The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-27
BLINDED A BURGLAR.
Druggist Windolf's Only Weapon
Was Strong Ammonia,
Two Thieves Broke Into His Store
and One Was Captured.
Dived Through His Plato Glass
Window to Escape.

Joseph Phillips. a neatly dressed eigh-
teen-year-old burglar. stood before Jus
tice Tighe in the Butler Street Police
Court. brooklyn. this morning, a victim
of the potent influence OF concentrated
ammonia. The pungent fumes were too
much for his nerve, ami he pleaded guilty
to the charge of breaking into the drug
| store of J. f. Windolf. 564 State street,
About o'clock this morning Mr.. Win
dolf, who sleeps In a room In the rear
or his store. heard a noise which aroused
his suspicious. He crawled out OF bed
to point behind the counter. He could
| not be seen but ne could see all that
was going on in the front part of the
store.
He saw man working at the fan
light. The intruder managed to open
the fan wide enough TO crawl through.
He dropped to the floor.
Meantime Mr.. Windolf was silently
looking for some weapon OF defense. He
first thought OF SELLING u heavy pestle.
but. changing his mind, he took down
the big bottle OF concentrated am
monia and poured out six ounces Into
a big glass.
From mis- lookout he could see an
other man making preparat tons to crawl
over the fanlight. The man easily
gained an entrance.
cash drawer. His compa Mon Joined
him. and then Windolf Thought II was
about time to repel boarders. He began
1t and called out:
IL you make any more noise, I will
Windolf continued his noise, Just to
draw the burglars on. and the ruse sue
Phillips advanced to the prescription
counter and opened a desk. He put his
head in position where Windoif stand
Ing behind the counter, could get line
shot on his eyes. with his liquid weapon
Without a word, he let all OF II ny a,
eyes, covering his face.
The man dropped like log to tn,
| floor, clapping his hands to his face
whats the matter, JoeY' asked hi.
companion in a frightened tone. TIL,
second burglar then started to climb VI
the door to the fanTight
out another six ounces of ammonia II
the little graduating glass for burglar
Phillips partially recovered hinsel
and staggered to the middle of the floor
| where he fell for the second time TheI
Mr.; Windolf started out from the pre-
scription counter.
Phillips Jumped to hts feet, and stag
gering to the front Of the store trie
| there. In an instant he backed of. an,
running with All his might took a heade
! out on the sidewalk. -.SN'
His companion in crime made a rus
| from behind the counter.
Windolf was at his heels, and covere
the back of the fellows head with tn
extra dose of ammonia he had prepare
for him. On reaching the door, tn
/ through
Phillips.
Oficer John McGnnis was passing jus
as Phillips made his unceremonious ar
: him under arrest. While standing on tn
, curb with Phillips, McGinnls wa
sbrpeb hr see another form slid
says, he was so hand icapped with Phi
lips he could not catch the second mar
Phillips told the officers at the sixt
| New York, and had only been dow
fsrashed G room e Is &c Madison Ia ne s nas
NEW New York York He did not know who HI HI
the first time on the bridge yesterday.
Detective Raleigh says he thinks tina
Phillips Is responsible for a similar bur
glary of the drug store Of J. Carl Trites
at $40 Fulton street. early Sunday morn
, ing.
When Phillips appeared before Jus
During the night he had suffered grea
! agony but 1t is believed that he will
not lose his sight.
The ammonia was SO strong that 1
burned his skin.
Druggist Windolf was seen at hi
store by an Evening World reporte
, this morning.
II guess" said Mr.. Windolf, "tha
Phillips thinks now that as the pen 1
mightier than the sword, SO Is a bottl
of concentrated ammonia mightier thal
! a club"
Mr.. Windolf believes that his pres
ence Of mind saved his life. for bot
burglars were desperate.
( The concentrated ammonia, Mr.. Win
. dolf said, which ne used on the bur
glars Is about eight times as strong "A
the ordinary household ammonia.
person. who inhales It is completely over
, come for moment. II. when the bur
glar had dropped to the floor. strugglin
! for breath. Mr.. Windolph had thrown
coat over the mans head he woul
> have died OF suffocation in few sec
onds.
/ Mr.. windolf says that he propose
, to arm himself with an atomizer ar
= rangement filled with ammonia. an
spray 1t in the face OF an assailant O
lexl,x axyttna