Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-09-09
Dr. RuStin Slain at His Own
Request by Morphine Eating
Bank Clerk Coroner'S Jury in
Omaha is Told,
TELLS OF HER PART IN
DEATH PACT THAT FAILED
Agreed to XIII Physician Then
HERSELF Her Nerve Gave Way
at Critical Moment, She Says
in Explanation,

IN Explanation,
IBy Morning journal Special Leased WIFeI
Omaha, Sept. S.-The coroner's in
quest into the death of DR. Frederick
II. Rustin, whose tragic death at the
door of his home in this city has given
the police department puzzling prob
lem developed several sensations to-
day. The first was the testimony of
Mrs. Abbie Rice, the woman who was
last known to be in DR. Rustlns COM
pany on the night of his death She
declared that for some time Dr. Rus
tin had been talking OF committing
suicide, but that he wished to disguise
the act SO as to protect his life insur-
ance for the benefit of his family. Az
ter much importantly he induced her
to promise to kin him and then take
her own life. Arrangements to this
end were made for Friday night. Au-
gust 2S. but her nerve failed her. ON
Tuesday ynight following. Or, Rustln
pointed ont TO her on the street ear a
man who, he said, had promised to do
the deed, saying that it would be done
that night,
Later she Identified Charles E. Da-
Wis. clerk in local bank ana MEM
ber of prominent family. as the man
referred TO by DR.. Rustn.
Davis was placed on the stand and
testified Chat he attempted Committing
suicide on tile night In question by taxi
ing drugs furnished him by DR. Rustin,
hut denied that he promised to kin the
doctor or had anything to do with the
latter's death. He said the drugs taken
by him made him sick and he vomlted.
thus saving his life. He gave no spe-
cial reason for wishing to end his life,
except that he had no desire to live,
He said he had made previous at
tempts at suicide Davis has not been
arrested
Mrs. Rice, In her testimony. said
Dr. Rustin first asked her to kin him
about two weeks ago and finally she
consented and agreed to shoot herself
She said:
II was to shoot him in his office. He
wanted me to shoot him through the
abdomen. so his family could get his
Insurance money He thought he could
trust me. He wanted me to give him
two or three days to settle his business
affairs before killing him.
Il hardly knew what to say when he
said that he wanted II done Saturday
at his office, (That was August 3O)
He thought the noise of the cars would
drown the noise OF revolver shot"
Mrs. Rice said that DR.. Rustln then
said she could kin herself. She said
a cunning scheme TO avoid her suicide
being connected with his murder had
been broached by the doctor.
She was to shoot him through the
abdomen. Then she was TO remove the
empty cartridge and dispose of II.
Then she was to take the revolver
away with her, reload II and kill her
self.
In that way only one empty shell
not two--would be found when she
died by her own hand, and his death
and hers could not be connected to
bring shame and humiliation upon his
family.
DR. Rustin had bought a revolver at
n pawn shop but had no ammunition.
The woman said she bought some
but In trying TO load the re-
volver Saturday night she got Il out ot
order so that the killing could not be
carried out on SATURDAY. ni.a.. ss
planned.
The following Friday night she ac-
companied DR.. Rustin to his office,
and he loaded the pistol and asked her
70 shoot him.
II lost my nerve and backed out"
said Mrs. Rice. This made Dr. RUS
tin very angry and they debated the
murder and suicide scheme for some
time. finally agreeing TO go to his
home and commit the double tragedy
In his barn.
Rustin told her Il would make II
look like he had been murdered by
some burglar or footnad II he was shot
IN the barn
lie was to 20 IN the barn and let me
in the back way lie gave me tho
gun. and walked up to the alley back
OF his house, while he went In the
front door OF the house, intending to
go out the back way to the barn. All
this happened Friday, August rs.
while I was at the alley some one
drove along and again ! lost my nerve
and went back TO Farnam street." said
Mrs Rice Il walked east on Farnam
10 get away from him, and waited on
the next corner for a car" said the
woman.
DR. Rustin was on that very car ac-
eording TO the woman's statement. She