• A Manhattan straphanger was slashed and pepper-sprayed by a spurned panhandler early Wednesday, cops said.
• The 57-year-old victim was riding a northbound 1 train between West 42nd and West 50th streets around 1:30 a.m. when another man started begging him for money, authorities said.
• When the rider refused to hand over any cash, the suspect pepper-sprayed him and cut him on the right arm with a knife, cops said.

Tagged: Crime Blotter