The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-30
HERR WINDMULLER CONHESSES
no THE CRIME or THE TOMATO
HE ADDS A THEFT or CHERRIES.

Hb ann u 10
DISTINGUISHED New Yorker breaks Down
Under CrOssDExamination ~--StubbOrnly
Refuses TO ADM mat He Stole the
First oyster lie Ate and Didn't Like.
Louis Windmuller, publicist and treasurer
OF the Reform Club, told only half the truth
the other day when he confessed In a letter
10 the editor OF the Evening Post hat he
once stole q tomato, Yesterday he broke
down completely and told Of other thefts
committed In Germany.
Perhaps he was buoyed up by his knowl-
edge Of the statute Of limitations, 80 far as
that tomato was concerned, and by his
familiarity with the fact that there ID no
treaty yet in existence between this country
and Germany which would provide for his
extradition In case the police authorities
OF Munster should desire to take action
at this late day on crimes Of the early '5os.
It was this sense Of security, perhaps, that
enabled Louis Windmuller TO assume yes
terday an air of bravado after making a
clean breast Of his hitherto hidden past.
He actually laughed about that tomato;
and although he didn't say so In words, his
laugh meant nothing II not the bold chal-
lenge.
well, what are you going to do about
itf I'm the treasurer Of the Legal Aid
Society, which furnishes %gratuitous service
to helpless strangers
1t Is but fair to Louis Windmuller 10 say
that the Legal Aid Society has been In
existence only twenty-five years. 1t was
ffty-two years ago that he stole that tomato
1t was In Vesey street that the crime was
committed. Now that all the facts have
been brought out, it Is perfectly clear that
MIR. Windmuller's conscience began to trouble
him long ago when he wrote an essay en-
titled Food That Fails to Feed
That essay was, no doubt, the first weak
struggle at a vague confession. For the
stolen tomato did fail to feed the man who
stole it. As he said in his confession the
other day, Il was disappointed by the taste
and scolded the poor driver after robbing
him. From the beautiful looks had II
pected a better favor
He took but one bite and in the half CEN
fury that has elapsed he has tried to con-
vince his conscience that one bite was
punishment enough for larceny.
Il had the same experience with oysters
when ! first come to this country he said
yesterday.
where did you steal the oysters?" asked
the inquisitor, firmly but not %unkindly.
ooh, i didn't steal the oystersl' he ex-
claimed, gu ick and apparently glad to
seize an opportunity to digress from actual
crime. Il meant that1 didn't like the taste
OF the first oyster that l had on a Fulton
street corner out of curiosity. and l spat it
out
The third degree was tried on the culprit
at this point, but he stuck to his assertion
that he didn't steal the oysters.
WAS there a policeman eating there at
the same time?' he was asked.
sIdon't know" he said doggedly, but with
downcast eyes. All the time he was ner-
vously lingering a batch Of manuscript for
a Reform Club pamphlet.
Are you sure that you didn't like oysters2'
yes, / am
But you're a member of the Reform
Club and you go to Reform Club dinners?s
@Yes," faltered Louis Windmuller as a
man trying to feel his way and fearful of
what was coming next.
And you go to other dinners of the uplift
aYes," said Louis Windmuller rubbing his
stomach with a painfully reminiscent look.
what did you mean then by writing
about food that does not feed ?"
This was merely a depression resorted to
by the inquisitor to confuse the witness,
but for the momen he seemed to lose sight
of his crimes altogether and declared with
an emphasis Utmost desperate that he
wasn't thinking about Reform Club dinners
at all when he wrote the feedless food PAM
phlet.,
In mindp"
The man refused to answer.
Now you have admitted that you attend
many reform dinners
DO you eat them?'
Must answer that?'
well, then, I do eat them
Now at every reform dinner are there
ct least two oysters served to each re-
q particularly great reform aren't there at
least three oysters for each diner2"
Yes, there were four at one of our din
ners," said Louis Windmuller in a Boosting
manner.
"As a rule you sit at the head table where
all the guests can see your
Sometimes
Now, then with impressive slownessl
do you spit out the oysters''
All, I thought so. Now you say you did
Eyes
Il will ask you once more, did you steal
that oyster as you stole that tomato? And
II not, will you explain why you spat it
out if your conscience was clear, while
now that oysters are all canned with poi
sonou personalities you can swallow two,
sometimes three and, rs you have said, on
one occasion four2"
he muttered something about being will
ing to take any risk for the sake Of reform,
but the strain had been too much, and it
was at this point that Louis Windmuller
told everything, including the story of his
record in Munster.
Il was only a boy, he faltered.
SO ahead now, make a clean breast of
everything" said the inquisitor. still not
u~nkindly.
Il was only a boy, / had just come to this
country. / was a clerk in a grocery store
on Vesey street: 1t was a bright, sunny
day. l was trying to be good and forget
what had happened in Munster. But at
the fatal moment a cart full Of tomatoes
stopped in front Of the door. The old
appetite came back and overpowered me.
1t was then that l stole the tomato. Must
/ say more?'