The Washington times., 1908-09-09
REPEATS HER TALE
OF SUICIDE PACT
Mrs. Rice Adds Sensation
to the Shooting of DR..
RuStin.
SAYS SHE REFUSED
TO FIRE REVOLVER
Third Member of Trio Also De-
clares Innocence, But Admits
Receiving Deadly Drug.

OMAHA. Neb., Sept. 9.-Sensation
after sensation is pouring forth at the
inquiry today into the death Of DR..
Frederick c. Rustin, the Omaha ply
siCian who was found fatally wounded
on his doorstep a week ago. With the
same deliberation with which she took
the stand yesterday and told how she.
Charles L. Davis, and DR.. Rustin agreed
20 kill each other Mrs. Abbie c. Rice
today says that what she told was
true, and that she was prompted to lay
baTe all the facts IN the suicide pact
rather than have the crime rest upon
an innocent person.
E. Hansen, janitor OF the Chatham,
tcstlued that at o oclO * last Wednes-
Gay, Davis door was CpCn and his bed
had not been slcut in. Pr0Drietor
tIumD, of the Chatham, testified that
the day before the shooting Davis
burned his letters and photographs
County Attorney English stated that
The mystery viii be placed before the
grand jury, which meets in two weeks.
Mrs. Rice ana Davis are both closely
guarded by police Cashier Fred Davis,
OF the First National Ednk brother OF
CnaTles, IS closely cOns+ected with the
kounts family, the Wealth!esI in this
city
Davis stiu maintains thar he old not
shoot DR.. Rustin. but says that he Sc
cured prescription from him, for
drug with which 10 commit suicide He
tells or walking about that section Of
the city near the Rustiu home, but pro-
tests that he did not IRE the fatal
did.
Mrs. Riee's Story.
The story, told in great detail at the
cOroner's inquest by Mrs. Abbie c. Rice,
DR., Rustin's affinity" created a pro-
found sensation, although some hints
of it had been whispered about ever
since Sunday, when Mrs. Rice made a
confession to the police in the JAIL
where she was detained as a witness
Before Mrs. Rice gave her startling
testimony Mrs. Rustin, the widow OF
the other doctor. was called to the wit
ness stand. She stood erect, and swept
a swift glance over the crowded room.
Then her look rested upon Mrs. Rice.
Mrs. Rice returned the gaze steadily.
Both women seemed calm, but both
were pale. The face OF Mrs RusJiu
looking as though il might have been
carved from white marble.
Wife Gives Testimony.
While Mrs. Rustin was giving her tes-
umony about finding her husband
wounded on the porch of her home.
Mrs. Rice watched her with alert eyes,
and occasionally would turn and whis-
per 10 those about her. Mrs. Rice is a
decided brunette, small plump and OF
attractive appearance.
When Mrs. RusJin stepped down from
the stand and her maid, one or two
policemen, and two physicians had
given their testimony as to the facts in
the case, Mrs. Rice was called 10 the
witness chair.
Mrs. Rice gave her testimony in a
clear, straightforward and unhesitatinE
way, although once or twice she brolxe
down and sobbed Each time she quick
~ forced herself TO cOmpOsure and went
on with the tragic details Of one Of the
most remarkable suicide contracts ever
entered into. There were three parties to
the compact, according TO the young
Woman's testimOuy-Dr. Rustin, Charles
Edward Davis. connected with the First
National Bank of Omaha, and a brother
of the vice president Of that bank,
Frederick II. Davis. and the witness
herself
Shot By Another.
From the first the surgeons who at
tended Dr. Rustin after the shooting
agreed that his wound could not have
been selt-Inhicted, and the only thing
tnat Dr. Rustin said to his wife when
she found him sitting wounded on the
porLn was, a man shot me-"
again, there were no marks of DOW
DER on DT. Rustin clothing, and the
nature of the wound showed that the
bullet had been dred from a distance
1arther than would have been possible
had he shot himself And tba
pistol never was found
Mrs. Rice testified that Dr. Rustin
was so worried over his financial diffi-
culues, and so despondent, that ne drank
nearly a quart Of whisky q day. al
though it had little apparent erect on
him. She said that he had begged her
TO shoot him 'in the abdomen, SO that
he would live for a few days, and have
time TO arrange his affairs before he
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