The Trials
At Easter 1678, Marie Schuhová from Vernířovice attended church, and during the mass, she was observed taking the bread of communion from her mouth into her prayer book. This was the starting point of the witch trials. The local aristocrat, Countess Angelia Anna Sibyla of Galle, was advised to form a witch commission. Retired inquisition judge Jindřich František Boblig was recommended as the judge and head of the commission. Boblig was to become a well known witch hunter.
The countess did not initially approve of torture. By displaying the torture devices for Schuhová, she pointed out the midwife Dorota Grörová, who, in her turn, pointed out Dorota Davidová, who had wanted the communion to use for a spell which would give the cows more milk. Boblig now convinced the countess that torture was necessary, and after this, torture was much used. The accused were stripped, the Devil's mark were searched for.
In 1679, Marie Schuhová and three other women were burned at the stake; one, Davidová, had died in prison but her corpse was burned all the same.
Boblig and his commission continued his work, and was rumored to be driven by economic reasons. He turned to the city Šumperk, where many wealthy families lived. Kašpar Sattler and his wife Marie were among those found guilty by him.
Read more about this topic: Northern Moravia Witch Trials
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