New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-16

sToRE-APPARENTLY AN ACCIDENT.
Dr. Christopher T. Ahlstrom and a woman
whose identity remained a mystery for many
hours were found dead together in a room at
the boulevard Hotel. No. 1881 Broadway. early
yesterday. II learned that the woman was
Mrs. Harry Gardner. of No 109 West One-hun-
dred-and -frst-st The Identification was brought
about by Mr. Wye. a druggist. at SiXty-fifth-
st and Columhus-ave.. who remembered that
Ahlstrom called his store and asked if Mrs.
Gardner had received letter he had left for
her. Wyle found her address by referring 20
his prescription books.
Rheinhold Busse. proprietor Of the hotel, said
the couple whom he had never seen before reg
istered al o'clock Wednesday evening as John
Mullen and Wife New-York City" They were
assigned TO a small room the third floor. At
2 O'Clock in the morning Busse smelled gas COM
ing from the room. and broke in the door. The
gas escaping from the radiator. while a jet
was burning dimly. The woman lay on the
floor with her clothing on except skirt. and
apparently dead. The man lay the bed and
his body seemed lifeless also. Russe raised the
window and called for help. Policeman Mitchell,
Of the West Sixty-eighth-st. station, heard him,
and summoned ambulance from Roosevelt
Hospital Before II arrived effort was made
n revive the couple Their bodies were still
DR.. Todd the ambulance surgeon
worked for hour and a half over them, and
then gave up the task.
The man identified by means Of cards and
papers in his pockets. Paul Waclavek, janitor
of the house where he lived said he
widoWer and had a daughter, Rachel. thirteen
years old. with whom he made his home His
companion a brunette. about twenty-seven
years old and appeared to be person Of
hnement- She wore four rings on her left hand,
which the police said were worth $1,000. and
her clothing was of fine quality.
APPARENTLY AN ACCIDENT.
There were no signs on either body indicating
poison. II is the opinion of Busse and the police
that the deaths were accidental The occupants
OF the room probably failed 10 properly shut off
the radiators gas supply.
DR. Ahlstrom was man forty years old In
addition to the papers found in his possession
Were Sii. a valuable gold watch and chain. gold
cuff buttons. and small nickel plated doctors
case, in which a hypodermc syringe. a
a small vial q morphine tablets. atropine
I and some cocaine.
y In envelope the Coroner found a clipping
containing account of a controversy between
the Board Of Health and the Coroners in re-
gard IN the disposition Of the body Of Mrs. Ali
stronl. the doctors wife who died on February
p last After an investigation into the cir
cumstances which indicated suicide the Coro-
Ter indorsei the death certificate given by DR.
Burns. the physician in attendance and the
funeral was allowed to proceed.
Coroner yucca gave permission for the re-
moval Of the bodies He believed both to have
been accidentally asphyxiated. but the finding of
small phial in the room which had contained
q considerable percentage of cocaine had CON
WINGED him that autopsy was desirable He
said one would probably be made. The bottle
bore the Of Wylie druggist at Column
bus-aYe. and Sixty-nfrh-st Mr. Wylie said he
q ap fOT nr
strom. II was prescription containing per
cent Of cocaine.
WIFE'S SISTER RLAMES DOCTOR
Mrs w. Augustus Nelson. Of No. 224 West
One hundred "A nd sixteentl-st a sister OF Mrs
Ahlstrom. told the latter's history My sister
Nrs. Alhstrom," she said. died last February
from an overdose Of morphine I have never
been able to make up my mind whether il was
an accident, whether She took it purposely or
whether II administered to her.
My sister married at the age of seventeen a
Mr. MarceuS a rich Philadelphia merchant
After the birth Of their child Rachel who has
since lived with Or. Ahlstrom, Marceus de-
serted his wife Ten wears ago she married The
Doctor He made my sister a morphine iend Be
fore her death she was total wreck. About TWO
years before her death she was injured in some
kind Of q streetcar other accident She brought
suit end recovered a considerable sum Of money
IT. is paid To her five months before her
sively. bought a lot of gowns. gave her husband
what he wanted and in FIVE months had used
up every dollar. Her death took place lust as
Ehe used up her funds.
The Doctor had always acted TO me like one
who has used drugs. l did like the idea of
Rachel being with her father but she declined
TO leave him.
Or Ahlstrom has rich brother in James
town. y. Y He is piano manufacturer I
suppose he will take Rachel. If he don't viii
give her home. although I have two children
OF my own
THINKS HIS WIFE WAS DRVGGED.
Mr Gardner the dead woman's husband said
that he had a brother living with him I'D to
within few weeks ago. who was suffering from
consumption. This brother was under the treat
rnent of DR.. Ahlstrom. II was thus that his
wife became acquainted with Ahlstrom Gard
ner said that he had an intuitive feeling that
the Doctor was had man He had his suspi-
cions concerning the Doctor and his wife but
had tangible evidence. He did not suspect
his wife as ne had the greatest confidence in
her He believes the Doctor lured his wife into
the saloon and drugged her; that he used too
much of the drug ano killed her and that in
fear Of the result he killed himself He was
satisfied OF his wife's integrity and the fact
that she was found dressed confirms his con-
hdence in her.
When his wife did not return home on wednes-
day Gardner feared something had happened
search OF her
DR.. o'Hanlon performed an autopsy on the
body Of Mrs, Gardner, and. under his direction
Dr QUO shultZ pathologipt at the Cornell Medi-
cal College. performed the body Of DR.
Ahistrom. the autopsy proved that death in
both cases was caused by gas asphyxiation
TO SUCCEED THE REV JAMES Fl. BOADLEY
q congregational meeting OF Faith prssh,,-
terrain Church, in West Forty-eighth-st wedne.
Day evening. the committee appointed 10 nominate
a pastor 10 succeed the Rev. DR.. James H Hoad
ley, who recently called to the pastorate NJ the
West Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church urar
tnaously reported the selection of the Rev Rohert
he