LIFE OF CRIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22719, 4 November 1935, Page 15

LIFE OF CRIME

NOTORIOUS BANDIT’S END A notorious bandit, Hko Lepej, recently terrorised the district around the small town of Volovo, in Czechoslovakia. Gendarmes at last succeeded in finding his hiding place, and Lepej was killed while trying to escape. Lepej came from a wealthy family. His father was at one time Mayor of Volovo His brother emigrated to the United States, became an officer during the war, and was killed in France. This brother left a considerable fortune, but Ilko Lepej was excluded from the heritage, and is said to have become embittered in consequence. Hence his decision to become a highwayman. He became very powerful, levying taxes on the peasants and ordering them to bring their tribute to certain hiding places. 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, according to the Prague correspondent of the Observer, there is no evidence that this is true. Lepej committed many murders. In 192 C he murdered two Jewish merchants in the mountains, and was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment at the Leopoldov Gaol. A year ago he escaped from the prison, and at once returned to the mountains to continue his bandit life. In January of this year another bandit, George Klevcc, 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 pending 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 gendarmerie fired. Lepej collapsed, hit by eight bullets. Klevec 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.