Lauterfresser

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The Lauter eaters actually Mathias (Matheus, Matthew) Perger (* around 1587, † 1645 in Mühlbach , executed), one was Tyrolean dealer who of witchcraft was accused. It appears in numerous South Tyrolean legends . The nickname comes from his preference for soft or liquid ("louder") food.

Facts

The known data come from the files on his trial in Rodeneck . According to these, the Lauterfresser , as he was also called by the court, was at least 58 years old at the time of the trial (1645). He came from Tschötsch near Brixen and made his living as a traveling trader and casual worker as well as an astrologer . As one of the few people in his class, he could read and even write. On May 11, 1645 Mathias Perger was arrested on suspicion of witchcraft and weathermaking . Under severe torture , he confessed to his alleged misdeeds (including desecration of the host , the devil's covenant and allegiance , magic spells against humans and cattle). At the end of the same year he was finally "burned to powder and dust" at the place of execution between Mühlbach and Spinges . It is also known that his lover, whose name was never found but who was born on June 18, 1591, was expecting a son. The Lauterfresser, however, denied her and the coming son in court. It is not exactly known whether there are still descendants today.

Some legends

A vessel maker moves his vessels to Brixen in order to sell them there. But a mishap happens to him on the way, all of the vessels break. With a "last one" he moves back to Enneberg . A stranger (the Lauterfresser) asks him why he has a last one. The vessel maker tells him about his misfortune and that he has a large family to support, but now no more money. The Lauterfresser gives him one of his calves, which he is supposed to sell to a butcher in Brixen. But then he should immediately get out of the dust. When the butcher wanted to slaughter the calf a little later after buying it, it disappeared.

The Lauterfresser now invites the man to another prank in Brixen , at the Schwarzer Adler inn . It's full of people. According to the Lauterfresser's instructions, the man orders plenty of food and wine. He finally wants to pay the waitress and turns his hat on his head. The Lauterfresser has agreed with the waitress that she should then say that everything has already been paid for. A neighbor at the table sees the magic effect of the hat and buys the hat from the man for a lot of money. The Lauterfresser and his protégé quickly move on to the Red Eagle. The person next to you at the table stays behind at the Schwarzer Adler and orders plenty of food and drink. When he is supposed to pay, he simply turns his hat on. But suddenly the magic effect no longer works. In an argument, he is thrown out of the inn.

The Lauterfresser was finally executed for witchcraft in 1645 at the execution site near Mühlbach . The first time it doesn't work, the Lauterfresser has suddenly disappeared and makes fun of the executioners among the spectators, still undetected. The second time, the executioners suddenly only have a bale of straw in their hands. But the third time he is dragged in a cauldron, because the security forces have found out that he will be released if he gets hold of earth or wood. He calls out to children: "Go ahead and throw me a bit of earth!" But the children are prevented and the Lauterfresser is burned as a sorcerer.

The Lauterfresser was often in the cemetery. There he collected ingredients for his medicines. He looked for crosses from the recently deceased whose names he still knew, deciphered the letters and thus taught himself to read. All of this gave him the reputation of being in league with evil forces. The Lauterfresser seems to have had a certain sense of humor. When he was taken out of the dungeon at Rodenegg Castle after he was sentenced to death at the stake, he said: “It's going to be a hot day today”.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Lauterfresser
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Perger, Mathias; Perger, Matheus; Perger, Matthew
BRIEF DESCRIPTION alleged South Tyrolean witcher
DATE OF BIRTH around 1587
DATE OF DEATH 1645
Place of death Mühlbach