The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-12-04
MRS. RICE TELLS
STORY OF THE
SUICIDE PACT
Court Admits Her Testimony
As It Has Been in Former
Hearings
DISCUSSED THE DETAILS Of
AGREEMENT TO DIE TOGETHER
How She Weakened at the Last No.
ment and Refused to Shoot DR.. Russ
tin Told With all the Narrowing
Details.

Charles E. Davis, charged with the
murder of DR.. Rustin, was resumed
today in Judge Sears division OF the
district court, Mrs. Abbie Rice again
went on the witness stand. The
greater part Of the day was consumed
In her examination, as the defense
made frequent objections notwith-
standing the ruling of the court which
practically lets in Mrs. Rice's entire
story as 1t has been so frequently
told in previous hearings. The state
has twelve more witnesses SO It is
hardly expected that It will be ready
to resume It's case today and 1t 10
likely that the defense will not begin
introducing testimony before Monday.
The courtroom was again the scene OF
crush of spectators today.
Her Story
Mrs. Rice's recital of the story OF
her relations with the dead surgeon
was not less dramatic than on the
two former occasions when she has
been asked to give the details of an
alleged pact to destroy their lives.
Twice during yesterday the witness
and the jury were dismissed while
counsel argued points sof law - to
the admissibifity Of different portions
of her evidence, and in each instances
the state scored clear cut victory
BY ruling made in the last point
raised, the bars are let down for the
hearing of Mrs. Rice's entire story.
which will include that part wherein
DR.. Rustin is alleged to have told her
that he had secured Davis to kill him.
She then stated that Rustin became
more Respondent and that he began
drinking more than usual, generally
drinking two TASKS of whiskey daily.
"At that time," she stated, "he intro
duced the subject of his death. He
said he wished to provide for his fami.
ly and suggested that I shoot him,
saying that he did not wish to commit
suicide as in that event Mrs. Rustin
could not collect his insurance. He
talked of it continually and suggest.
ed a plan by which should shoot him
in his Office. l promises to comply
with his request. He proposed that
do the shooting because he said he
would trust no other person."
In reply to questions, witness told
of DR.. Rustin telling of his numerous
financial obligations, including q note
coming due at the First National
bank. "He then purchased gum"
declared Mrs. Rice. 81 first saw the
gun the second Saturday before his
death. He said it was the gun he was
to shoot himself with"
Mrs. Rice quickly corrected herself
with the statement that she was to,
shoot him with the gun.
Mrs. Rice said she broke the gun
and 1t could not be used, which caus-
ed the proposed shooting to be de-
layed. His family returned home the
day the gun was broken, she said, and
the doctor remarked that their return
would hurry the plans for his death.
"The following Thursday the Royal
hotel management asked us to leave"
she nervously admitted, "and we went
to the Milliard. DR.. Rustin suggest
ed that we go to Council Bluffs and
have the gun repaired. The doctor
went to a pawnshop to have the re-:
pairing done. He later rejoined mo
and we arranged to meet in Omaha,
which was done. It was then decided
that the shooting should be carried
out in his office, but we found there
were too many people In the vicinity, =
1t was then decided, she said, &
carry ou tthe shooting at his home.
Mrs. Rice then placed a loaded carts
ridge in her pocket, which was to re-
place the empty cartridge after the
shooting.
Mrs. Rice said. II was to take my
own life and We decided that II ali
the CArtridRea were found In ,fhA -.