Criminal prosecution Obwalden archives provide insight into criminal files from the 19th century

The Obwalden State Archives have examined criminal files from the 19th century and indexed them by personal name. The documents provide an insight into a justice system that prosecuted crimes ranging from illegitimate pregnancies to murder.

For example, an Engelberg gravedigger and his maid were pilloried, declared dishonorable and sentenced to prison, as the State Archives wrote in a press release on Tuesday. The gravedigger had administered two drugs to the maid, which were supposed to kill the "womb".

The State Archives delve deeper into the history of the two and many more on its website. The archives examined a total of 6300 criminal files from the years 1803 to 1867, containing interrogation records as well as expert opinions and evidence.

The State Archives note that in the first half of the 19th century there was still no separation of powers between the Obwalden government and the criminal authorities. It was the council that ruled on criminal cases, conducted the investigation, recorded interrogations and decided on the use of torture.

The criminal files also showed how major political and legal upheavals, such as the end of the Helvetic era or the Federal Constitution of 1848, affected penal practice in Obwalden, according to the report. They also provided fascinating insights into the lives of many Obwalden residents, which could also be used for family research.

https://www.ow.ch/themenalle/thema/6340