Evening star., 1898-06-20
P EP P Err AS A WEAPON
A Burglars Cruel Plan to Escape Detec-
tion.
Bold Robbery mt the Residence Of Mr..
Mason Richardson-The
Man Escapes.

Yesterday morning about 2 o'clock a
masked burglar visited the residence of MIR.
Mason \. Richardson, assistant attorney
for the District. No. 1916 Wyoming avenue,
and stole a gold watch and chain with
charm attached, suit of clothes and about
81 in cash. The property taken belonged
to Mr.. John C. Fill, father-in-law of Mr..
Richardson. After taking the money from
the pockets the burglar threw away the
clothing While in the house the daring
criminal drew revolver on both Mr.. Fill
and Mr.. Richardson and threw red pepper
in thu eyes of Mr.. and Mrs. Fill. The lat
ter was so severely injured by the pepper
that physician had to be called to attend
her Although the burglar was masked
Mr.. Fill was able to tell that he was white.
The report of a pistol shot fIrad from the
house after the escape of the burglar
aroused some of the neighbors. The police
were also summoned from the eighth pre-
cinct. Later Detectives Boardman and Gal
laEer went to the house and made an inves-
dgation. They are now making a search
for the missing burglar
The burglar entered the house through a
side window on the second floor, TO which
he gained access by means of ladder. This
ladder, it is> thought, was probably taken
from new building in the neighborhood.
1t was just about O'Clock when the ma SIX
ed mans movements in the room awaken ed
bed to learn the cause the brutal intrud er
threw cayenne pepper in their eyes. This
Was so painful that an outcry WAS made
and Mr. Richardson, who was il a room on
the floor above, hurried down stairs to ;,scer-
tam the cause of the noise. On mis- way
through the hall he pressed an electric but
ton, which lighted the hall as well as the
room in which the crime had bean COM
mitt5d. When he opened the .loor and look
ed in he was surprised to see the masked
man standing there with Il revolver in his
hand. The weapon was turned toward him
as soon as he appeared, and being una.-med
he returned to his room to get his revolver.
during his brief absence in going from one
room to another and returning the burglar
had picked up Mr.. Ifill's clothing from the
chair near his bed and mad descended the
ladder to the side yard. Arthur and Leroy
Fill were also in the house, and they ap-
pedred i'll their parents room Just afte, the
escape of thu burglar. Because of the in
jury to Mr.. and Mrs. Fill the young men
had to look after them instead of being
able TO so in pursuit of the fugitive. For
this reason the latter had a good start and
was able to get under cover.
Had Mr.. ELL been a younger and more
active man the result of the burglars visit
may nave been different. AS t was there
was no resistance on his part TO justify the
criminal in the use of his weapon. which
would have operated against his cn anceS CT
escape. Had MIR. Fill made an effort to cap
tGre the man lie would in all probability
have used his weapon and death may have
followed. While in the room the burglar
had nothing to say. He did not even
threaten to his weapon. Had it not
been for the light turned on by Mr.. Rich
ardson the burglars color would not have
been known. The light revealed Il black
mask, which did not fit web, for through
the eye holes could be seen the white skin
OF the man. While the police have a fairly
good description o. the fugitive Mr.. Fill is
certain he could not identify him. Mrs
Richardson, who has been sick, was not at
noms during the excitement, having gone
TO Atlantic City few days ago.