The "Unfortunate” Haralambos Megalokonomos - murdered by his own family

The local Kytherian newspapers contain many stories of politics, finances and trivialities, but not so often you find an amazing story.

Haralambos Megalokonomos was the second child and eldest son of Emmanouil Megalokomnomos (Koleveloni) and Asimina Kavier. He was born on 19 October 1857 in Potamos and baptised a few days later in 2 October 1857 in the local Iperagias Theotokou Ilariotisas church.

Eleni Koroneou was born 1 November 1865 in Potamos and was baptised int eh same church as Haralambos on 26 November 1865. She was the eldest of only two children to Panagiotis Koroneos and Kerana Tsikala.

It is unknown whether it was his decision or an arrangement, but on 31 July 1888 Haralambos married Eleni Koroneou in the same church he was baptised in. This would be a day he would soon regret.

The couple had two sons, Emmanouil born 5 December 1889 and Panagiotis born 28 February 1892 who passed away late the following year.

Signature of Haralambos Megalokonomnos

Not much is known about their lives together. Haralambos, as most people on the island at the time, spent most of his life as a farmer. Eleni would have spent her days looking after their son, maintaining the family home and probably helping on the farm.

This family unit would not last long.

On the night of 8 December 1892 Haralambos and Eleni had eaten a meal with an unknown relative's family in Silaka, a district of Potamos. At the end of the meal they left this house to return home when Haralambos was attacked and murdered by seven people, three females and four males, all close relations of his.

Two of the accused were his wife Eleni, and mother-in-law. It is unclear whether they were part of the group of seven or they aided them later on.  It is believed Haralambos was killed for his inheritance worth about 40,000 drachmae.

The first person arrested was Panagiotis Koroneos (Bellos). It is believed Grigorios  Panaretos, son of Kosmas Panaretos, mayor of Potamos the year before and first cousin to Haralambos, helped Panagiotis escape Kythera on a sailing boat, then falsely told the authorities he was arriving in Athens after his actual arrival. It is possible Panagiotis was later arrested in Piraeus.

The newspaper of the day was critical of the other six murderers, as they said that they were known to the locals and were walking around boasting that nothing had happened to them. It is also claimed that Haralambos’ wife Eleni tried to pay authorities 4,000 drachmae to discontinue investigations into his death.

Another man arrested later was Michalis Mavromatis, but no proof was found that he was involved. About 40 days later, Grigorios Kosmas Panaretos was arrested as another of the people in the group of murderers. He was caught by a policeman on a train in Corinth station.

It was also believed that Andreas Mavromatis was the ringleader in the murder.

The local newspaper at the time reported this happened on 8 December 1892, but Haralambos’ death certificate has the death date as 20 December 1892 at 10pm. He was buried the next day, probably in Potamos cemetery, after a church service in the same church he was baptised in. No grave remains today.

Eleni passed away on 6 October 1923, a year after her son emigrated to Australia. It is unknown when her mother passed away.

The only details we have about the murder and the accused have come from newspaper articles written at the time. We cannot confirm the accuracy of the story, nor can we find any other newspaper articles reporting the same facts. Newspapers then as now can be known to show bias or have personal agendas.