The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-20


tunate subject from disgrace"'
Queen Olga oade the fellow to rise, but
he refused until she had promised to be
come his patron saint Then he told her his
name, spoke OF his family and his troubles.
Nassor was the son of the mayor OF Lamia-
received a good education In a Latin high
school. and after graduating spent several
years in the military academy on the Island
of Corfu. But while there he thought more
Of the beautiful eyes OF young cousin,
with whom he was In love, than of his
books. When, later on. his father got into
financial difficulties. Nassor was obliged to
enter the army as a common soldier, in
stead OF as an aspirant for epaulettes. How
ever proving himself a smart and efficient
private, he soon rose TO the rank of sub
lieutenant in the line. With his patent in
his pocket he went to his native town to
ask his uncle for the hand of the fair Alex
andra But the old gentleman refused to
entertain his suit, and when Nassor in
sisted, had him forcibly removed from the
farm.
Nassor returned to his garrison a changed
man. His disposition had soured, and the
subleutenant, once loved by his soldiers,
and petted by his superiors, became a veri-
table terror TO those under him and
source of much annoyance to the officers.
A few days before he met the Queen, and
just after receiving news OF Ibis" Alex
andras marriage to a hated rival. he had
wounded a recruit with the sword In order
to escape punishment he had left the garri-
son and come TO Athens to throw himself at
her Majestys feet.
THE QUEEN TOUCHED.
The recital OF the young mans troubles,
and even more his fine. manly face, which
bespoke a kindly and impulsive nature
touched the Queens heart. She gave him a
few gold pieces to buy plain clothes with
and keep in hiding for few days until she
had looked up his case. Next day her Ma
jesty communicated with NassOrs colonel
and. secured him a pardon. Within a week
the reinstated sublieutenant returned to his
command. not a little inflated by reason Of
the Queens bounty. He wore gaudy uni
forms rivaling the splendor OF those pos
] sessed by officers of the guard. boarded at a
| hotel and let money fly in all directions As
a consequence, Nassor's affiuence soon be-
came the talk of the town, and as the
boastful fellow related his adventure with
the Queen freely, people began TO look
upon him as particularly lucky dog.
Several months after the eventful visit to
Athens Nassor went home to Lamia to brag
of his good fortune. and there met girl
friend of the cousin he had loved and lost
Thinking himself irresistible, Nassor pro-
posed an elopement and was promptly re-
fused, whereupon he drew his sword and
stabbed the girl to death. He fled and found
shelter with a widow in a nearby village.
Learning, a week or so later, that his cous-
in was expected to visit the neighborhood
he lay in wait for her. Alexandra was alone.
and having persuaded her that he killed her
friend for speaking i'll of her (Alexandra),
he also succeeded in leading her astray.
The pair was on the way to the noun
tains when the girls mother caught up
with them. followed by a large mob of ex-
cited peasants. Nassor had to run for his
life and escaped. The next three four
months he spent in the mountains, living on
the charity of peasant women whom he be-
witched by his beautiful face and fascinat-
ing manners. Then, being assured by let
ter from the Queen that he would not suffer
| the extreme penalty, Olgas favorite gave
himself up.
INTERPRETED WITH TRIAL.
His trial was remarkable for brevity and
| for the extraordinary evidence introduced;
the judge seemed ready to accept any sort
of excuse. and, as a result, Nassor was sent
to the House OF Detention. pending an ap-
peal against the very light sentence i'm
posed. From there he escaped two years
later. with nine other criminals, some OF
| them old and hardened felons. They were TO
lead a robbers life, with Nassor as chief.
The band started out by declaring its prin-
ciple, viz, to take only from the rich and
| TO aid the oppressed, and, as in Greece, like
in other countries. the good things of this
earth are not evenly distributed, there be-
| ing five hundred poor to every well-to-do
man. his theory became very popular.
Besides, Nassor entered upon the warpath
| against society under the most favorable
| personal auspices. He was handsome, the
Queens protege and. politically. Radical
| a trio of characteristics hard to beat among
| an ignorant and romantically- inclined pop
| ulace. That, at the same time. he was a
cruel murderer didn't count for much. "A
| lovers passion and the devil made him take
the life of a pure girl" said his friends.
''She is in heaven now and smiles upon her
deliverer, who would not sully his fame by
| common murder"
| AS to the authorities-the gendarmes
| either fraternized with the outlaws or were
shot by them. The Athens Cabinet hesi-
tated about sending soldiers to the ''seat of
| war" once because they feared unpleasant
| comments in the Chamber, and then again
| because they were not quite sure of the
| troops.
DEPUTIES AS BRIGANDS.
When / speak of the opposition in the
Chamber 1 am mindful OF the fact that as
late as last spring two Greek deputies were
! sent to jail for acting as protectors of
Hadgijakis. 1t appears that friends of the
gentlemen, armed with rifles, crossed the
Greek border at Kastanka one dark night
and after sacking the farm Of Halreddin
Bey. a Turk. carried him off to Greece
while, in the meantime, the deputies men,
toned, informed the frontier guards that
their friends, eleven in number, would cross
with Turkish prisoner. The soldiers car
ried out the wishes of the deputies and even
supplied the band with food. The robbers
took their prisoner to the village OF Duzesti,
and next day the deputies, in company with
the mayor of kastanka (who was charged
with the pursuit of the brigands), arrived
and told the Turk that he would be held
captive until his family sent certain ran
som for him. The ransom was paid and the
money divided among the deputies. the
mayor and the robbers. but the thing leaked
out and the statesmen were sent TO Jail
Small wonder that Nassor and his COM
rades were left in virtual command of Thes-