The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-21
Escape After Futile At
tempt to ChIoroform
Wife.
SOUTHWEST AROUSED
Thieves Dropped Most of
Booty in Running From
the House.

The pressure of towel saturated with
chloroform covering her face awoke
Mrs Philip Brooks. wife of DIR. Brooks,
Of SIS Third street southwest, with
start at 2;30 O'Clock this morning. Real
izing that danger impended she called
for aid and her husband, who responded,
found two masked burglars in the house.
The intruders had secured the physic-
ian's revolver and he was poWerless to
prevent them from escaping. A three
stone diamond ring valued at $500 and s.
in money were carried off by the thieves.
In their flight they dropped a silk dress.
three pairs of trousers and the loaded
revolver near the front door. Detectives
Muller. CornWeIf. Trumbo. and Rhine
hart are investigating the case
Could Not Open Safe.
The detectives found the towel on the
floor by the woman's bed, and in the
physicians library they discovered half
a dozen burnt matches near the safe.
II is believed the thieves eudeavored TO
open the safe. but were without the
necessary tools to complete the job and
gave up the task after making several
futile eRdeavoTs 20 fHd the combination.
Mrs. Brooks said this morning: Il felt
something wet on my face after I had
been in Dst four or five hours, and when
l awoke i put my hands on A rough
towel After pulling it aside I realized
that a man was leaning over me. There
was no light in the room, and ] was
unable 20 discover whether ne was white
or colored. As soon as l pulled the towel
from my mouth ] screamed for help, and
my husband rushed into my room, but
the men by this time had fed.
Through Kitchen Window.
Dr. Brooks says entrance was gained
through the kitchen window. He could
not remember whether or not the win
dow was locked when he and his wife
retired The physician informed the de-
teCtives that he leaped out of bed when
he heard his wife's cries and ran to q
shelf to get his revolver. lie was sur
prised when he discovered that the
weapon was not in its accustomed place
SEEING a large stick in the room, DIR.
Brooks ran TO his wife's apartment. but
when he reached the room he heard two
men running down the steps. He raised
the window Of his room and shouted
police and within a few moments the
entire neighborhood was aroused
TrumbO and Rhinehart were the two
detectives who first visited the house
They made an investigation and found
three pairs of trousers and a silk dress
I'm the hall. On the front lawn the
officers found a dkmond ring which
had. been dropped ny Tia burglars in
their hurry 10 get away from The house
Stole Her Best Dress.
DR.. Brooks room was robbed first
The trousers were taken OF a skeleton
rack by the thieves. who then went to
the bureau and stole two rings having
an aggregate value Of $500 from a jewel
case. The thieves then went to Mrs.
Brooks room and ransaCked her clothes
closet stealing the best dress she had.
The s. which was taken was obtained
from one OF the bureau drawers. The
woman evidently became restless or
talked in her sleep while the burglars
were ia her room. and they decided TO
chloTOformed her before she awakened
so as 10 De able To make their escape
before al alarm could be given.