The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-05
HAND SHOT FULL OF SALT.
DoWD's ENPLOTER HAD FIXED UP
A TRAP FOR CHICKEN THIEF ES.
Dovvd wnsu't Informed, nnd when no Opened
the Hennery Door to see " Any Thieves
Were Inside rse Got n Charge from tho Gun
"A Hoapitnl Doctor ELckn Ont tho Rnrticirs.

Dowd Wnsu't Informed, nnd when Ho Opened
the nlennery Door to see ~ Any Thieves
Were Inside rIs Got n Charge from tho Gun
"A Hospital Doctor Picks out tho Particles.
ORANGE, n. j.. Jan. 4.-With one Of his
hands shot full of salt, Joseph Dowd appeared
ut tho Orange Memorial Hospital to-day and
asked to be relieved. Salt is not generally em-
ployed as n substitute for shot, but Dowd's en-
ploycr, Joseph Butler, adopted 1t after mature
consideration. though he did not expect to
shoot one of his own employees with II.
Butler has Il hat shop at Northficld, seven
miles from here. over the Second Mountain. 1t
Is In Livingston township, and tho only inhnb-
itants OF the place besides tho farmers are tho
matters employed by Butler. He keeps a buck.
oye" shop. The peculiarly of n buckeye" Is
that ho prefers q barn rs u sleeping place. II
he can't find q barn he will take a bench in tho
hat shop. Butler is also a chicken fancier, and
his honncry contains a number of raro fowls.
For two weeks the honnery has been visited
regularly every night, and with tho departure
Of the visitors went some Of the fowls, until MIR.
Butler feared that his hennery would DO de-
populated.
Yesterday he fixed up his rapid salt. firing
gun. 1t was a big doubled arrellcd shotgun,
loaded to the muzzle. First he put in some
powder. then q wad, and then a liberal supply of
oo's hiS HV LII ooNh ~
arranged the load, Butler put the gun about
five feet from the hennery door, mounting 1t
on a couple OF sawhorses. To the trigger he
fastened n string. and this string was passed
over a pulley at tho roof o, the building and its
other end was tied to the door, so that when
pulled and the charge Of salt would greet the
intruder.
Having arranged the gun, Butler went away
for the evening without saying anything about
his scheme to the employees Of the shop or even
his family. The ,hennery door was left, just q
trifie ajar and this was noticed by Dowd about
IL O'clock. With the purpose of protecting his
employers possessions, Dowd went out from the
hat shop. where he had planned to sleep, and
Butler speak Of the chicken thieves he thought
perhaps one was in the coop at tho time and de-
termined to try to nab him.. Opening the door
quickly in order to surprise the thief. Dowd was
astounded ut a loud report and still further sur
priscd at q. singing sensation in his hand.
HowlinR with pain he ran to the house. Butler
had not returned and no ono knew what tho
trouble was, but Dowd had q terrible pain all
through his hand and 1t was black and white IN
When Butler got home half an hour later no
was quick to mako amends, but it was too late
to drive to Orange. and the best that could DO
best she could with cooling. poultices.. This
morning Butler drove to this city and took
DOwd to the Memorial Hospital, where q doctor
worked. for an hour picking out the particles OF
was SO intense that Dowd wanted to stay at tho
hospital, but tho institution was so full that
there wasn't an empty bed In the place and ho
had to 60 back to Buffers house.
chicken thieves no win tell his employees and
family Of the methods he has adopted. Dowd is
afraid that he will catch cold in his hand and
that some complications will ensue.