FATAL FEUD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21086, 12 July 1938, Page 7

FATAL FEUD

SEQUEL TO UNDERWORLD QUARRELS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph- Cnnvrient CANNES, July 10. A four-year-old underworld feud between Parisian gangsters caused three deaths last night. It has already been responsible for three murders, , The feud started in the “Dead Rat" cabaret in Montmartre at Christmas, 1934, when a boy named Keusch was killed. His father, Foata Keusch, accused Jean Stefani, but while awaiting trial, his brother. Etienne Stefani, was found shot. Jean stefani was acquitted in 1936, as no witnesses appeared. Foata Keusch lay in wait at the cemetery where Jean Stefani was visiting his wife’s grave and fired at him, but missed.

Subsequently he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, but Jean Stefani was killed in a Montmartre Street last year by a man who was acquitted after pleading self-defence. The latest crime is believed to be an “execution" by the Stefani gang, two of whom ambushed a 30-year-old Parisian and poured 11 bullets into his head and stomach and dashed ofl in a car without lights. They ran down and killed two motorists who were repairing a tyre on the roadside at Cannes.

The police 1 barred the way at a levelcrossing, but the driver ignored the signal. A police bullet pierced the petrol tank and set fire to the car and the occupants leapt out and disappeared in the darkness. The Parisian shot dead was Andre Marguin, who killed Jean Stefani.

Kelsch’s son was killed by a volley aimed at his father. Foata Kerch, who was carrying on the vendetta. In attempting to shoot Jean Stefanie, Foata hid behind a tombstone and wounded one of Stefani’s bodyguard. He was then felled by a grave-digger with a wooden cross.