Gerhardt H. "Gay" Rustman (1907-1933)

RUSTMAN, BURNEA, FUDGE, FORMHALS, BOOTJER

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 4/16/2012 at 21:08:19

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, July 13, 1933, pg 1

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Robber Hangs
Self In Cass
County Jail

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Had Confessed to Attack
and Robbery of Atlantic
Mayor on Monday

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Gerhard H. (Gay) Rustman, 26,
of Cumberland hanged himself Mon-
day night in a cell at the city jail
in Atlantic. He had confessed to
officers of a brutal attack and rob-
bery of Joseph Burnea, well known
grocer and mayor of Atlantic, which
took place early Monday morning.
Rustman's lifeless body was found
hanging in the cell at 12:10 Tuesday
morning by J. O. Fudge, night offi-
cer in Atlantic. The coroner was
called but no inquest will be held.

Rustman tied one end of his belt
around the bars at the top of the
cell and fashioned a noose with the
other end. He had asked officer
Fudge for a drink about 11:15 and it
is believed that he hung himself
about midnight.

Rustman left two notes, one to
his mother requesting that she take
good care of his 5-year-old son and
one to his sweetheart, Miss Eleanor
Formhals, of Atlantic. The latter
note was in code and the contents
were not made public.

Arrested After Robbery

Rustman was arrested Monday
morning following the robery of
Joseph Burnea, mayor of Atlantic.
Entering the grocery store operated
by Burnea about 6:15 Monday morn-
ing, Rustman beat the grocer about
the head with some blunt instru-
ment until he handed over his bill-
fold which contained $90. He then
left the store and went to the home
of a friend, where he was later ar-
rested by police. Mr. Burnea, who is
63 years of age, received painful in-
juries about the head in the fight
with the robber and is confined to
his home at this time.

Note: Parents were Hijo Rustman and Theda Geraldine Bootjer.