MODERN HIGHWAYMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22262, 9 November 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

MODERN HIGHWAYMAN

BANDITS LIFE OF CRIME TAXES LEVIED ON PEASANTS CAUGHT IN GENDARMES' TRAP A notorious bandit, Ilko Lcpej, recently terrorised the district around tho small town of Volovo, in Czechoslovakia. Gendarmes liavo at last succeeded in finding his hiding-placo, and Lepoj was killed while trying to escape. The story of his life is a romantifi ono. Lepej camo from a wealthy family; his father was at one time mayor of Volovo. His brother emigrated to the United States, became an officer during tho war arid was killed in France. This brother left a considerable fortune, but llko Lepej was excluded from the heritage, and is said to have become embittered in consequence. Hence his decision to become ft highwayman. Ho became very powerful. Ho levied taxes on the peasants, ordering them to bring their tribute to certain hidingplaces. These taxes seem to have been promptly paid. , « , The peasants say that Lepej was a protector of the poor and a scourge of the rich, but there is no evidence that this is true. Of ono thing there is no doubt: Lepej committed many murders. In 1926 he murdered two Jewish merchants in the mountains, for which he was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment at tho Leopoldov gaol. A year ago he succeeded in escaping from prison, and he at once returned to the mountains to continue his bandit life. In January of this year

another bandit, George Klevec, joined him. Klevec was a rich peasant, and had been accused of having murdered two peasants and a peasant woman. When he heard that his arrest was impending, he fled to the mountains and joined Lepej. The two bandits robbed tourists, peasants and merchants. At the beginning of September the police received confidential information that Lepej and Klevec were planning to raid a village to obtain food. An ambush was prepared, and, when Lepej showed fight, the gendarmes fired and Lepej collapsed, hit by eight bullets. Klevec, however, succeeded in escaping to Poland. In the deserted camp of the bandits the gendarmes found Lepej's diary,_ in which he had described his whole life, his escape from the Leopoldov gaol and his latest adventures.