Micro films are a practical way to browse large amounts of statistics, registers or, say, newspaper articles. However, they are sometimes quite unclear and zooming makes them sometimes even more difficult to read. This is why - and because there was hands available, I asked to see the original court records. The clerk told these to be in the undergrond cellar but picking them up would take not more than a few minutes.
In no time the old books were brought onto my desk and I could start to look for the right documents. The Juntunen records included the dates of the court, thus, the task was not too difficult. In half an hour I had the three original handwritten documents of 1852 there and I could make use of my camera. Two of the documents confirmed that the robbery victim was not killed, because the text begun with: " the verdict was given in attendance of ...(the defendants) and Mr. Benjamin von Pfaler..."
In sum, the documents give a picture of a hasty hearing with no lawyers, only judges. On the other side were three unfortunate men of common folks, unfortunately already fined for drunkness sometimes in the past. On the other side is a nobleman, university clerk, Benjamin von Pfaler who was cheated to an empty property in Erikinkatu Street in downtown Helsinki at 8:00 p.m. on April 8, 1852. He was beaten and robbed his fur coat and watch. Some minor sum of money was also taken. The injuries of the incidence were not too severe, only an few scratces and a blue eye. The damages were inspected by a collegue at Helsinki University, Mr. Joachim Pipping. The later famous professor of gynecology wrote a medical certificate to Mr. von Pfaler for the trial.
Although there were no permanent damages and all robbed property was returned, the three unfortunate guys were condemned to death. For a warning for the rest, closed the judges the case. The final sentence is shown below.
The judges were legal counsellors (Ferdinand) Bacmansson, Decker, Hedström ja Strömberg.
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