Sweeney Lapis

Twas this day in 1901 twas that Brooklyn barber Joseph Lapis exercised his Second Amendment right and kept his shop from being burglarized. The previous morning he and his brother John entered their establishment in the bottom of 164 Hamilton Avenue and saw that during the night someone attempted to break in.

Believing that the footpad(s) would return that night they set out to protect their combs and mustache wax by purchasing a shotgun. Joseph also procured a cot and set it up in the rear of the shop so that he could spend the night.

Long about 3:30a.m Joseph was awakened by the sound of somebody tampering with the lock on the front door. Grabbing his gun he approached the door. He listened for a few more seconds, then placed the barrel against said door and pulled the trigger. A scream was heard, then all was quiet. The barber  dressed and went to the police station where he relayed the incident to the boys in blue.

A patrolman was dispatched to the shop and upon entering the building  found would be yegg John Alba on the second floor landing, lying unconscious with a wound to the chest. Alba was taken to the hospital where he denied trying to break into the shop but remained mum on how he came to get a chest full of buck shot.

Since you can’t go around shooting burglars Joe the barber was arrested but back then people figured burglars got what they deserved and he was paroled the same day.