The Death Penalty in Switzerland From 1800 to 1944

With special thanks to Christian Schrepper for researching and writing this unique insight into the death penalty in Switzerland.

Switzerland was traditionally a confederacy of cantons, each with its own laws, based on the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (CCC). After French troops occupied most of Switzerland in 1798, the cantons for the first time had a uniform government and law. The New Criminal Code was based on the French Code Penal and abolished all methods of executions except beheading. The guillotine, however, was not introduced and was only applied in Genève (Geneva), which had become a part of France at the time and remained so until 1813. When French troops left Switzerland in 1803, it became a kind of satellite state of France by the Act of Mediation.

Most cantons abolished the New Criminal Code and returned to their old laws according the CCC, which were mainly unwritten laws. It was only in the 19th century that the cantons wrote their own penal codes. The cantons retained their independent penal codes even after the forming of the Federal State in 1848, which included a federal government and parliament for the first time. It was not until 1937 that a uniform Penal Code was passed by the federal parliament, which was approved by popular vote on 3 July 1938 and came into force on 1 January 1942.

Abolishing capital punishment was a question widely debated in Switzerland in the 19th century and as early as 1807 it was hotly debated in Glarus, and next in 1836 in Zürich, 1838 in St. Gallen, when abolishment was narrowly defeated with 65 to 53 votes of the Councillors.

Capital punishment for political crimes was indeed abolished by the Federal Constitution in 1848. In February 1848, the first canton, Fribourg, abolished the death penalty altogether, but repealed that law in 1868. Neuchâtel followed in 1864, Zürich in 1869, Ticino and Genève in 1871, Basel-Stadt in 1872, Basel-Land in 1873 and Solothurn in 1874. In a constitutional vote, capital punishment was abolished in all Swiss cantons in 1874 via Art. 65 of the Swiss Constitution. However, it took only five years to repeal this article, and after a constitutional popular vote of 18 May 1879 cantons were allowed to reintroduce the death penalty into their Penal Codes. The majority of the cantons remained abolitionists, seven having abolished the death penalty through 1874, five others having struck it out of their law books between 1874 and 1876 (Schaffhausen 21 May 1874, Fribourg 19 Aug 1874, Bern 30 Dec 1874, Vaud 20 Jan 1875 and Aargau 3 Dec 1876), but 11 reintroduced the death penalty in the following years, namely: Appenzell-Innerrhoden 25 April 1880, Uri 2 May 1880, Zug and Obwalden in 1880, Schwyz in 1881, St. Gallen in 1882, Wallis and Luzern in 1883, Schaffhausen in 1893 and finally Fribourg on 24 Nov 1894. Graubünden in 1879 simply revived the old penal law without an official vote. Two cantons renounced reintroducing of the death penalty, namely: Glarus in 1884, Zürich on 5 July 1885.

Military law abolished the death penalty in 1992. There were 17 executions during World War II.

All executions were public until capital punishment was abolished by constitutional referendum in 1874. Héli Freymond was the last person publicly beheaded at Moudon, canton de Vaud, on 10 January 1868.

When cantons reintroduced capital punishment in the years after 1879, they made sure that the execution took place behind doors. Nobody was able to witness an execution without permission, and only a few were permitted to come into the execution chamber where the guillotine was erected. The guillotine became the sole instrument of execution after 1879, whereas in the years before 1874, it was only applied in Genève from 1798 and Zürich from 1836.
Cruel methods of execution, such as breaking by the wheel or burning at the stake, were gradually abolished in the early 19th century. Where applied, prisoners were first strangled to death, before being crushed by the wheel, or the faggots round the stake set afire. The last persons to be executed by the wheel were brothers Hans and Christen Wandfluh, executed on 13 February 1823 at Frutigen, Bern. The last person executed by burning was Susanna Elisabeth Weyeneth, executed at Nidau, Bern, on 10 December 1829. Fribourg and Bern were the only cantons to execute some of their prisoners by the wheel or burning. Hanging was generally used to execute thieves, burglars and robbers, and instances of hanging could be found in Bern, Fribourg, Zürich, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Schaffhausen through 1822. The last man hanged in Switzerland was Baptist Wild, hanged on 18 February 1822 in Schaffhausen.

The following list includes 345 known executed persons, 292 men and 53 women. 193 were executed for murder, 1 for attempted murder, 12 for manslaughter, 24 for arson, 41 for larceny, 15 for burglary, 6 for robbery, 22 for rebellion or treason, 2 for incest, 1 for instigation of perjury, 1 for poisoning. In 27 cases the crimes are unknown.

262 were executed by beheading, 21 by guillotine, 4 by burning, 10 by wheel, 13 by hanging, 19 by shooting, 16 are unknown.

The list is not complete through the 1830s, there were at least 10 more in Schwyz (1815-38), 10 in Fribourg (1803-31), 33 in Genève (1798-1813) and possibly others in various cantons.

Very little detail of the precise method of execution remains.  There is no description of hanging, and I suppose that the gallows was an old-fashioned construction on which the prisoner was slowly strangled to death. Beheading was always carried out with a heavy sword, with the prisoner seated in a chair.  Breaking with the wheel meant that the person was first strangled and then crushed by a heavy wheel, all bones were to be crushed, so pieces of wood were placed under the body.

06 Jan 1801Bern (Bern)Hans Jakob KlausSword?crime unknown
01 Jul 1801Basel (Basel-Stadt)Maria Anna WardtSwordmurder of her child
1802St. Gallen (Säntis)Barbara Eugsten (or Aeugster)Swordmurder of her child
    Sep 1802Bern (Bern)      Herzog (m)      Kühn (m)Sword?murder
1803Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)unidentified person (m?)Sword?robbery
13 Jan 1803Glarus (Glarus)unidentified personSword?crime unknown
     Feb 1803St. Gallen (Säntis)Sebastian GrafSwordmurder of his wife
27 Apr 1803St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Leonzius RegulonSwordmurder of his lover, larceny and forgery
29 Dec 1803Zürich (Zürich)Hans Ulrich HochstrasserSwordmurder of his wife
1804Fribourg (Fribourg)     Frutschy (m)Hangingcrime unknown
19 Apr 1804Zürich (Zürich)Rudolf SchützSwordburglary
25 Apr 1804Zürich (Zürich)Heinrich Häberling (39)Jakob Schneebeli (48)Johan Jakob Will (32)ShootingSwordSwordrebellion (so called Bockenkrieg), sentenced to death by court martial
17 May 1804Zürich (Zürich)Jakob Kleinert (38)Swordrebellion (so called Bockenkrieg), sentenced to death by regular court
30 Aug 1804Glarus (Glarus)August Meinrad KirchmeierHeinrich LeuzingerSwordSwordlarceny (repeated cases)same
01 Nov 1804Zürich (Zürich)Wilhelm Hausheer (20)Swordmurder of a young woman
08 Dec 1804Elgg (Zürich)Jakob Büchi (20)Swordmurder of his master; Büchi was beheaded, his body burnt
1805Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)     Löhninger (m)Swordmurder
23 Jan 1805Zug (Zug)Bonifaz RöllinSword?unknown crime
07 Mar 1805Trogen (Appenzell AR)Andreas ZweifelSwordlarceny
07 May 1805Trogen (Appenzell AR)Konrad GrafHans Konrad NännySwordSwordlarcenylarceny
10 May 1805Lausanne (Vaud)Jacques-Olivier Détraz (57)Swordmurder and robbery of François Rossier on 1 April 1805
09 Jul 1805Luzern (Luzern)Viktor Lorenz HueberSwordunknown crime
24 Jul 1805Zofingen (Aargau)Magdalena Köhli (24)Swordmurder of her new-born child on 29 April 1805
15 Sep 1805Laufenburg (Aargau)Magdalena DreierSwordmurder of her child
30 Sep 1805Lausanne (Vaud)François-Samuel Pingoud (26)Swordmurder and robbery of François Rochat on 31 July 1805
01 Oct 1805Bern (Bern)Anna Mosimann née LüdiBurningarson; she was first strangled, then burnt at the stake
06 Nov 1805Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johannes MeyerSwordlarceny (9 cases)
               1806Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)Ursula Kustermother KusterSwordSwordmurder of Ursula’s child
13 May 1806Lausanne (Vaud)Jean-François Baudraz (21)Swordrobbery and wounding of François Chaudet on 3 Feb 1806
14 Jun 1806Luzern (Luzern)Johann FischerAnton LörchSwordSwordcrimes unknown
17 Jul 1806Brugg (Aargau)Barbara ObristSwordmurder of her husband with poison
24 Sep 1806Trogen (Appenzell AR)Joseph Anton Fuchs (34)Swordburglary and larceny
03 Oct 1806St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Johann Baptist BuobSwordmurder of his pregnant lover, Rosa Schildknecht, in 1799
30 Oct 1806Laufenburg (Aargau)Johann GrenacherSwordlarceny
07 Mar 1807Luzern (Luzern)Johann BüöchlerElisabetha MeyerSwordmurder of Johann’s wife Anna Maria with poison on 2 Sept 1806
12 Mar 1807Zug (Zug)Leonz LüthartSword?crime unknown
17 May 1807Glarus (Glarus)Bartholomäus StauffacherSwordburglary and larceny
18 Aug 1807Bern (Bern)Hans Burri (49)Hangingburglary and larceny
12 Dec 1807Luzer (Luzern)Jakob WaserSwordcrime unknown
1808Fribourg (Fribourg)unidentified personSwordmurder
12 Jan 1808Bern (Bern)Jacob Häuselmann (31)Hangingqualified larceny
10 Mar 1808Zürich (Zürich)Elisabeth Schüle (48)Swordlarceny (valued 8800 guilders)
15 Mar 1808Bern (Bern)Niklaus Gehring (24)Jakob Haffner (25)Swordmanslaughter on a street
05 May 1808Zürich (Zürich)Kaspar LierSwordlarceny (several cases9
15 May 1808Trogen (Appenzell AR)Jakob Holderegger (19)Swordarson with homicide
07 Jul 1808Bern (Bern)Johannes Iseli (55)Hanginglarceny
17 Sep 1808Erlach (Bern)Jacob Schwab (25)Swordmanslaughter of 22-year-old man
15 Oct 1808Luzern (Luzern)Victor HoferMartin DoebelinsSword?crime unknown
25 Oct 1808Muri (Aargau)Jakobea WaltisbergSwordarson and larceny
22 Nov 1808Aarwangen (Bern)Jacob Kummer (40)Wheelmurder of his parents; he was strangled to death and then wheeled
31 Jan 1809Bern (Bern)Johannes Horrisperger (53)Burningarson; he was strangled to death and his body burnt at the stake
09 May 1809Wangen (Bern)Johann Ulrich Weibel (19)Wheelmurder; he was strangled to death and then wheeled
23 May 1809Lenzburg (Aargau)Christian GloorSwordlarceny (several cases)
23 Nov 1809Zürich (Zürich)Paulus Hofmann (21)Swordmurder of a young woman
20 Mar 1810Bern (Bern)Friedrich Tschirren (39)Swordmurder
22 Mar 1810Zürich (Zürich)Melchior Dürr (23)Hans Georg Strübinger (30)HangingSwordburglaryburglary
06 Dec 1810Trogen (Appenzell AR)Anna Maria FäßlerJakob GrüterSwordSwordlarcenyinstitgated his wife, A. M. F., to commit larceny
1811Basel (Basel-Stadt)unidentified personSwordmurder
08 Jun 1811Luzern (Luzern)Joseph Anton MeyerSwordlarceny, including from a church
23 Jul 1811Aarwangen (Bern)Niklaus Rösch (41)Hangingburglary
29 Aug 1811Zürich (Zürich)Heinrich Baumann (38)Swordarson at Grafstall on 15 June 1811
1812Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)unidentified personSwordrobbery
06 Feb 1812Burgdorf (Bern)Hans Georg Hermann (22)Hans Heinrich Hermann (20)Hangingburglary and larceny
15 Apr 1812Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johann Jakob SturzeneggerHangingmurder of 13-year-old Anna Katharina Engster to commit robbery
14 Jul 1812Bern (Bern)Jacob Matti (33)Swordmanslaughter
28 Jul 1812Glarus (Glarus)Fridolin Oswald (21)Swordmurder of his pregnant wife Anna Schuler on 12 July 1812 near Glarus
29 Sep 1812Interlaken (Bern)Ulrich von Bergen (31)Wheelmurder; first strangled to death, then wheeled
21 Dec 1812St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Josef Anton Bombacher (31)Swordarson; set fire to the house of his elder brother
01 Feb 1813Romont (Fribourg)Jean Colignon (25)Swordlarceny; theft of a few shirts in the house of Claudius Maillard on 19 Sept 1812 at Hennens
13 May 1813Zürich (Zürich)Regula Hartmann (31)Swordmurder of her newborn child near Eglisau
20 May 1813Laupen (Bern)Barbara Weber (30)Swordmurder of her newborn child on 30 Nov 1812 at Mannwyl
10 Jul 1813Luzern (Luzern)Aloys SchneiterSword?crime unknown
18 Sep 1813Fribourg (Fribourg)Claude Dupont (27)Swordburglary and larceny
30 Sep 1813Laupen (Bern)Bendicht Stöckli (34)Swordmanslaughter
22 Mar 1814St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Magdalena Zöllig (35)Swordmurder of her newborn child
22 Oct 1814Fribourg (Fribourg)Benedikt SchallerHanginghorse theft
1815(Basel-Landschaft)Rengger (m)Swordmurder
26 Jan 1815Zürich (Zürich)Anna Heuser née Pfister (28)Swordmurder of her newborn child
09 Mar 1815Zürich (Zürich)Johann Martin Valaster (20)Swordmurder and robbery of his fellow traveller Johann Georg Schmidt on the street between Berg and Gütigkhausen on 15 Jan 1815
16 Mar 1815Fronhofen (Nidwalden)Alois NiederbergerSwordlarceny
18 Mar 1815St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Andreas Walser (35)Swordpoisoned six persons to get rid of his pregnant lover, an 11-year-old girl died
14 Apr 1815Baden (Aargau)Josepha Kählin (23)Swordmurder of her newborn child on 25 Oct 1814 at Göslikon
08 Jun 1815Zürich (Zürich)Heinrich Bollier (58)Johannes Zolliker (22)Swordmurder of Mrs. Bollier and her son Siegmund on 6 Dec 1814; Bollier’s hand was first chopped off, then his head, his body burnt
12 Jun 1815St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Jakob Gämperle (30)Swordpoisoned his wife and 3-year-old daughter Mariana, the child died on 16 April 1815 at Jonschwil
19 Jul 1815Schwyz (Schwyz)Knobel (m)Swordinstigation to commit perjury in a paternity suit
19 Sep 1815St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Maria Franziska BruckmannSwordmurder of her newborn child
21 Oct 1815Zofingen (Aargau)Joseph KaufmannSwordarson
06 Dec 1815Zürich (Zürich)Anna EgliSwordmurder of her newborn child
23 Dec 1815Fronhofen (Nidwalden)Josef ChristenSwordlarceny
10 Feb 1816Thun (Bern)Barbara Schneiter (20)Swordmurder of her newborn son on 12 Nov 1815
24 Feb 1816Erlach (Bern)Jakob Tribolet (43)Wheelmurder and street robbery; was first strangled to death, then wheeled
29? Jun 1816Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)J. J. Sporndlin (42)Franziska Steiner (48)SwordSwordlarceny (several cases)larceny and fraud
31 Aug 1816Fribourg (Fribourg)unidentified manWheelmurder; first strangled to death, then wheeled
07 Sep 1816Fribourg (Fribourg)unidentified manSwordincest
14 Sep 1816Fronhofen (Nidwalden)Kaspar ZimmermannSwordburglary
26 Oct 1816Zug (Zug)Michael Hürli (43)Swordmurder of his pregnant lover, Anna Maria Büttel, on 27 Aug 1816.
     Dec 1816Fribourg (Fribourg)unidentified manWheelmurder; first strangled to death, then wheeled
10 Dec 1816St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Johann Georg Looser (25)Anna Barbara Schmidt née KlauserSwordSwordmurder of his newborn illegitimate child on 19 Sep 1816 at Ennetbühlinstigated this murder of her grandchild
1817Môtiers (Neuchâtel)unidentified personSword?unknown crime
13 Jan 1817Zug (Zug)Thomas Henggeler (38)Sword, right handmurder and robbery of Peter Etter, his creditor, on 8 Oct 1816
30 Jan 1817Schwyz (Schwyz)Steinauer (m)Sword?unknown crime
29 Mar 1817Luzern (Luzern)Joseph Schaller (21)Swordmurder of his pregnant girlfriend Maria Hunkeler
29 Apr 1817Fronhofen (Nidwalden)Franz Josef KäslinSwordlarceny
11 Jun 1817Zürich (Zürich)Jakob Oehninger (21)Swordmurder of a young woman
30 Jun 1817Lausanne (Vaud)Jean-Louis Golaz (26)Swordrobbery and beating of Henri Crot in his bed on 6 Jan 1817 at Vevey
27 Aug 1817Trogen (Appenzell AR)Hans Konrad JägerHans Jakob Schefer jun. (19)Hans Jakob Schefer sen.SwordSwordSwordburglary and larcenyburglary and larceny (14 cases)instigated his son to commit burglary
05 Sep 1817Schwyz (Schwyz)Josef Anton BürgiSwordunknown crime
26 Sep 1817Lausanne (Vaud)Jean-Daniel Gentison (28)Sigismond Jaunin (52)SwordSwordmurder and robbery of Elisabeth Christinat (77) on 10 Jan 1817 in her house at Chabrey
30 Sep 1817Aarwangen (Bern)Johann Franz Niklaus Desgouttes (32Wheelmurder of 23-year-old Daniel Hemmeler, his unlucky lover; Desgouttes was strangled to death, then wheeled
05 Feb 1818Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johannes OertliSwordburglary and larceny (had been a member of Schefer’s gang)
11 Mar 1818Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Konrad BrühlmannAnna Hitz (his wife)SwordSwordmurder of his father, Jakob Brühlmann, on 16 Jan 1818 at Zihlschlachtinstigated her husband to commit this murder
27 Aug 1818Meiringen (Bern)Andreas Roth (25)Swordmurder and robbery of a pig dealer from Wallis on 25 May 1818
01 Oct 1818Zürich (Zürich)Rudolf Bölsterli (46)Swordmaltreated and gravely wounded a young woman
26 Oct 1818Zürich (Zürich)Jakob RüeggRudolf RüeggSwordSwordthe brothers committed arson at Uerschen on 25 Aug 1818, a 7-year-old girl dying in the flames
13 Nov 1818Lausanne (Vaud)Marie-Marguerite Durussel (32)Swordarson on 27 July and 11 Aug 1818 at Seigneux, burning down 3 houses in the first instance
May 1819Vevey (Vaud)Joseph Gaudard (24)Swordmurder of François Dufey on 23 March 1819 at Vevey
24 May 1819Zug (Zug)Johann UlrichFelix WaserSwordSwordlarcenylarceny
04 Aug 1819Basel (Basel-Stadt)Ferdinand Deissler (30)Jakob Föller (24)Xavery Hermann (30)SwordSwordSwordstreet-robbery, arson, theft in a church, larceny
10 Aug 1819Bern (Bern)Elisabeth Siegenthaler (25)Swordmurder of her husband with poison
23 Sep 1819Laupen (Bern)Anna Barbara Barth (26)Swordmurder of her five-year-old son
04 Nov 1819Zürich (Zürich)Verene MarthalerSwordmurder of her newborn child in two cases
18 Nov 1819Trogen (Appenzell AR)Hans Konrad Koller (18)Swordburglary and larceny in 12 cases
18 Dec 1819Fribourg (Fribourg)Peter Nicolet (24)Swordburglary and larceny on 29 Aug 1819 at Curvillers
17 Mar 1820St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Josef Anton Thut (29)Swordmurder of his pregnant lover Susanne Ballmann
12 May 1820St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Valentin Lüthold (34)Swordburglary and larceny in 8 cases, valued 723 guilders
19 Jul 1820Glarus (Glarus)Rudolf Salmen (28)Swordlarceny from a post-box, theft of money
22? Jul 1820Fribourg (Fribourg)Peter BächlerSwordmurder of Christina Aeby on 3 May 1820 at Rechthalten
24 Oct 1820Muri (Aargau)Johann Werner MarbeitSwordlarceny
02 Nov 1820Zürich (Zürich)Susanna Gehring (23)Swordmurder of her newborn child on 1 Aug 1820 near Flaach
16 Jan 1821Schwyz (Schwyz)Franz Josef WaldvogelSwordmanslaughter
09 Mar 1821Genève (Genève)Jacques Machon (44)Claude Menoud (44)GuillotineGuillotinemurder and robbery of Louis Corboz and his housekeeper Louise Miéville on 30 Oct 1820 at Plainpalais near Genève
26 Jun 1821Zurzach (Aargau)Johann MeyerSwordmurder of his fiancée
29 Aug 1821Zug (Zug)Peter KnüsselSwordmurder and robbery
06 Nov 1821Baden (Aargau)Vinzenz KohlerSwordmurder and robbery of a Jew, Leob Bernheim
18 Feb 1822Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)Baptist WildHangingburglary at priests’ homes
06 Mar 1822Schwyz (Schwyz)Fidel Anna (41)Melchior Schneider (23)SwordSwordforging bonds, embezzling 4155 guilderslarceny
20 Apr 1822Wangen (Bern)Elisabeth Lienhard (27)Swordmurder of her newborn child
20 Jul 1822Fraubrunnen (Bern)Niklaus Glauser (31)Wheelmurder; first strangled to death, then wheeled
15 Nov 1822St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Juditha BrögSwordlarceny in several cases
1823Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)Melchior KernSwordincest
13 Feb 1823Frutigen (Bern)Christen Wandfluh (53)Hans Wandfluh (45)SwordSwordmurdered their brother Johannes on 25 Sept 1822 at his home near Frutigen
24 Jan 1824Morges (Vaud)Pierre Forestier (18)Swordattempted murder and robbery of Jean-Marie Pirolly on 16 Nov 1823
     Feb 1824Samedan (Graubünden)Mathis VolpeSwordmurder and rape Ursina Zambail in Jan 1824 at Pontresina
27 Mar 1824Zug (Zug)Elisabeth Köpflin née SteinerJoseph SteinerSwordSwordmurder of her newborn child and incest with her fathermurder of his newborn child, born by his married daughter
28 Apr 1824Zug (Zug)Anna Maria SuterSwordmurder of her newborn child
30 Jun 1824Zug (Zug)Anna Maria Barbara Lottenbach (43)Swordrepeated larceny
12 Jul 1824Zug (Zug)Johann Zacharias SeeholzerSwordcrime unknown
07 May 1825Solothurn (Solothurn)Johann WyssSwordmurder of his wife
1826Nidau (Bern)unidentified personHanginglarceny
14 Feb 1826St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Josef Schütz (34)Swordburglary and larceny in several cases
27 Apr 1826Pruntrut (Bern)Catherine Rondez (40)Swordmurder of her mother
20 May 1826Luzern (Luzern)Johann StadelmannSwordattempted rape and murder of a young woman
15 Jun 1826Altdorf (Uri)Bartholomäus Tasso (26)Swordstabbed and killed a soldier in April 1826
22 Jul 1826Luzern (Luzern)Nikolaus MaderJohannes Kiwiler (Kywiler)SwordSwordrepeated larcenyburglary in a church, maltreating a hermit who died 3 days later
18 Sep 1826St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Johann Georg Natter (33)Swordburglary and maltreating his victims
26 Sep 1826Luzern (Luzern)Leodegar Arnold (30)Basil GermannSwordSwordburglary, maltreating, arson
14 Nov 1826Aarwangen (Bern)Johann Jakob Hindermann (46)Swordmurder
03 Feb 1827Aarburg (Bern)Hans Geißbühler (57)Burningarson; was first strangled to death, body burnt at the stake
26 Jun 1827Bern (Bern)Anna Barbara Liechti (34)Swordmurder of her newborn child on 3 March 1827 at Landiswil
07 Aug 1827Schwyz (Schwyz)Kaspar Leonz FleischmannSwordcrime unknown
26 Sep 1827Signau (Bern)Elisabeth Liechti (39)Swordmurder of her newborn child at Signau
06 Oct 1827Luzern (Luzern)Joseph HaasSwordmurder and rape of Vernona Bösch on 5 Aug 1825 and of Barbara Sidler on 10 Dec 1826
19 Nov 1827Martigny (Valais)Margaretha MonciraSwordmurder of her husband with poison in September 1827 at Iserable
10 Dec 1827Glarus (Glarus)Marianna Hauser (30)Swordmurder of her newborn child on 5 Oct 1827 at Näfels
09 Feb 1828Solothurn (Solothurn)Viktor Baumann (28)Swordarson; set fire to the house of his brother in Dec 1826 and Dec 1827
18 Apr 1828Genève (Genève)Alexandre Debogis (42)Guillotineshot to death Jean-Etienne Mugnier near the river Versoix on 16 Dec 1827
17 May 1828Luzern (Luzern)Joseph Römer (36)Swordlarceny, repeated
20 Jun 1828Zurzach (Aargau)Johann SuterSwordrobbery and murder
27 Aug 1828Erlach (Bern)Françoise Rohl (34)Swordpoisoning
18 Sep 1828Zürich (Zürich)Jakob MaagSwordburglary in the goldsmith’s shop of Mrs. Hegi at Zürich
05 May 1829St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Joseph Engler (38)Swordburglary, amounting to 3000 guilders, including two thefts in a church
23 May 1829Solothurn (Solothurn)Josef Jecker (35)Swordmurder and robbery of Mrs. Anna Elisabeth Biberstein at Etziken on 22 March 1829
06 Jun 1829Luzern (Luzern)Katharina Burri (wife Mühlibach)Elisabeth Mühlibach (wife WobmannSwordSwordthey poisoned Elisabeth’s husband, Jakob Wobmann, who died on 17 June 1828
17 Jul 1829Luzern (Luzern)Elisabetha MüllerSwordassisting her lover with the murder of her new-born baby; Jacob Lang, who wouldn’t admit his crime, was exposed and sentenced to 10 years
10 Dec 1829Nidau (Bern)Susanna Elisabeth Weyeneth (27)Burningarson, killing three little children; she was first strangled to death, then burnt at the stake
02 Jan 1830Lugano (Ticino)Giosuè GuzziSwordmurder
18 Jan 1830Chur (Graubünden)Joseph Anton Müller (41)Swordmurder
14 Apr 1831Zillis (Graubünden)Moritz Grischot (25)Swordmurder of his pregnant lover Maria Roßsteter at Pasaigna on 14 Feb 1831
13 Jun 1831St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Johann Baptist Custer (67)Swordrape and murder of Elisabeth Gebert near Jona on 27 April 1831
18 Jul 1831Luzern (Luzern)Ludwig SingerSwordmurder
10 Aug 1831Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Johannes ImhofSwordarson
12 Jan 1832Altdorf (Uri)Franz Josef StauchSwordmurder of his pregnant lover
14 Apr 1832Zürich (Zürich)Friedrich BürkiSwordmurder of Albert Butschek on 24 Dec 1831
23 Jun 1832Fribourg (Fribourg)Magdeleine Dutoit née DaguetChriste JungoSwordSwordthey poisoned Christe Jungo’s wife, Marianne née Hayoz, who died on 13 Feb 1832
06 Oct 1832Fribourg (Fribourg)Hans Joseph BäriswylSwordarson, set fire to his brother’s house
19 Dec 1832Zofingen (Aargau)Samuel LüscherSwordmurder of his uncle
09 Feb 1833Luzern (Luzern)Joseph ZempSwordarson, resulting in the death of a person
07 Mar 1833Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Alois StrausSwordmurder
11 Jul 1833Altdorf (Uri)Anton ZurflühSwordlarceny
14 Mar 1834Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Kaspar FröhllichSwordpoisoning his wife
26 Jun 1834Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johannes Fischbacher (21)Swordarson
27 Jun 1834Môtiers (Neuchâtel)Charles-Frédéric Reymonda (57)Swordmurder of François Isoz on May 16, 1833
04 Sep 1834Baden (Aargau)Peter Welti (parson)Swordarson (three cases) and post robbery (three cases)
08 Nov 1834Luzern (Luzern)Joseph ZihlmannSwordmurder of a young woman
18 Dec 1834Locarno (Ticino)Pietro Pellanda (29)Giuseppe Dedini (29)Giuseppe Lesnini (29)SwordSwordSwordmurder and robbery of Mrs. Giacomina Bizzini in her house at Avegno on 22 Oct 1833
24 Aug 1835Lenzburg (Aargau)Samuel WeberSwordarson at Egliswil on 4 June 1835, including his father’s house
02 Dec 1835Courtelary (Bern)François Fête (33)Swordmurder of his pregnant fiancée, Marianne Boumard
18 Jan 1836St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Kreszentia Seraphina Giger (25)Swordpoisoned and killed her 72-year-old husband Fridolin Gyger
08 Apr 1836Fraubrunnen (Bern)Jacob Leibundgut (34)Swordrobbery and murder of two persons
17 Jun 1836Baden (Aargau)Bartholomä SchibliSwordarson
15 Oct 1836Bern (Bern)Jakob Gattiker (26)Swordrobbery and murder
24 Nov 1836Glarus (Glarus)Rudolf Michel (36)Swordmurder and robbery of Mrs. Barbara Kundert, wife of councillor Stauffacher, at Matt on 25 Oct 1836
15 Mar 1837Schwyz (Schwyz)Josef Anton Jägg (22)Swordburglary and arson
13 May 1837Lugano (Ticino)Francesco or Andrea MaldiniSwordmurder of his wife
28 Apr 1838Liestal (Basel-Land)Johannes Jakob Bowald (61)Swordmanslaughter of Vinzenz Oeschger on 28 Dec 1837 in Bowald’s home
04 Jul 1838Belp (Bern)Anna Freiburghaus (40)Swordmurder of her husband with poison
29 Jan 1839Schwyz (Schwyz)Matthäus DiethelmSwordmurder of his wife
05 May 1839Schwyz (Schwyz)Hieronymus Kessler (23)Swordmurder and robbery of two persons
21 Nov 1839Weinfelden (Thurgau)Ulrich RiserMargaretha Ruemmel née BaumannSwordSwordmurder by poison
14 May 1840Liestal (Basel-Land)Anna Maria Buser née Graf (50)Swordmurder of her husband Heinrich Buser with poison, died on 19 May 1839
06 Jul 1841Locarno (Ticino)Joseph Nessi (34)Shootingrebellion, treason
28 Feb 1842Sion (Valais)François Rey (42)Barthélémy Joris (or Juoly) (45)Marie-Thérèse Seppey (29)SwordSwordSwordmurder of Seppey’s husband, Nicolas Franier, on 25 April 1841 on the bridge of Granges
16 Jul 1842Luzern (Luzern)Anton Senn (40)Swordmurder of Anna Franziska Arnold on 4 March 1842 at Bürglen
29 Nov 1843St. Gallen (St. Gallen)Peter Waser (55)Swordmurder of his son-in-law Peter Lehnherr at Gams on 23 April 1843
12 Jul 1844Altdorf (Uri)Andreas DittliSwordmurder of a child (his child?)
12 Nov 1844Aarau (Aargau)Johann SuterSwordarson
05 Jul 1845Courtelary (Bern)Jean Jossi (21)Swordmurder and robbery of Daniel Schenk near Saint-Imier on 21 Nov 1844
15 Jul 1845Zürich (Zürich)Jakob Lattmann (30)Heinrich Sennhauser (34)GuillotineGuillotinemurder and robbery of Jakob and Elisabetha Leuthold in their home at Wädenschweil on 27 Feb 1845
31 Jan 1846Luzern (Luzern)Jakob Müller (35)Swordmurder of councillor Joseph Leu on 8 Dec 1845
30 Apr 1846Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johannes GrafSwordarson
08 May 1846Chur (Graubünden)Johannes Reidt (53)Swordmurder of his child, born by his own daughter on 14 July 1844
20 Jun 1846Luzern (Luzern)Joseph Glanzmann (59)Swordmurder of his own legitimate 4-week-old child in July 1845
08 Aug 1846Solothurn (Solothurn)Johann Rudolf von Rohr (28)Swordarson in three cases at Kestenholz on 12, 19 and 24 Jan 1846
09 Sep 1846Rolle (Vaud)Jacob Lausselet (43)Swordmurder of his co-worker Jean Romel to conceal his thefts in Aug 1845
23 Sep 1846Laupen (Bern)Christian Bannwart (35)Swordmurder and robbery of driver Märki on 1 Aug 1846
17 Oct 1846Sarnen (Obwalden)Josef Anton Amrhein (25)Franz Burch-Amrhein (22)SwordSwordmurder of Eugen Amrhein, father and father-in-law resp., on 7 July 1846
21 Nov 1846Luzern (Luzern)Johann ArnoldSwordmurder of a child
19 Apr 1847Bern (Bern)Anna Maria Flückiger (20)Swordmurder of Gottlieb Mischler (2 months old), son of a co-prisoner, because she wanted to be executed, to avoid serving a term of 15 years in prison
28 Jun 1847Zofingen (Aargau)Verena GautschiSwordarson, set fire to a house in Staffelbach
30 Jun 1847Bremgarten (Aargau)Jakob Rufli (ab. 50)Swordarson, set fire to several houses in Wohlen, killing one woman
23 Juli 1847Schaffhausen (Schaffh.)Johannes Schilling (34)Swordmurder of his wife Elisabeth Sch. with poison on 22 Jan 1847
30 Oct 1847Chur (Graubünden)Jakob Condrau Spescha (26)Swordmurder of his pregnant lover, Mrs. Maria Kath. Derungs on 1 July 1847
23 Dec 1847Zug (Zug)Jost Schanz (48)Swordarson, set fire to the barn of farmer Freimann in revenge on 29 Aug 1847
28 Dec 1847Zofingen (Aargau)Jakob HürzelerJakob KlausSwordSwordmurder and robbery of J. Lienhard, another inmate of the poorhouse of Uertheim
16 Mar 1849Lugano (Ticino)Luigi BaroliSwordrape and murder of Osvaldo Rhiner of Glarone
12 May 1849Laufenburg (Aargau)Sebastian Rebmann (30)Swordmurder, robbery and rape of Elisabeth Freudenmann in March 1849
29 Oct 1849Baden (Aargau)Jakob FischerSwordarson
03 Dec 1849Appenzell (Appenz. IR)Anna Maria Koch (18)Swordmurder and robbery of Magdalena Fäßler on 7 June 1849 at Gonten
11 Jun 1850Genève (Genève)Louis-Frédéric Richard (43)Guillotinemurder and robbery of 84-year-old Jean-François Borel on 5 Nov 1848
25 Feb 1851Trogen (Appenzell AR)Hans Konrad Frischknecht (47)Swordarson, set fire to a barn at Herisau, burning down the entire court on 28 Arpil 1850
08 Aug 1851Muri (Aargau)Franz Greter (26)Swordmurder and robbery of Johann Rütlispach at Brunwil on 7 Jan 1848
25 Sep 1851Altdorf (Uri)Ambrosius Lyrer (26)Swordmanslaughter of a 19-year-old lad at Giedstafel
04 Oct 1851Aarwangen (Bern)Johann Hünig (25)Swordmurder of Elisabeth Moser, his lover and maid-servant; thought she was pregnant, which she wasn’t, and wanted to get rid of her on 5 Jan 1851
15 Oct 1851Liestal (Basel-Land)Hyazint Bayer (29)Swordmurder and robbery of Heinrich Wiesner
11 Dec 1851Pruntrut (Bern)George-Frédéric Gilliotte (34)Swordmurder of Varin, his lover’s husband
10 Feb 1852Altdorf (Uri)Karl Franz Wolleb (28)Kaspar Anton Wolleb (24)SwordSwordmurder and robbery of their aunt at Hospenthal on 17 Dec 1851
18 Dec 1852Solothurn (Solothurn)Joseph von Arx (32)Swordarson in three cases
16 May 1853Lugano (Ticino)Bernardo Bernasconi (28)Swordmurder of federal councillor Bénigno Soldini at Chiasso on 24 May 1852 for political reasons
28 Sep 1853Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Jakob Küng (43)Swordmurder and rape of 12-year-old Dominika Harder on 27 Aug 1853
13 Dec 1853Avenches (Vaud)Samuel Schaller (31)Swordmurder of Jean Isenschmidt, husband of his lover, on 8 Aug 1853
28 Mar 1854Schloßwil (Bern)Johann Binggeli (21)Jakob Reber (22)SwordSwordmurder and robbery of Christen Rüedi on 13 July 1853 near Wil
24 May 1854Lenzburg (Aargau)Bernhart Matter (33)Swordlarceny in 11 cases amounting to 4302 Francs
29 Nov 1854Frauenfeld (Thurgau)Jakob Hungerbühler (24)Swordrobbery and murder of Josef Anton Kessler on 30 June 1854 at Sommeri
17 Feb 1855Solothurn (Solothurn)Urs Joseph Schenker (28)Swordmurder of his father, 70-year-old Johann Schenker, on 26 Oct 1854
04 Sep 1855Bern (Bern)Jean Nicolas Senaud (41)Swordmurder and robbery of Bendicht Niederhäuser on 2 Feb 1855
05 Sep 1855Fraubrunnen (Bern)Johann Kilchenmann (38)Swordarson, set fire to three houses in Utzenstorf 24 to 27 March 1855
04 Apr 1856Aarwangen (Bern)Johannes Bösiger (21)Swordmurder and robbery of Niklaus Roth on 31 Oct 1855 near Melchnau
05 Apr 1856Bern (Bern)Peter Henzi (35)Swordstrangled to death his wife, Anna Henzi née Wyttenbach, on 7 Jan 1856
02 Jul 1856Zürich (Zürich)Jakob Bosshard (33)Jakob Reinberger (39)GuillotineGuillotinemurder and robbery of Eduard Gotthard Engel on 15 April 1856 on the road between Embrach and Rorbas
26 Oct 1859Zürich (Zürich)Hans Jakob Kündig (21)Guillotinemurder and robbery of Hans Jakob and Anna Schmid on 24 Sept 1859
25 May 1861Genève (Genève)Claude Vary (40)Guillotinemurder of painter Richer, Margaretha Bichsel and her little child on 8 and 9 March 1860, drowning them in the river Rhône, because of a debt
07 Jun 1861Büren (Bern)Louis-Adolphe Bellenot (27)Swordmurder of Anna Barbara Trussel at Reiben on 2 Feb 1861 in revenge
18 Jun 1861Altdorf (Uri)Kaspar Zurflüh (25)Swordmurder of his pregnant lover Anna Maria Gamma on 26 Jan 1861
08 Jul 1861Langnau (Bern)Verena Wißler (43)Jakob Wißler (40)Samuel Krähenbühl (25)Jakob Stücki (27)SwordSwordSwordSwordmurder and robbery of Andreas Schlatter on 15 Feb 1861 at Signau
07 Sep 1861Delsberg (Bern)Geneviève Guéniat (38)Jean-Baptiste Guéniat (35)SwordSwordmurder and robbery of Ignaz and Maria Rossé on 21 March 1860 at Courroux in their beds
09 Dec 1861Bern (Bern)Johann Kläntschi (32)Swordmurder of Friedrich Schenk on 3 July 1861, his lover’s husband
24 Apr 1862Genève (Genève)Maurice Elcy (20)Guillotinemurder and robbery of Jean-Jacques Favre-Chantre on 20 Oct 1861 at Genève
01 Jul 1862Trogen (Appenzell AR)Johann Ulrich Schläpfer (40)Swordmurder and robbery of Bartholome Zürcher on 14 May 1862 at Speicher
27 Nov 1863Aarburg (Aargau)Josef Jakob Felder (27)Swordmurder and robbery of Johann Huber on 28 Oct 1863 near Balzenwyl
10 May 1865Zürich (Zürich)Heinrich Götti (37)Guillotinemurder of his six newborn children
06 Jul 1867Luzern (Luzern)Niklaus Emmenegger (37)Swordmurder and robbery of Jakob Schnider at Flühli about 21 Dec 1866
10 Jan 1868Moudon (Vaud)Héli Freymond)Swordmurder of his wife Elise Eugénie Olivier on 14 May 1868 with poison
18 Mar 1892Luzern (Luzern)Ferdinand Gatti (24)Guillotinemurder of school teacher Margaretha Degen on 14 Jan 1892 at Luzern
31 Oct 1893Luzern (Luzern)Johann Keller (26)Guillotinemurder of his pregnant lover Maria Näf on 22 April 1893 near Büron
22 May 1894Schwyz (Schwyz)Dominik Abegg (48)Guillotinemurder of his 17-year-old daughter Hermine Abegg on 16 March 1894 near Schindellegi
01 Aug 1902Fribourg (Fribourg)Etienne Chatton (28)Guillotinemurder and robbery of his cousin Louise Mettraux at Neyruz on 1 Dec 1901
02 May 1910Luzern (Luzern)Matthias Muff (36)Guillotinemurder of farmer Bisang, his wife, and menservants Joseph Huber and Xaver Bucher, all shot to death on 21 Dec 1909 near Hellbühl
20 Jan 1915Luzern (Luzern)Anselm Wütschert (33)Guillotinemurder 22-year-old Elise Furrer on 16 May 1914 near Krummbach
29 Oct 1924Altdorf (Uri)Klemenz Bernet (42)Guillotinemurder of 15-year-old Josepha Scheiber on 31 Aug 1924 at Schattdorf
25 Aug 1939Zug (Zug)Paul Irniger (25)Guillotinemurder of taxi driver Werner Kessler on 5 Dec 1933 near Baar
18 Oct 1940Sarnen (Obwalden)Hans Vollenweider (32)Guillotinemurder of policeman Alois von Moos on 23 June 1939 at Sachseln
11 Nov 1942Oberuzwil? (Zürich)Jakob Josef Feer (24)Shootingtreason
11 Nov 1942Oberuzwil? (Zürich)Werner Zürcher (26)Shootingtreason
11 Nov 1942Oberuzwil (Zürich)Ernst Schrämli (23)Shootingtreason
20 Jan 1943unknownOtto Charles Reimann (29)Shootingtreason
20 Jan 1943unknownOtto Peter Kully (25)Shootingtreason
20 Jan 1943unknownErwin Philipp (30)Shootingtreason
30 Mar 1943Regensdorf (Zürich)Fridolin Beeler (22)Shootingtreason
25 May 1943Regensdorf (Zürich)Hans Gröbli (33)Shootingtreason
17 Jun 1943Regensdorf (Zürich)Heinrich Reutlinger (37)Shootingtreason
30 Mar 1944Regensdorf (Zürich)Hans Pfister (47)Shootingtreason
7 Jun 1944near ZürichAlfred Quaderer (24)Shootingtreason
7 Jun 1944near ZürichKurt Johann Roos (24)Shootingtreason
28 Sep 1944Regensdorf (Zürich)Hermann Vinzens (36)Shootingtreason
28 Sep 1944near ZürichFritz Heller (29)Shootingtreason
07 Dec 1944Regensdorf (Zürich)Hermann Grimm (47)Shootingtreason
07 Dec 1944Regensdorf (Zürich)Walter Gottfried Laubscher (47)Shootingtreason
13 Dec 1944unknownSamuel Plüß (46)Shootingtreason

missing:        10 in Schwyz 1815-38

                    33 in Genève 1798-1813

                    a dozen in Fribourg 1803-31 (total of 24 executions 1803-32)

                    very likely several in Solothurn in the early years


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