Kuttenberg execution book Lore Books

Description

One of the copies of the execution book from the Kuttenberg Town Hall. It records the testimonies and statements of captured criminals.

Text

Book of Executions
Volume IX.

This is a copy of the ninth volume of the confessions of captured wicked persons, who thus spoke under torture to the bailiff or during interrogation before the Kuttenberg city court.
I: The Year Ninety-Eight
Vashek, the shepherd from Sukov, son of Milota, carpenter from Grund, confessed under torture that he stole a skirt and a belt with a bag in Kuttenberg. He then confessed that he went stealing rye and geese with Petr Maly from Sedletz from a farmer in Pschitok. He stole a good coat, boots and a shirt from the farmer Petr Kuklik. He lost all of it gambling in Kuttenberg, and the local innkeeper paid him eight groschen for it, even though the neighbour Vanyek told her the coat was stolen. The innkeeper replied, “Stolen or not, that’s fine”
II: The Confession of Jira the Thrice Wicked
Jira, called Shourek, confessed that he killed a townsman from Brod on the road near Wysoka, taking from him three score of groschen, clothes and a good horse. He further confessed to killing a certain Nicholas on the Kolin road and also a German, who tried to harm him with his testimony. Then, along with three accomplices, Matthew from Krzesetitz, a certain Jakubek from Maleshov and Martin Dlouhy from Rabstein, they attacked the bailiff in Bylany because he discovered their theft of thirty horses. Finally, he confessed that they all frequented Rabstein and sent the miller under Cimburk to sell the goods.
III: Anno et cet. XXIII fer. III post Invocavit
Thomas, called Barak, confessed that when three from Raborsch went to Brod, he went with them and stole a fish weir from the fisherman Plavsky, eating all the fish at Klima’s in Horka. They would not let the host leave to report them. Then they beat a carter from Kosteletz and stole three ells of cloth from him, which they dyed, made into clothes and sold the rest to Nohejl in Aujezd. He also confessed that they went on raids to Brod and divided the spoils at Horka, where they all benefited and received their share from each raid.
IV: Pavuchek from the Mill
He admitted buying whatever came to him without asking about its origin and even picking locks on chests himself. In Suchdol, he took cushions, sheets and seven good pillows, removed the feathers, sold them, and handed over the fabrics in Kuttenberg as payment for a debt to the innkeeper Beikovetz. Dushko, the forester’s son, often visited him and sold him axes, wedges and ropes stolen from woodcutters in the forest. He led two maidservants from Mesoles to Devil’s Den, where he sold them, which they reportedly did willingly, but they had little benefit from it, so they complained about Pavuchek, and he beat them until they could not walk.
V: In Mesoles
Martin, the steward from Pernstein, confessed that he secretly captured people with his henchmen to prevent them from going to market in Kuttenberg. He did this under the commission of Sir Butzek, and they made six thousand groschen. He then divided this among his men who joined him on the raids. The steward also confessed that they frequently targeted the Miskowitz estate, from where they took horses and other livestock. In Mesoles, they stole a good horse, a sword and five cheeses from Knight Havel’s yard, beat him severely, and subsequently set the barn on fire to prevent his hands from pursuing them.