THREW PEPPER IN BURGLAR'S EYES Dec. 3, 1904 news

Sisters Lay in Wait for Intruder Whom They Had Heard Trying to Force Entrance and When He Returned They Attacked Him With Pepper and Butcher Knife, But Pepper Was Blown Back Into One of the Girls' Eyes.

No general in battle ever mapped out his programme of warfare better than the capture of a stalwart burglar was planned early Friday by two young women - Katie and Lizzie Westendor. The women's strategy was brought to play, but anxiety characteristic of the gentler sex prevented what the young women were anxious to accomplish in addition to the capture - blinding him with red pepper. Mrs. Westendorf conducts a grocery at New Street and Broadway. Her daughters Lizzie and Katie, act as clerks, and sleep in the rear of the store. Early Friday morning they heard someone trying to pry open the front door of the grocery. At that junction, however, Patrolmen Dowd and Crowley, who run the beat, pounded on the curb in the vicinity with their batons. The approach of the officers frightened the would be burglars away. "He'll come back" said the girls. They arose and hastily dressed. (There is a portion that is torn and illegible)

Everything was agreed upon and the girls lay in wait for the return of the burglar. He returned to the front door of the grocery. He smashed the glass in the door as noiselessly as he could and then put his left hand through the aperture to turn the key in the lock. As soon as Lizzie saw the man's hand she grew excited and pulled the apron string at the same time, chopping at the man with a knife. The knife struck the left hand of the burglar almost severing his index finger. In throwing the pepper, however, the aim of Katie was not accurate. The pepper struck the remaining glass of the door and then was blown back striking Katie in the face. The fiery stuff penetrated both of her eyes and she screamed with pain while the burglar ran away bleeding and cursing. A physician was summoned to attend Katie Westendor but it is expressed that she may lose her sight.

After the burglar had fled, the police were summoned from the Hammond Street Police Station. Officers found a trail of blood leading from the grocery at New Street and Broadway to Seventh Street. The police followed the blood trail and captured John Payne, 21, of 437 East Seventh Street. He is colored and the index finger of his left hand was nearly severed. He confessed saying he had no money, had no work and was desperate. Miss Lizzie Westendor was able to go to police headquarters Friday morning.