STUBBORN FARMER

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 17

STUBBORN FARMER

CUN BATTLE WITH SHERIFFS VWE KILLED AND HIMSELF WOUNDED Vicm Association—By Telegraph—Copyright . NEW YORK, September 26. Mrs Sophie Crempa, aged 40, was killed and her husband, John, a Belgian war veteran, was. wounded in, a pitched gun battle with five deputysheriffs',who were attempting to arrest Crempa in his small farmhouse in New Jersey on a writ issued to the New Jersey Public Service Company, hor eight years Crempa engaged in a_persistent fight to prevent the Utility Company from stringing a high-tension wire over his property. Several years ago. the company was granted a t condemnation order and installed a wire, • but Crempa refused to accept the 800 dollars award and repeatedly short circuited the wire, causing the company extensive damage. Many times officers attempted to serve the injunction, but Crempa kept the house barricaded. Today the sheriffs determined to carry out the court order, and as they attempted to smash their way into the house Crempa, his wife, and his daughter s started shooting. The officers responded, and .dozens of shots were exchanged until the wife fell dead, whereupon Crempa surrended, but the daughter continued to shoot until overpowered. . '