LOVERS IN A COFFIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 24 July 1923, Page 5

LOVERS IN A COFFIN

GREEK REFUGEES’ ROMANCE

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright; (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association/

LONDON, July 23. The Daily Express’ Athens correspondent reports that a man and a girl, refugees from Smyrna, are the central figures in a poignant love romance which has moved all Greece. Aristide Vassilacopoulos was found unconscious in a home-made- coffin with a poison bottle at his side. He was taken to hospital an hour later. A girl Athena Tantailides, was found unconscious in the same coffin.

It. has since been revealed that, when Alustapha’s troops appeared at Smyrna, Aristide was preparing for his wedding. He ran to Athena’s house, found her in her wedding dress, hurried' her to the water front, and, as he was unable to find a place on a ship he plunged with his sweetheart into the sea and swam for halt an hour until a ship took them aboard. 'The couple reached Athens penniless. Weeks of privation followed until Athena found work weaving. Aristide, broken in spirit, could not find employment. Athena paid the rent for his room as well as her own. Aristide began drinking heavily and became very jealous. One night he tried to break the door of Athena’s room.

The next day she departed from her lodgings leaving a letter saying that she still loved him. but only if he honoured and respected Her and himself. Aristide, brooding over his troubles, conceived the idea of punishing the girl bv making a coffin and decorating it with carving. He spent several days thus. He then traced the girl to her new home and took the coffin there. When she was away at work he lay down and drank bichloride of mercury. When Athena returned she found her lover. _ Her cries brought in neighbours and Aristide was sent to hospital. Athena, left alone, lay down in the colfin apparently believing that Aristide was dead and that he expected her to follow him and that she would die of a broken heart. When her friends returned she was unconscious.

Both are now in hospital, but the dociors hope that they will recover. Thousands of people in Athens are praying daily for their recovery, when efforts will be made to enable the lovers to get back their lost happiness.