Mount Ida to Jail

The bold bridegroom of Crete came up for trial last week. Although mustachioed Constantine Kephaloyannis had capped his spectacular kidnaping of Tassoula Petracogeorgi last August (TIME, Sept. 4) by marrying her in a lonely monastery on fabled Mount Ida, Tassoula's father was not appeased. He had the groom thrown in jail.

During the five-day trial, Tassoula's sister testified that the abducted girl said she had been raped by Constantine in their mountain retreat. "I never told my sister any such story," stormed Tassoula in Athens, where she is awaiting the birth of her child. Testified Constantine: "I promised Tassoula I would not touch her." Anyway, said he, she had a stomachache most of the time.

The defense attorney made a final appeal to the five judges of the court, as Greeks and as men of the world. "Here in Crete, Sparta and the ancient Greek land," declaimed he, "it is common practice and tradition for strong men to steal their brides." Unmoved, the court found Constantine guilty of carrying illegal arms, sentenced him to two years in jail, plus a $400 fine. Tassoula wept and vowed: "I will go back to Crete so I can be near him."

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