RED PEPPER Bertha HELD Throws it in Her Husband's Eyes-An then Tries to Murder Him Bad Marksmanship Saves His Life-A Sensation on Long Island (Special to the EAGLE.) Farmingdale, L.I. May 8, 1885. The inhabitants of this section of the island were furnished with a sensation this morning by Matthias HELD, a German, residing at Bethpage Junction, who charges his wife Bertha with having thrown red pepper in his eyes and with firing three shots at him while he stood sightless and in agony on the highway. Justice FITSELL has been asked to issue a warrant for the woman's arrest, and will do so as soon as HELD, who is suffering severely, can appear before him. The assault took place in front of Farmer BURTSELL'S residence, and HELD is being cared for there. He was formerly a dealer in salt hay at Breslau, L.I., and thus earned the sobriquet of "Salt Hay Pete." Five years ago he went to Germany to obtain a legacy of several thousand dollars which had been left to him by a relative. Returning after a few months absence, HELD met a widow, Mrs. Bertha BULLET, who had two children. After a short courtship, HELD and Mrs. BULLER were married. HELD did little, if any, work during he succeeding four years, and took to drinking spending the last of his fortune a few months ago. His wife and he have latterly had frequent quarrels and about three weeks ago he left his home and went to reside at Woodbury. His wife had him arrested for abandonment and non support, upon which charge Justice FITSELL committed him to jail in default of bonds to provide for his wife. He remained in jail only a few days, having furnished the required bonds, and then obtained employment at Woodbury. Wednesday night, so HELD says he was proceeding towards Bethpage from Woodbury, intending to effect a conciliation with his wife, when she met him. She greeted him with some angry words,a and without any warning, threw the pepper in his eyes and fired several shots, neither of which took effect, although one of them grazed his head. Farmer BURTSELL, who heard the shots, hastened to the spot. Mrs. HELD ran off on his approach and went home. It is feared that HELD will never fully recover his sight. Mrs. HELD refuses to make any statement. Transcribed for the Bklyn Info Pages http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Bklyn.Info.Page.html