davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
MAY IDENTIFY AHLSTEDT
AS MIDNIGHT PROWLER
Woman i'm Buggy Saw Two Men
Near Scene of Murder
Acting STRANGELY

Identification of Gustav Ahlstedt as
the man who was seen prowling around
the supposed scene OF the murder of
Mrs. Alice Donohue in Emeryville,
searching in the grass and acting sus-
appearance, may come today when Mrs.
Frank Smith, who lives next door to
the furniture factory, visits the city
prison in Oakland and asks to see Ahl-
Stedt.
Mrs. Smith told the police yesterday
that she had seen two persons near the
furniture factory one night at a date
which she places at near June 16. She
was In IL buggy with her husband on
the night in question, and says she no.
ticed two persons at the window under
which the Woman'S clothing was found.
She called her husbands attention to
what she saw, but he scoffed at her,
telling her she was seeing shadows.
About a week after that Mrs. Smith
saw a man acting very peculiarly
tory. He seemed to be raking his fin
gers through the grass, searching for
something. She made special note of
him at the time and declares that she
should see him well and see him walk.
When shown picture of Ahlstedt
yesterday and given a description of
the carpenter, the woman said that he
might be the man, but that she was
not willing TO say anything that might
the man herself. Today she will ask
the police for permission to make an
attempt to identify him.
The ground where Mrs. Smith saw
the man searching was thoroughly
raked over yesterday by Marshall Carey
of apparent bearing on the case was
found
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
'SWINBURNF'S SHIPS !.
REACH HONOLULU.
Experiment of Towing Torpedo
Boat Destr0yers Proves
to Be Success
Cruisers Handled With Remark
able Ability and Without
Single Serious Mishap

HONOLULU, Sept. 2.-The cruisers OF
the Pacific fleet, commanded by Rear
Admiral Swinburne, finished the first
stage of the cruise undertaken to test
the practicability OF towing torpedo
boat destroyers when the flagship West
Virginia, the Maryland. Pennsylvania
and Tennessee docked at o'clock this
afternoon in the harbor and the re-
naming vessels. including the supply
ship Solace, anchored outside. The ar
rival of the warships was witnessed by
many residents of the islands and
hearty welcome was accorded the Of
ficerS and men.
Except upon several occasions when
the towlines parted or became so
chafed that alterations or stoppages
We're required, the fleet maintained the
formation taken outside the harbor of
San Francisco until $40 o'clock this
morning, when the torpedo boat de-
stroyers were cast off and proceeded
under their own steam to the anchor
age off the harbor. or Diamond head
the cruisers and the Solace formed in
SINGLE column for the entrance. where
the two fleets, with their hagships
5000 yards apart, assumed positions
with the starboard column composed
of the West Virginia and the Preble.
the Maryland and the Perry, and the
Pennsylvania and the Stewart In the
port column were the Tennessee and
the Whipple. the Washington and the
Hopkins, the California and the Trux-
tun and the South Dakota and the Hull.
The destroyers Preble and Perry were
towed the entire distance without
break or delay of any kind. The Whip
ple's line once became chafed and her
consort was obliged to slacken speed
while repairs We're made.
Each of the other destroyers had one
or two broken towlines to it's credit.
In every instance the break was at the
bow of the torpedo boat destroyer,
which. as anticipated. proved the weak
est point in the connecting line. The
cruise was never attended with danger
or difficulty. the highest draft indicated
by any of the dynometers being 80. 900
pounds. Forty thousand pounds was
the highest average intended In the
fog and during a storm prevailing the
first day and night out the draft was
between 10000 and 10000 pounds. The
only incident of the voyage was when
Signalman Anderson fell from the sig
nal tower of the West Virginia. He
swan to a buoy thrown him and was
rescued uninjured by one Of the three
boats which were lowered before the
Preble could slip her towline. as re-
quired to do In such eme rgencies.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03

morning following the discovery of
the woman's clothes under the furni-
ture factory, and several hours before
the uncovering. of the body, Donohue
summoned Ahlstedt to his house.
where the two held a long. confidential
conversation.
Early that Sunday morning Donohue
sent word 10 Mrs. Spanier to awaken
'Arlelr' and tell him to come over to
his house at once for had something
important to talk to him about Mrs
Spanier called Ahlstedt. and when he
came down stairs from his attic den
Donohue had become so impatient over
the delay that he had walked over to
the Ahlstedt house and was waiting
for the man In the yard.
When they met they went back to
Donohue's house and were closeted for
more than half an hour. Their con-
versation was interrupted by a neigh
Dor at the end of that time. and then
Ahlstedt returned to his shack and be-
gan TO dig ia his garden. Five hours
later le was arrested.
What cid Donohue want?" Mrs
spanier asked Ahlstedt when he re
turned.
'+Oh. he just wanted to talk to me-"
evasively replied the carpenter.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
WOMAN GOT
RUSSELL SAGE'S MONEY
No Trace of Operator Who Sc
cured Loan Without Giving
Security
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

NEW YORK. Sept. 2.-Search is be-
ing made by the executors of Russell
Sage for mysterious woman who owes
the estate SS.296 Interest is lent to
the hunt by the fact that this woman,
who appears on the books of the eau
tious millionaire as E. RothSchild, per-
suaded Uncle Russell to carry an open
account for her without putting fup
cash or securities.
When Sage died. corporations. firms.
syndicates and individuals owed him
sums of money aggregating $35, ,000. 900.
all of which has been collected except
about S250,000 This woman. so far as
the record shows. walked into Sage's
office. persuaded him to buy 100 Erie
common and 100 Steel common for her
account and left without putting up a
dollar of margin.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
No TRACE OF POISON IS
. FOUND IN THE STOMACH
Cify Chemist Benzinger Conn
pleteS Examination of Organs
of Mrs. DnunIIIe

City Chemist Frank Benzinger Of
Oakland found no trace of poison in
the stomach OF Mrs. DOnohue. The
analysis was completed yesterday noon
and the notification of the result was
n once sent TO District Attorney Brown
al Alameda county. who in turn sent il
10 Captain. OF Detectives Petersen.
The city chemist spent nearly three
days in his work. First he tested his
chemicals and used them to get reac-
lions. This does not mean that the
woman was not killed by poison. There
are 4 number Of letbal poisOns-such
IS cyanide Of potassium and prussic
acid-which leave no trace
Then, too, there is the possibility of
death by strangulation, by stabbing.
by bullet, and the further possibility
of the woman being struck a blow of
sufficient violence to result in concuS-
sion Of the brain, and then. while in
an unconscious state, being buried. A
stab or bullet wound could have been
IN the body and not have been noticed
on. account Of the state of the body
when found Dr. Hamlin. who is au-
tOpsy surgeon in Oakland, said that the
brain had become liquid and would re-
tain 10 trace OF the effects of copcuS-
sion; also that the cuticle was in such
shape that stab wound would not be
apparent.
Although possessed Of these facts, the
police department is faced with the
difficult proposition Of q murder case in
winch the method of death is un-
knOwn-wAere the theory of killing
a study Of the corpse.
The Oakland police department has
learned that Daniel Donohue returned
from the meeting of the EIks lodge
in Oakland on the II o'clock car. A
man who rode out with Donohue has
been found who can testify to this
The time at which Mrs. Donohue was
seer by neighbOrs apparently trying to
avoid pursuer is placed somewhat
vaguely, as between 10 O'Clock in the
evening and 1890 o'clock in the morn
ing.
Another search Of the premises Of
GHstave Ahlstedt was made YESTERDAY
afternoon 10y Captain Of Detectives
Petersen The we'll WHICH had been
-ol olscoEcred cleverly concealed, was ex-
piored and also the house, but nothing
was found which might connect the
man with the crime Of which he is ac-
cused. The officers also made a search
or the ground near the grave whence
The body Of Mrs. Donohue was exhumed
rms also resulted in nothing
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
DR.. RUSTIN SHOT
ON own THRESHOLD
Physician Mysteriously MUIR
dered as He Enters Door
of His Home
Miss LeOna Burnley Was Last
Person Known to Be
With Victim

OMAHA, Neb.. Sept. 2.-The murder
at the threshold of his own home of
DR.. Frederick Rustin, which occurred
early this morning, threatens to rival
the mysterious shooting of Roberts on
the board walk at Atlantic City. In
many respects it is not unlike that af-
fair.
1t was five hours after Rustin had
been fatally shot before the police were
notified, and in the interval every per-
son in any manner familiar with the
details had an opportunity to remove
every trace that would lead to clew
which might solve the mystery of the
killing.
That DR.. Rustin did not come to his
death by his own hand is we'll settled
In the minds of detectives and the chief
of police, who have been working on
the case. and although Chief of Police
John j. Donahue admits he has the
ory as to who Rustin's slayer was, he
refuses to divulge what that theory is
That the police believe a woman en-
ters strongly into the case was shown
conclusively this afternoon when Chief
Donahue caused to be brought to his
office Miss Leona Burnley who admit
ted to the chief that she was with the
doctor until late hour Tuesday night
She was ''sweated" for three hours, but
the result of the interview is not given.
DIR. Rustin had few peers In the west
as a surgeon. Although he had been
practicing but 10 years his reputation
had become well established and he
enjoyed a lucrative practice. He was
employed by several large insurance
companies in the capacity of examiner
of applicants for life insurance and he
became a large policy holder himself.
Rustin became fond of the gay life
according to those who knew him we'll.
and following evening, professional
calls often remained downtown until
late hour. He was called Tuesday
evening to a house on the north side
and from there went to his office. How
or when he met Miss Burnley has not
been divulged. but the meeting was
evidently by appointment, and occurred
late in the evening. AS late as 10
o'clock he talked to friends in a down.
town drug store, and was again seen
shortly before midnight at the Hub
saloon.
A remarkable feature of the case is
that no blood was found on the porch
but the hall floor inside the house was
badly stained, leading to the possibility
of the shooting having occurred inside
the house.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
Continued from Page 1. Column :.

Continued from Page i. Column q.
years later in 1902, when at a bridge
whist party given by the Rebekah
lodge, in East Oakland. she spoke to
an acquaintance regarding the matter.
At that time she met a former friend,
and when he addressed her as Mrs.
Berry she took him aside and stated
that she no longer bore that name, but
was Mrs. Daniel Donohue, and lived in
Telegraph avenue near IdOra park. She
admitted that she had never secured a
divorce from either her first husband
or Berry She added that the latter
would surely kill her if he learned
Of her relations with Donohue.
She said further that Berry was in
sanely jealous and that she had a hard
time explaining matters on the oc-
casions when be came in from the
mines in Contra Costa county, where he
was then working. but that she had
finally been able TO convince him that
everything was as IL should be. At this
time, according to the Information re-
ceived, Mrs. Donohue also made the
statement that DonOhue knew of Ber-
rvs jealousy and OF her fear Of the
man
ACTED SUSPICTOUSLY
So far as can be learned. Berry was
never seen again around his old haunts
in this city until June u Of this year,
when he met an acquaintance in the Mis-
sion district On being asked How is
Alice ?" it is stated Berry seemed star
tled and acted in a suspicious manner,
showing a strong desire 10 get away at
onceS Il was two days after this that
the story Of the woman's disappearance
became known.
The seeming reluctance Of Donohue
TO answer questions put 10 him by the
police has been an obstacle in the
path Of the authorities endeavoring to
uuravel the mystery, but there is now a
plausible motive for his silence in the
fact that the S3.700 insurance carried
by the dead woman was made payable
70 her husband" In the eyes of the
law she IS the deceased wife of the
man she welded in Philadelphia, and he
would be the beneficiary. II Donohue.
1T is argued. had told of the existence
Or Berry, and the latter were taken
into custody, he would undoubtedly
tell Of his relations with the murdered
woman and Of the existence of the first
husband. thereby depriving the man
VINO was the last alleged consort of
the woman Of any interest in the in
surance money.
o. Berry is described as being AZ short,
heavily built man, Of sallow complex
ton, having. black hair and a black
mustache. and speaking with a decided
French accent.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
CALAvfRAS GROVE
SAVED FROM FIRE
Continued from Page 1, Column 1.

Continued from Page I, Column l.
fallen giant which was enormously re-
ported yesterday to have caught fire
and spread the flames to the rest of the
grove, stood 435 feet in height and had
girth of 110 feet The New York" is
104 feet in circumference and the
Ohio" is 103 feet. The Tree of Ref
uge" is the title given one of the Sc
quotas in which 16 head of cattle once
sought refuge during a heavy storm.
while tree, in a hollow OF which 40
people can stand without crowding, is
known as The Grand Hotel"
The Mother of the Forest" the sin
gle victim Of the present fire, probably
will be but slightly damaged. No bark
clings to the trunk of the tree, and it
was only among the upper limbs, where
some bark still remained. that the fire
gained headway. The Mother of the
Forest" was a survivor of the last big
fire in the grove. which is estimated to
have occurred thousand years ago.
That fire killed a number of trees. OF
which few stumps are still standing.
Ihe Mother of the Forest" died 200 or
800 years ago as a result of scorchinp
received in a fire at that period 1t still
stanus, bare, yet majestic. 327 feet high
and with a circumference of IS feet.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
VALLEJO FERRIES MAY
TRANSPORT AUTOS
City Council Adopts Resolution
to Ask Accommodation of
Railroad ComDanv
sPECIAL DIsPATCH TO THE cl-


NAPA, Sept AT a meeting of the
city council in this city today reso-
luton was adopted asking the railroad
company to arrange to ferry automo-
biles and other vehicles across be-
tween North Vallejo and Vallejo juno
ton on each trip of the passenger
steamer. At present there is no con-
venient way for vehicles to go from
the Contra Costa county side UP Napa
valley and to other near points. The
north of the bay counties association.
comprising the chambers of commerce.
of Napa, Marin. Lake. Sonoma and Men
docino counties, Is backing. the project,
and Napa supporters received word to-
day that influential parties in Ala
media county will assist the people here
in endeavoring to bring about an inn
provement. A resolution passed today
is to be forwarded to the supervisors
of Contra Costa county, asking them to
repair the road on the Vallejo junction
side as part of the project. Many au-
tomobilists in San Francisco and vi
cinity are taking an active interest in
the proposition.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
HAD PREMONITION
OF FIRE ON PROPERTY
George D. GraybiII Finds Flames
Really Do Destroy Pos
session

The question as to whether the minds
OF trial jurors are susceptible to strange
premonitions has been agitating George
d. Graybill, who served on the Tread
well jury in Judge ConIey's court. He
is inclined to answer it aff1rmatiyely.
tuesday. night, after a hearty supper.
Graypilfs mind was stirred with a pre-
monition that a fire was about to visit
his property, located at 7IS O'FarrelI
street. BY a strange impulse, an hour
later, he glanced from a window in the
falrnont hotel in the direction of ills
property. Flames We're leaping from
the planning mill operated by Ezra Cot
fey. The mill is located on GraybilTs s
property and within few months was
to revert into his possession bv Write
of a lease.
On his way to Judge Conley's court
ne passed within block of the fire. but
was compelled to continue on his way.
stranger than fiction" declared
Graybill yesterday
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
Slain Woman Found to Have
Been Merely DOnohue's COnsort

Mrs. Donohue without being seen. II
IL TOOK three men about two and a half
hours TO eShume the body, it must
surely nave taken one man at least
nve hours to dig the hole and then fiji
~ IN. All these things make me firmly
oelieve that there was more than one
person concerned in the burying of
that my father was not concerned in
the case. for j do not know anything
about it. l do say, however. that my
Iatner Is not wholly responsible
FIRMLY convinced of this / intend to
see and talk with my father in order
mat may be able to Judge for myself
Inc result of my conference. provided
him. may be that | will be able to clear
uD much OF the mystery which en-
shrouds the whole affair at the present
time Who knows2'
Young Ahlstedt bears an excellent
reputation and is known 10 be a hard
working and clean living man.
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
BRYAN DfNOUNCfS
MANY REPUBLICANS
Nebraskan Declares Affiliations
With Trusts Are Against
Reform Movement

SIOUX CITY, Ia, Sept. Address
tonight William j. Bryan, democratic
candidate. for the presidency, in the
course of speech on the tariff. guar
anty of bank deposits, the labor and
trust questions and governmental re-
forms. denounced It. Coleman Dupont
of Delaware and Senator Boies Penrose
of Pennsylvania, members of the re-
publican executive committee, as not
being expected to become reformers
because, as he charged, of their affllia-
tion with the trusts.
Having travelled the entire night and
day through Minnesota and a part of
Iowa, where he received enthusiastic
receptions, Bryan arrived here shortly
before o'clock tonight. From the
rear platform of the train at various
points in both states he shook hands
with many hundreds of persons and
these was at Alton, Ia, a junction
point, where he discussed at some
length the tariff and guaranty of bank
deposits.
He again charged Taft with not be-
ing satisfied with the republican plat
form and with being forced to con-
tinually amend 1t.
During a two hours stay in ST. Paul
between trains Bryan took breakfast
in an uptown cafe which he reached
after a brisk walk. On the way back
he observed In music store window an
announcement that the stock included
Photographic records of his speech on
the guaranty tf bank desposits and of
Taft on injunctions in labor disputes.
He entered the. place and at his request
both records were reproduced. His
own remarks were heard first and as
the last words died away he smilingly
remarked: II am now convinced
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
YOUNG AHLSTEDT WILL
DEMAND TO SEE. FATHER
Son of Suspect Declares Belief
Thar More Than One Man
Took Part in Murder

Barney Van c. Ahlstedt and Attorney
James Boyer viii go to Oakland this
morning and make formal demand of
the. police that they be permitted to see
Gustav Ahlstedt. Ahlstedts son had a
long consultation with his fathers at
torney sast night and as a result he
ents behalf He promised Attorney
Boyer that he would go with him to
Oakland this morning.
BY a recent act Of the legislature
Ene OF $500 and other punishment may
be imposed upon any peace officer who
refuses. to- allow prisoner in his Gus
tooy TO see and consult with his attor-
ney- Attorney Boyer and Ahlstedt's s
son asserted that they would prosecute
Captain Petersen OF the Oakland police
department IL he declined them an in
terview with Ahlstedt.
Still maintaining that his feelings for
MS father We're unfriendly young AhI-
stedt stated last night that he thought
81 was absurd for any one to say that
his father was wholly responsible for
the death of Mrs. Donohue. After dis
cussing the details OF the situation. as
thus far brought 10 light. the Ahlstedt
boy summed up the case against his
father by stating:
son ARGUES CHsE
IF Mrs. DOnOhue despised and feared
my father, and it was he with whom
she was talking when Mr.. and Mrs
Smith passed by. why didn't she make
an outcry2 It doesn't seem reasonable
her life or even frightened. would fail
10 take an advantage of an opportunity
10 cry for help when two OF her friends
snd neighbors passed within IS or 100
feet OF her.
Another thing. It doesn't seem rea-
sonable to me that. Mrs. Donohue
would 20 so far away from her home
dressed as she was unless she had been
frightened while in her house and had
endeavOred TO escape by running from
the person or persons who frightened
her. II IL was my father who drove
her from her home. is il not strange
that she did not make an outcry when
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith went by2 IT has
been said that Mrs. Donohue despised
my father. Then IL could not have been
nay father who chased her from her
home or even talked with her by: the
shed. on the night Mr.. and Mrs. Smith
say they saw her.
SEVERAL MEN CONCERNED
Then again, I can not understand
how one man, unassisteds could bury
The San Francisco call., 1908-09-03
NJ YSTERIOUS MEETING OF
AHLSTEDT AND DONOHUE
Were Close Companions and
Held Conference on the Day
WOn1aH'S Body Was Found

Evidence OF great intimacy between
.Gustay Ahlstedt. accused of the muir
der OF Mrs. Alice Donohue, and Daniel
Donohue. the siain woman's supposed
husband, has been obtained by the po-
lice.
Before the disappearance of the muir
dered woman. Donohue and Ahlstedt
or Arken as he was then known were
ished this ripened into much more close
companionship. According to Dono-
hue's own statement he went over to
see Ahlstedt day after day" after his
supposed wife had disappeared.
Yesterday il developed that the