The San Francisco call., 1908-09-01
Firearms and Poison Found in Room of Murder Suspect

island and is reported to have deserted.
Ahlstedt was married under the name of
Gustave Allstead, and his sons bear
the latter
In 1902 Ahlstedt sued his wife for
divorce on the ground of inebriety and
was granted a decree in February OF
that year. On the night of the day
he secured the divorce he shot and
killed a man named Normill in the
Mission district. When arraigned for
preliminary examination he pleaded
that he had heard his wife call for help.
and believing that she was being killed,
fired. He was armed with a Winchester
rife. The case was dismissed and the
divorced couple resumed the married
state They lived together for year
and then separated finally.
In 1904 Ahlstedt brought suit to re-
cover against a fire insurance company
for damage to a building on Bernal
heights which he owned. He lost. the
company alleging that he had de-
stroyed the property to get the money.
In September, 1904, the suspect was
married to Miss Houdyshell of this
city. The ceremony was performed at
Redwood City. The couple Immediate
ly took up their residence in Contra
Costa county. where they started a
chicken ranch in the vicinity of La
fayette. In December Ahlstedt re-
turned to this city and his wife re-
mained at the ranch. Rumors of un-
faithfulness on the part of his wife
reached AhIstedt and one night he
started for Lafayette. He walked the
entire distance between Berkeley and
Lafayette in a pouring rain and con-
cealed himself under the house. Hear
ing noises within he broke down the
door and attacked the man he found
with his wife. He was arrested for
battery, convicted and paid a fine.
When he got out of Jail he was ar
rested for horse stealing on a war
rant sworn out by his wife. He was.
acquitted on a technicality. "
In May, 1905, his wife filed suit for
up her residence in Minna street. One
morning when she was about to pre-
pare breakfast she discovered a white
powder in the coffee and became sus-
picious. Ahlstedt was seen by neigh
Dor leaving the house few minutes
later The powder was analyzed and
found to be arsenic. Ahlstedt was ar
rested on a charge of attempted muir
der, and given a preliminary eXamina-
ton. His attorney, James III. Boyer,
pleaded that ii was a case of con-
spiracy on the part of the wife to in
huence the divorce proceedings then
pending. The defendant was ac-
quilted. He then filed cross com
plant to his wife's petition for
divorce on the ground OF cruelty for
having had him arrested, and was
granted a decree.
Within a few months his divorced
wife purchased through Mrs. Emily
Bowman a house belonging to her hus-
band. He learned for whom the place
was secured and went to the place
a few nights before she was to take
possession. Removing the boards near
the foundation he placed four sticks
of dynamite inside and attached so
feet of fuse, afterward replacing the
board. His intention was. to blow UP
the place on July T.: He was forced
10 remove the. dynamite by woman
to whom lie confided, his plan.
After the. earthquake and fire Ahl-.
stedt lived MOST of the time in Oak
land.
During all Of his varied litigation
is said to have made won
derful witness, and could never be
trapped on cross examination. AL
though a man of no education he is
possessed of a native shrewdness and
good memory which served him well.
Gustav Ahlstedt took the name of
Gustave Allstead in 1888, but dropped
il in 1906 and has been known since
then as Gustave Arkeu. A number
OF years ago, it is said, he used an
other name, but it could not be
learned.