Grete Adrian

Grete Adrian (* around 1610 in Meiste (now Rüthen), † 1655 in Rüthen ) was a victim of the early modern witch persecution in Rüthen.

Witch trial

Grete Adrian was widowed and had remarried. She had several children and worked as a farmer. On June 3, 1655, she was summoned by the mayor and council of the city of Rüthen on suspicion of the vice of magic . The following allegations were made:

1. 18 years ago she is said to have given her husband and the witness Johann Losse milk from a jug. Inside was a colorful animal, the size of a mole. She conjured that into the milk.
2. A neighbor's horse died seven years ago in the Thirty Years War . She would have said she heard the horse's agony at night. She was suspected of turning into a werewolf and killing the horse. In addition, she did not defend herself when she was blamed.
3. Four years ago, the witness had given her milk and had serious heart problems.
4. Witnesses say about her wealth: what she cuts from the bacon today will be replenished tomorrow. The village shepherd said she saw the devil sitting on the hallway between the sides of bacon in the shape of a black dog or a big cat.
5. Many years ago, her mother was suspected of being a witch. Grete's sisters and brothers were also burned as witches. These would be indications that the devil has an easy job in the family.

Grete Adrian denied all allegations. On June 14th, the electoral judge decided the torture. She was taken to the prison in the Hachtor. She was shown the instruments of torture. Under severe torture , she finally confessed to the devil's pact , the devil's allegiance , the witch's sabbath , and magic of damage . On June 16, the Urgicht (confession) was read out to the judges. Grete Adrian asked the two mayors to look after their children, to whom she bequeathed 100 Reichstaler each. Then she asked for a quick execution. After the last interrogation on July 5th, the pastor was called to administer the sacraments. In the marketplace she publicly confessed her guilt. The magistrate passed the verdict. The rod was broken over them. The crowd escorted her to the court in Mildental, where she was beheaded and then burned. The court clerk concluded with the words: "May you obey God be gracious."

rehabilitation

On March 31, 2011, the city council of Rüthen decided on a socio-ethical rehabilitation of those innocently convicted and executed in the area of ​​today's city of Rüthen during the 16th and 17th centuries as part of the witch hunt, including Grete Adrian.

See also

• Friends bite

literature

• Stadtarchiv Rüthen (Hrsg.): Holdings: witch trials . Inv no. 21st
• Walter Dalhoff: About the Rüthener witch trials . In: Alfred Bruns (Hrsg.): Witches jurisdiction in the Sauerland region of Cologne . Documentation for the exhibition in the Schmallenberg-Holthausen Slate Mining Local History Museum from July 21 to August 4, 1984. 1984, DNB  850489350 , p. 179, 181 ff .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Local Board Rüthen: Bill No. 017/11. .