In a sheet handling machine having a frame, and a cut sheet handling system including a sheet path, a stalled sheet pulling and crushing apparatus for reducing a sheet, stalled across an interface between a withdrawable and a fixed component of a cut sheet handling system into a shape and size suitably enabling reliable removal of the stalled sheet through a relatively narrow gap between the withdrawable and fixed components of the sheet handling system. The stalled sheet pulling and crushing apparatus includes a fixed component of the sheet handling system connected to a frame of the machine and having a first sheet gripping nip forming a first section of a sheet path; a withdrawable component of the sheet handling system mounted movably to the frame, and having a sheet flattening side defining a relatively narrow gap between a fixed surface within the machine and the withdrawable component, the withdrawable component including a second sheet gripping nip forming a second section of the sheet path for adjoining the first section of the sheet path; and a movable sheet pulling device comprising a rotatable roller mounted to the fixed surface and projecting partially into the narrow gap for contacting and rotatably applying a sheet pulling force on the stalled sheet in a first direction to pull an end of the stalled sheet out of the first sheet gripping nip, as the withdrawable component is being pulled in a second and different direction relative to the first direction. The rotatable roller as mounted cooperating with the sheet crushing side of the withdrawable component to accordion fold and crush the pulled out stalled sheet without a tear, into a shape and size suitably enabling reliable removal of the stalled sheet through the narrow gap.