davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

room The feet were covered by pair
of light slippers, worn by the murdered
woman only when in the house. The
garments were matted and decayed and
no marks of a struggle could be found
on them. The mouth was toothless,
which went to establish her identity.
Donohue informed the police that in
leaving her dwelling before her Wild
terror stricken flight to the waste
lands, Mrs. Donohue had left behind
her false teeth and the eyeglasses she
usually wore
There is possibility that poison was
administered. forcibly or by stealth
and this possibility will be fully ex-
plotted Dr. Hamlin today turned over
to Richard Benzinger, a chemist, the
lnterna lorgans of the murdered woman
for scientific scrutiny.
The scene of the autopsy was visited
frequently by Donohue, who was on the
verge of a breakdown. He identified
the body, then left and shortly returned
10 the morgue. He is distracted with
nervous shock and grief and talks in
cessantly of the virtues of his wife,
whom he says was to him always above
suspicion.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

one of the victims most intimate
friends. Pyles and Arleell were in the
habit of going around together and
were often seen in the neighborhood
of the Donohue home in earnest con-
versation.
Pyles, who is a carpenter by trade,
lived in Sixty-second street for some
time He lived alone and called upon
no one but Mrs Donohue, whom he as
sisted at various times la the work
about the garden. He had told Mrs.
Donohue that he had a wife and was
expecting her in Oakland in short
time AS the story was told to Mrs.
Rossi by Mrs Donohue, Pyle did not
like Oakland and had said that as soon
as his wife came out he was going to
locate in southern California
He had no money and he persuaded
Donohue to let him build front on
his home. The money he received from
Donohue, it is presumed, he used in
getting out of Oakland after his wife
arrived 1t is reported that Pyles left
before Mrs. Donohue disappeared, but
some say that he was seen in the
vicinity of the Donohue home the day
before her disappearance.
Mrs. DonoiIue had always been kind
to him. and it is reported that lie made
overtures to her. But was repulsed.
This irritated him and put him in far
from amiable mood. Pyles is reported
to have gone to a new town in the
southern part of the state, and the po-
lice are trying to locate him.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
DECOMPOSITION MAY
CONCEAL CAUSE OF DEATH
Internal Organs Given to Chem
isf for Analysis in Search
of Poison

DIR. o. d. Hamlin, Oakland, autopsy
surgeon, said:
THE body was so badly decomposed
that it was impossible to say what was
the cause of death so far as external
or internal appearances went We
could not find any fractues or evidences
of violence. The lungs were so badly
gone that it was impossible to say
whether the woman had been stangled.
The skull was not fractured. We found
no bullet wound, but it might be that
there was one. The state of the body
was such that only by incineration
could a bullet be found. The internal
organs were sent to a chemist for
analysis in search of traces of poison
ing At least three days must elapse
before the result Of the chemical tests
will be known"
The autopsy on the remains of Mrs.
Donohue was performed at the morgue
this afternoon by DIR. o. D. Hamlin, as
sisted by DIR. George Rein1e and DR.. A.
c. Smith. No marks of violence or
strangulation, believed to have been
the manner of the murder, were dis
coverable owing to the time that the
body had lain in the soil.
The face was scarcely human, the
features having been obliterated. The
Identification was made absolute by the
finding on the abdomen of a long scar
caused by an operation years ago.
The woman was clad in her kimono
and dark blue skirt, which took on
tinge OF Jet black in the daykened
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
s2,OOO,OOOLOSSIN
NEW ORLEANS FIRE
Flames Sweep Three Blocks,
Destroying Warehouses Be-
fore Being Subdued

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 30.-Fire
which broke out in the center of the
commercial district this afternoon
swept over portions of three blocks,
destroying a large number of whole
sale houses, manufacturing houses and
stores The flames caused a loss of
between S1.OoO.000 and. $4,000. 900 be-
fore they were finally subdued.
AT the time the alarm was turned in,
shortly before o'clock, the New Or
leans firemen We're in the midst of
their annual picnic at a suburban park
and the engines and patrols responded
with a mere handful Of men.
Two warehouses filed with wines
and liquors Were among the buildings
destroyed. Barrels of whisky and
brandy exploded with thunderous
roars which could be heard for blocks
and which shook the walls of adjoining
buildings and endangered the lives OF
firemen engaged in fighting the flames.
1t was not until several hours had
elapsed that the fire was gotten under
control and even then it continued to
burn well into the night
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
MRS. DONOHUE KNOWN
AT EMERYVILLE TRACK
accompanied by Wife of Race
horse Owner and Called a
Regular" by Attendants

Mrs. Donohue held a season ticket to
the EmeryvHle racetrack given her by
Marshal Carey, and according to the
track off1cials was regular attendant
at the races. She was almost always
accompanied by a handsome. dark
woman, wife of a prominent racehorse
owner. The pair went almost daily
say the door keepers. So well known
was she at the track that the trackmen
dubbed her one of the regulars"
She was always looking for a good
tip on the races" said one of the En-
eryvllle door keepers yesterday. She
used to talk to us and became quite
Well acquainted with all the track of
ncsrs, and used to get tips from them
Every once In while she would pass
out good one herself, which she
would get from the wife of the race
owner She and this woman were al
most constant companions, and both of
them made lots of money.
Mrs. Donohue was an unusually at
tractive woman. She always wore the
hnest OF clothes, and her diamond ear
rings alone appeared to be worth near
ly $1,000. Her other Jewels were very
Snowy, and altogether she appeared to
be a very wealthy woman. 1 don't
think any one ever said anything
against her character because she was
the wife of motorman and dressed so
Well, for every one believed that she
made her money by winnings at the
track
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
M URDERED WOMAN HAD
DONE PRISONER KINDNESS
ArkeiPS Landiady Sheds Light
on His Relations to Mrs.
n0naF1rsa

Mrs. b. S. Spanier 6007 Vallejo street.
in whose home Arkel1 lived, said she
knew very little about Arkell, but told
sufficient of his past history to awaken
the interest of Captain Petersen. Mrs.
Spanier, who is writer of some note.
who writes under the name of Berta
Lee and recently signed contract
with well known publishing firm for
one of her books, said that Arkell was
a very peculiar man and that his
actions had attracted her attention
upon many occasions She said that
she had moved into the house, which Is
owned by the imprisoned man. about
the middle of July. At that time Arkell
pointed out to her the Donohue home
and stated that in his opinion the
woman would never be found in Oak
land. He said that the dead woman
had been seen in San Francisco by sew
eral of her acquaintances
.'At one time. when Arkell was very
Sick Mrs. Spanier said. Mrs. Donohue
did many little things for him. she
washed his clothes and carried all sorts
of delicacies to him. He appeared to
appreciate her kindness, and when he
was able to get out of bed and look
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
HANDLED SHOVEL
CAUSES ARKELL,S ARREST
Captain Petersen Secures Evil
dence Thar Directs Suspicion
Toward the CARPENTER

A short handled shovel and remark
ably clever deductions on the part of
Captain Of Detectives Walter J. Peter
sen were the direct causes of the arrest
of Gustave Arkell suspected of the
murder of Alice L. Donohue. The
shovel when purchased had a long
handle; it had been cut off at half
length for use in excavating
knowing that such implements were
used by well diggers, Captain of De-
tectives Petersen set about finding a
man in that occupation. The finger of
suspicion thus was pointed at Arkell,
who lives across the street from Dono-
hue. Other links in the same chain had
been found by Petersen, all tending to
incriminate the man held in detinue.
The police expect to establish fully
the ownership of the shovel, which Pet
ersen says is one of the most important
exhibits that the authorities could have
found.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
ARKELL'S ARREST MADE
AFTER SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
Taken TO Scene of Crime, the
Carpenter Runs Away
From the Body

Captain Petersen did all of his
work yesterday morning. After Arkell
had been safely lodged behind the
prison bars he gave out an interview
in which he said that according to cir
cumstantial evidence he had the right
man. He told how he first went after
Arken and what evidence he had. He
said:
Having obtained information which
warranted the closest Investigation
possible of ArkeIl, I sent for him this
morning after the body had been ex-
humed. He was brought TO me in
the furniture factory, and 1 talked to
him without arousing his suspicious. I
let him go in a few minutes to see
what his actions would be. Unlike the
other spectators in the neighborhood,
he did not go to view the remains. but
made of in the opposite direction. 1
had expected that If guilty he would
do this and sent Deputy Marshal Lippi
to arrest Arkell.
He was lodged in the Emeryville
jail. I then went and searched his room
and found a loaded revolver and a
loaded Winchester rife. There were
other articles in the premises which
may have an important bearing on the
case.
We have found absolute evidence
that Mrs. Donohue was shadowed on
several occasions by ArkelL He was
familiar with the habits of both Dono-
hue and his wife. and must have known
when Donohue left the house on the
night Of June II. There are many
things of a similar nature which tend
10 incriminate ArkelI Among them is
the discovery of the short handled
shovel hidden with the clothes of Mrs.
Donohue. No one but a well digger or
a man employed at excavating would
use shovel with a handle chopped
like that Arkell was engaged in such
work and recently dug a well for one
Of the neighbors of the Donohues.
Mrs Donohue, after she fed from her
home, tapped for aid at the window of
Mrs Nerra's home, but Mrs Vera was
too frightened to give her aid
Later Mrs. Donohue was seen lean
ing as IL exhausted against Mrs Verra' s
shed, and little later broke into a run
toward the waste land where her muir
der probably was committed. 1t fs.evi-
dent that the hidden clothes were taken
away from Mrs. Donohue's home bv
some person other than herself to di-
vert suspicion The hatpins belonging
to Mrs. Donohue were left at home. but
the hat was taken. 1t is not probable
that a woman would go out and take
her hat without the hatpin"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
POLICE SAY ARKELL WAS
INVOLVED IN FORMER CASE
Prisoner Declared by Captain
Petersen to Have Figured
in Local Murder

That Gustav Arkell was involved
once before in a murder mystery in
San Francisco in which poison figured
as the agent of death was stated yes
terday by Captain Petersen. The man
was said to have figured prominently
either under his own name or the
aliases of Alsted or Weir. The affair
occurred several years before the fire.
1t was because of the cunning skill
with which the crime was committed,
as in the Donohue case, that the mur-
derer was not brought to justice.
The details of this old time crime in
San Francisco are wrapped in the deep
est mystery Owing to the difficulty
of examining the police identification
records yesterday, no positive vertical
tion of the statements could be OBJ
tanned. Further developments along
this line promise sensational disclos-
ures, however, Petersen asserts.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
SECOND MAN IMPLICATED
IN MURDER OF WOMAN
Walter PyIeS, Who Lived Near
fhe DOnOhues, Is Sought
by Oakland Police

While most of the circumstantial evil
dence points to Arkell as the murderer
Captain Petersen and his men have not
been idle in running down other clews.
The shovel that has been practically
identified as the property of ArkeIl and
the locket that was found in his pos
session, which is said to have belonged
TO the murdered woman, have been
booked at the police station as evidence
in the case. Interviews with neighbors
and former neighbors have given the
police a clew which. il IT amounts to
anything. probably will result in the ar
rest of another man, who. IT is re-
ported. was an Intimate associate of
the man in custody
The other man in the case is Walter
Pyles, who lived about a half block
from the Donohues and was a frequent
visitor at their home According to the
story of Mrs. A J. Rossi. 1916 Vir-
Sinia street, West Berkeley who was
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

we became friendly. She was much
more friendly with the other people in
the neighborhood. She was liked by
all who knew her"
Tony Gartozi, who occupies the house
directly in the rear of the furniture
warehouse under which the body was
found, said he had never seen the
woman in the neighborhood. He stated
that he had read the story of her dis
appearance, but he didn't think that
the woman was a neighbor of his.
keep two ferocious dogs said
he; If the party or parties who buried
the body had made any noise the dogs
would surely have heard it and made
such noise that 1 would have gotten
up and Investigated the cause of their
barking. 1 keep a good many chickens,
and whenever the dogs bark late at
night l always get up and go out to
see II any one is trying to steal the
chickens"
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
Husband Makes Solemn Vow
to Ayenge Foul Crime

<IM o awful work."
"SAl anguish statement of Daniel
Y Donohue from the hole of
blacknng, stenchng body of his murdered wife
had intoa sorabe coffin.
"Oh my Why they do this why did they take her
Friends bent tn the
trembling him inside the furniture factory from
the molly hrong spectators There he broke down
pey Sobbng child the overwrought husband cried
despair avenge which cruelty robbed
him OF wife
"Oh did moaned through gTitted teeth will
they tried tell she had elopedi They
iedl 1 knew they ied?
Crushing eyes the which weled
in spite of himself anguished continued
why my away mel her
much and loved we'll the day before lost her she
told how well little garden getting song pointed
pretty She said they'd be big
Sunday when left down she
and asked loved her much
that she growing old and homely Old and homey
younger other in the
murdered her The mans voice harsh
poignant They trench and showed
to Oh, my God! My GodF
Turning husband buried his head in his
shaking sobs later Captain of Detectives
arrived and led him
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
HUSBAND IDENTIFIES BODY
OF HIS MURDERED WIFE
DOnOhue Tells of Fatal Mistake
Made by Murderer in Tax
inq Victin7'S Clothing

Cireumstantial details that proved
the crime to have been one of the most
carefully planned and deliberately exc
cuted killings ever perpetrated were
obtained from the husband after he
had. viewed his wifes body at the
morgue for the purpose OF positive
identification when the case should be
called in court.
THAT is my murdered wife beyond
the possibility of doubt. There is
scar on her body which tells me, -
corpse.
Il knew" said Donohue, that any
report that my wife had eloped was
false and was meant to deceive me.
The clothes she wore when she was
found proved that she had been forced
to leave our home
when she was dug up she had on
the same kimono that she always wore
around the house. She had it on when
1 left her to go to lodge, and ] believe
it was not off her back from that time
until she was killed. Then theae were
her shoes left behind her, which proved
beyond the least doubt that my wife
had not willingly gone away. She never
went out of the house without a pair Of
shoes which were on a table when /
came home and found her missing. She
wore her slippers away from home that
night and the slippers were on her feet
when she was dug out
"As for the clothes found under the
furniture building my wife did not
take them away with her. They were
in the house when she was killed and
they were carried away by the MUIR
derer. The reason for stealing them was
this-it was meant that L should think
she had eloped. But the person made
this mistake--he did not take her shoes
and he took clothes she never wore all
at the same time.
she never wore the black Jacket and
red coat at the same time. They were
found under the furniture house and 1
believe that they were hidden there
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
Ho: for Tahoe:

Southern Pacific special excursion
leaves September 5. Round trip So 90
Tickets good for return until Septenn-
Der 13, and include steamer trip around
lake. Take your fishing tackle with
you and spend Admission day catching
big trout. Ticket Offices S84 Market ST
pot. and 18th and Franklin SITS Oak
land.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
MRS. DONOHUE KNOWN AS
A HOME LOVING WOMAN
Neighb0rs Declare Dead Woman
Was Well Liked by All
Who Knew Her

Mrs. Simmons, who lives in the little
bungalow across the lot from the DON
ohue home, said that Mrs. Donohue al
ways appeared to be a woman that
thought a great deal of her home. She
said: Il was not very well acquainted
with her. She was a member of the
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

ROBBERS LOOT BANK-St Joseph. Mo. |
Aug. S0-The Bank Of Easton at Easton Mo-
ABOUT y miles east of St Joseph. was robbed |
early this morning OF $3.50, the funds belonging |
TO the postofhee. The robbers are believed to |
be the same men who robbed the hank at Rush |
Vile. Mo-, last Wednesday. for whom a reward I
of $5, 0O0 has been offered
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

TWO MEN AsPHYxIATEp-Seatt Arr
30.-Two ground keepers for the Seattle tennis
cluo, Harry Long. aged about 35 years, and an
unknown man, about 30, were asphyxiated IN
the clubhouse some time this morning The
bodies were found by three boys who had gone
to the courts TO play tennis.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

Continued from Page 1, Column
socialists at Chicago. but strong OBJ
lection developed to the words I'VE
heartily indorse the national platform"
Fl. c. Tuck, a blind socialist, was in
favor of striking out the sentence on
the ground that the national platform
gave too much Ieeway to the capital
istic classes. The platform was in
danger for a short time until dele
gate suggested that California social
lists harmonize with the others in the
land.
In addition to the national platform.
termed immediate demands" whichF
called upon the socialist nominees. il
elected. TO secure employment for the
unemployed and TO adopt the initia-
tive, referendum and recall.
RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY
When George W. Speed. a representa-
tive OF the Industrial workers OF the
world, requested a hearing innumer-
was finally granted the right of speech
with the provisO that he confne his
remarks to a correct version OF the
Smith and Preston shooting ARRAY
which occurred in Nevada some time
ago.
SiASS OF Tut MN out, he Is an
enemy Of socialism greeted Speed. bue|
he continued. As a result OF his re-
marks q resolution expressing sympa
thy for the imprisoned men was passed.
The concluding minutes OF the con-
vention were marked by routine busl-
ness Resolutions OF sympathy for
Magon, Vieliareal. Riviera and Serabia
Mexicans confined in the Los Angeles
prison, and for John Purin, a Russian.
fugitive. now in Jail at Philadelphia.
were passed. Expressions OF cond0lencst
were voiced.
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

EARL OF RosSE DEAD-Londou Aug. 20.
The earl OF ROsse died here today aged ss
years he had been representative peer for
Ireland since 1883 and chancellor OF the Unl-
versity OF Dublin since 1855
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31
SOCIALISTS SNUB
POLISH COUNTESS

COntInued from Page 1. Column
The San Francisco call., 1908-08-31

k6NIo Ons man did this awful work.
IN 81 uch was the anguish wrung first St
Y Donohue as he turned away from the va
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-25
MORE GOOD NEWS OF A
COMMERCIAL SORT
EASTERN MERCHANT COMING
HERE WITH FAMILY-WILL
START IN BUSINESS

TIE kstorian has it Upon incon-
testable authority that G. w. Water
man who was recently in this city
on a tour Of investigation as to Its
promise as business center, with a
view to locating here permanently as
merchant, at which time he was
the guest of his friend, B. F. Allen,
sends word that he and his family
left Chicago yesterday, Astoria
bound, with the full purpose Of
l1aunching "Faif" store in this city
land making his future home here.
He has secured the lease in the Cut
birth building at the corner of Com
mercial and Ninth streets, and it
will be put in instant and thorough
repair preparatory to the installation
of large and fine stock Of goods
just ordered in New York City and
from Germany, and VIII be opened
to the public on or about the 18th Of
November.
Mr.. Waterman is a young man of
fine business training and comes out
elated with hope for the realization
of his career. Mr.. Allen is RESPONSE
bic for this acquisition to the com
mercial interests of Astoria, and AS.
toria is particularly fortunate in win
ming out as against The Dalles, al
that city made every possible effort
to the advantage Of Mr. Waterrnan''
| venture.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-25

in looking upon cheap Waists, but
.ome here where the finest are for
your inspection and purchase. Here
are dainty Waists for wear on all
occasions, and you will be delighted
with the fabrics, the designs, and the
stylish make Of them In these lines
we are headquarters in this locality,
and in all kinds Of seasonable and
fashionable dry goods we are sure we
can give you better qualities for less
money than you can buy elsewhere.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-25
THE BRE HIVE
HE PASSED MAN CHECKS.
Slick oung Man Rounded Up BY Chi
cago Police.

CHICAGO. Oct 24-c. H. stra-
than Of Jackson, Mich. who the po-
lice assert has made a practice Of
fleeing hotels in various cities, was
arraigned before Judge Gemmell,
charged with passing fraudulent
draft 1t the Auditorium Annex. He
pleaded guilty and was fined $50
The draft was for 500 on the
Fourth National Bank Of Atlanta,
Ca, and signed by the O. H. STRAIT
ham estate.
The arrest Of Stratham, who is "A
years old, removed one Of the most
dangerous check ''kiters" from the
hotel field, according to Chief Detec-
tive Frank Repetto, of the Congress
Hotel.
He said;
we have found that he has se-
cured large sums from the Coates
House, Kansas City; the Washington
Hotel Kansas City, Piedmont, At.
lantaS the Great Northern and Au-
ditoriuin Annex Hotels, Chicago and
the Knickerbocker, New York.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-25
down on the noon train yesterday
and is registered at the Occident

down on the noon train yesterday
and is registered at the Occident
o. L. Ferris, the energetic secre-
tary Of the Columbus Trust Com
pany, Of Portland, was in the city
yesterday, on matters Of business
connected with that house, and left
on the return trip at 6:l0 o'clock last
evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles H. Calender
are expected to return from the Coos
Bay country on the steamship
Breakwater this morning.
Mrs. J. w. Welch was a passenger
for the metropolis on the evening
express Of yesterday, going up to
spent Sunday with friends there.
Ex-County Commissioner William
Larson came in from his fine farm
on the Lewis & Clark, yesterday and
sojourned a bit with his host Of AS
toria friends.
G. B. Entriken Of Seattle was in
the city yesterday for a few hours
on business.
H. R. Kennedy, drummer oft Of
St. Paul, spent the day here yester-
day selling shoes and things in that
line, going back to the metropolis on
the evening train,
r. 7. Matthews of Salt Lake was
doing business on the streets Of AS
tofia yesterday.
]. K Smalley Of South Bend was
here yesterday on business bent, go
ing on to Seaside last evening.
LA. Manfred Of Los Angeles ar
rived here on the noon express yes
terday, and spent the afternoon on a
business quest.
C. S. McNary Of Spokane came in
on the 1850 train yesterday and did
business here for the balance Of the
day.