 Farnam
street.
We are clearly of the opinion that the
shot fired by some man with the inten-
ton of producing death. Also to the
manner or by whom the shot was fired, il
is our opinion that the evidence is too in
definite to ascertain, but we recommend
that the authorities continue to make a
thorough investigation as to the conduct
of Charles E. Davis in connection with the
circumstances pertaining to the death of
Frederick Rustn, and particularly about
the time of the shooting.
mot a Poor Devil"
The jury was not satisfied with the
examination of Davis and after being
dismissed the foreman Of the jury, Ed
ward Haney said:
1--WE wanted to have another chance
mt Charles Davis on the witness stand,
but they did not seem to want to recall
him. We all felt that he knew more
bout the case than he had told; that if
he had been n poor devil without intlu-
ential relatives he would have been in
Jail long before this, and that it was
me uuIy OF tHe ponce TO thoroughly III
VeStigate his conduct on the night OF
the murder better than has yet been
done Therefore we made the recon-
mendation that he be further investigat-
ed"
Indications today are that DR.. Rustin
died q useless death, as most of the in
surance policies, to secure the money for
which he died, have lapsed and are no
longer in force. Only the day before he
died one policy for $1,000 lapsed because
of non-payment of premium. Rustin
had told the insurance agent to call at
his office the following day and he would
make reinstatement application, but this
came too late.
Another policy of $1,000 was allowed
to lapse in June. Still another policy
for $4,000. an accident policy, would be
payable only i'll the case of accident,
but not for murder or suicide. One policy
for 5000 is in force, but beyond this
those in charge of his affairs have been
unable to discover any insurance which
will be paid to the widow.
Mrs. Rice Tells Story.
Mrs. Rice was recalled to the stand mt
The inquest and gave some additional
details of the death agreement with Dr.
Rustin.
Did Rustin say what inducements he
held out to Davis to kill him.
Yes, that DR.. Rustin would furnish
Davis enough drugs to kill himself with
DIR. Rustin said he had known for some
time that Davis wanted to die. and he
could arrange to get Davis to kill him
first"
What was Davis to do with the re-
volver?"
DR. Rustin never told me that He
was to make away with it so no one
could find it, That night, when DR. Rus
m irtN --,,IY,
nam streets, we saw Il man standing at
Forteth and Farnam streets. We both
thought 1t was Davis waiting TO kill Or
Rustin; DIR. Rustin said, He is wait
ing to kill me now.
The belief among Omaha medical men
Is that Rustin and Davis were both
crazed by the use of morphine and drugs
and that each was suicidal maniac-or
rather, that while Davis was crazed wish
Il suicidal mania, RuStin was crazy upon
the subject of having himself killed by
SCme one.
Davis Was Broken Down.
Davis led a fast life always. He is
80 years old and has Il wife and daugh-
der living in California They have been
separated some years.
Davis has broken down and ATTEMPT
ed suicide Il number of times in the Lass
twelve years. In 1895 in Whatcom,
Wash, he stood his ground on rail
rcad track and forced the train to halt.
In 1902 in Boston he stabbed himself
seriously and was taken to the Waverly
Insane asylum. In Baltimore last year
he broke down and was sent to the
Pratt institute for the Insane Again
ne broke down last year and was sent
10 an asylum i'll Council Bluffs.
Two weeks ago came another break
down. and DR.. Rustin began giving him
morphine and other drugs until he was
insane enough for any act.
Public opinion is that if Davis did
not shoot Ruskin at the latter's request
he was at least present when Ruskin
killed himself after he did away with the
7oiStOl