The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-30
A. ]. RUSTAD
Shot HIMSELF
WELL KNOWN SALOON MAN PUT
A BULLET THROUGH HIS HEART
LATE YESTERDAY. TEMPoR-
AIRY INSANITY WAS THE
CAUSE.

The funeral Of August ]. Rustad,
who took his W life by shooting
himself, yesterday afternoon, will be
from the home, 212 Fourth street
south, tomorrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock
when the service of the Episcopal
church will be read by Rev. D. F,
Thompson, rector Of st. Johns church.
The interment will be made in River
side cemetery. The bereaved family
have invited A. H. Erickson. Ralph
Ed Smith and H. Soosen to act as
pail bearers.
The community was shocked about
1870 yesterday afternoon by the re-
port that A. J, Rustad, the well known
business man, had taken his life by
shooting himself in the heart with a
revolver. The revolver had rested on
his dressing table in his bedroom for
nearly twelve years, in the same con-
dition as it was when given to him
by an old soldier friend in Norway,
during a visit there with his wife
some years ago, Mr.. Rustad exchang-
illB all &AIllGIASulI OF SAS 4SA LAC WIG
he possessed. It was loaded with
cartridges wholly unlike bullets used
in this country.
The dreadful deed was committed
about 4:10, Mr., Rustad resting on his
bed at the time. He died fifteen min
utes later. Fred Rustad, the young
est son, was sleeping in an adjoining
room and rushed to that Of his father
when he was awaked by the report
Of the shot and Mrs. Rustad followed
a minute later. The son called DR..
Hagen and notified his two brothers,
Oscar and Garfield. When the mother
and son entered the room Mr.. Rustad
greeted them and they heard him say
in a low voice, goodbye" DR.. Hagen
announced that the wound was a fatal
one Immediately after examination.
1t is believed that temporary in
sanity, caused by continued i'll health,
was the cause for the act.
Earlier in the afternoon Mr.. Rustad
had been down town, had had his usual
shave at his barber shop and after
leaving there went to his place of bust
ness, wrote two short notes which he
placed in his pocket and hen return
ed to his home. He exchanged a few
words with his wife in reference to a
party to which they were invited for
the evening and then he went upstairs
to his room where he, appears TO have
Invested himself of his coat and pieces
of jewelry which he commonly wore
and after removing the ornamental
coverings from the bed, lay down, and
with the weapon which he had taken
from its place on the dressing table,
fired the fatal shot with perfect aim.
Mr.. Rustad is survived by a wife and
three o. Oscar, Garfield and Fred,
the second one being city attorney of
Moorhead. He was born at Kongs-
vinger, Norway, in 1859. He vas edu-
Gated in a military school which cor
responds to West Point in this coun-
try and after graduation served three
years in the army of Norway. When
about of age he came to the United
States and settled near DEBORAH, Ia.
Thence he crossed the country in a
prairie schooner to Hatton, N. D. and
from there he went to Larimore where
he engaged in the clothing business
and where his three sons were born.
He came to Moorhead in 1892 where he
engaged in the saloon and restaurant
business. He was a member of Grand
Forks lodge No. l, Knights of Pythias,