The Execution of Anna Lindquist 2
Forum Home > Public : Stories > The Execution of Anna Lindquist 2Page: 1
This is the second story I have done for the lady who likes having her hair & neck prepared for execution. It is based on the case of Anna Mansdotter who was beheaded in Sweden in 1890 for murder. I first came across her story at the now sadly defunct Death Row Divas. There is also information on the case at the Richard Clark's marvellous Capital Punishment UK site - the images are from a film made about Anna
Execution of Anna Lindquist 2
*
The judge looked at the frightened woman in the dock & said. “The prisoner will rise”.
Anna Lindquist somewhat unsteadily stood up as did the two prison guards on either side of her
The judge turned to the jury, “Gentlemen of the jury have you arrived at a decision ?”.
The foreman rose & said “We have your honour. We find the defendant guilty on the charge of murder”
The judge nodded & said, “Thank you Mister Foreman” He then looked at the trembling now convicted woman & said, “Anna Lindquist you have been found guilty of murder. Is there anything you want to say before I pass sentence?”.
Anna could only whimper tears beginning to run down her cheeks
The judge continued, “Very well then. Anna Lindquist it is the sentence of this court that you be taken to a lawful prison & then three weeks from today you will be taken to a place of execution where you will be put to death by decapitation. Take her down”.
Andrea swooned & had to be supported by her two guards as she was led sobbing from the dock to the cells beneath the court
**
It is the 5th of October 1890 the day set for the execution. The 40 year old Anna, clad in a simple white prison issue dress, sits in the death cell in the main prison in Stockholm along with two female prison wardens.
From the cell window she can see out into the prison yard. Her hand goes to her neck as she watches the preparations for her execution being made
A wooden platform has been erected about three feet above the ground. On it there is a raised section with a groove & there are chains fitted to the platform no doubt to secure the prisoner
The condemned women is terrified, she cannot stop herself from shaking & she cries constantly. She looks at the guards & asks through her tears, “How will they do it?”
One of the guards replies, “You will be taken out to the yard, made to mount the scaffold, blindfolded, made to lie face down with your neck in that groove, chained & then the executioner will behead you with an axe”
Anna moans in terror
The guard continues.“We need to get you ready Anna”. She then goes behind the prisoner & starts to put her hair into a bun so that the executioner’s axe has a clear path to her neck. She gently lifts up the hair & ties it up using safety pins to hold it in place. As the slender alabaster skin is revealed the guard caresses it for a second & thinks to herself, “What a lovely neck you have Anna. What a pity it is to be severed by an axe”
Anna sobs as the guard prepares her hair. Just as the guard finishes the cell door opens & the Prison Governor, two male guards & the prison chaplain enter the cell
The Governor says not unkindly, “It is time Anna. You need to try to be brave”
Crying silently the prisoner rises to her feet assisted by the two female guards who then hand her over to their male colleagues. Led by the Governor the execution party leave the cell, go down a flight of steps & out into the prison yard
As she enters the yard Anna blinks in the sunlight & her eyes then go wide & she gasps as she sees close up for the first time the scaffold on which she is to die. She whimpers in terror & stumbles, only stopped from falling by the two guards who have a grip on either arm
Firmly but gently the guards lead Anna up the three steps to the wooden platform. They push her down to her knees & & then make her lie face down, her neck resting on the raised wooden groove.
The guards hold her in position as the executioner comes forward & secures the trembling woman with the chains fixed to the platform. He then ties a blindfold around her eyes
Several of the watching witnesses, all male, can feel themselves being aroused by the sight of the terrified, crying woman being prepared for death
The guards get up, Anna is whimpering like a child, the nape of her soft white neck bare, ready for the blade
The executioner leaves the platform & goes & picks up the axe from under the piece of material it had been hidden under so that the doomed woman couldn’t see it. He then returns to the platform & looks at the Governor waiting for the signal
There is total silence in the prison yard apart from the gentle sobs coming from the shaking terrified prisoner.
The Governor nods & the headsman raises the razor- sharp axe above his head, he pauses for a moment to make sure of his aim & then brings it down expertly beheading the prisoner with one blow. There is a dull thump as the axe cuts all the way through the neck & then comes into contact with the wood below
The Governor says, “Justice has been done. These proceedings are now at an end”
On that note everyone leaves the yard apart from the executioner & one of the guards who begin the process of preparing Anna’s remains for burial
Execution of Anna Lindquist 2
*
The judge looked at the frightened woman in the dock & said. “The prisoner will rise”.
Anna Lindquist somewhat unsteadily stood up as did the two prison guards on either side of her
The judge turned to the jury, “Gentlemen of the jury have you arrived at a decision ?”.
The foreman rose & said “We have your honour. We find the defendant guilty on the charge of murder”
The judge nodded & said, “Thank you Mister Foreman” He then looked at the trembling now convicted woman & said, “Anna Lindquist you have been found guilty of murder. Is there anything you want to say before I pass sentence?”.
Anna could only whimper tears beginning to run down her cheeks
The judge continued, “Very well then. Anna Lindquist it is the sentence of this court that you be taken to a lawful prison & then three weeks from today you will be taken to a place of execution where you will be put to death by decapitation. Take her down”.
Andrea swooned & had to be supported by her two guards as she was led sobbing from the dock to the cells beneath the court
**
It is the 5th of October 1890 the day set for the execution. The 40 year old Anna, clad in a simple white prison issue dress, sits in the death cell in the main prison in Stockholm along with two female prison wardens.
From the cell window she can see out into the prison yard. Her hand goes to her neck as she watches the preparations for her execution being made
A wooden platform has been erected about three feet above the ground. On it there is a raised section with a groove & there are chains fitted to the platform no doubt to secure the prisoner
The condemned women is terrified, she cannot stop herself from shaking & she cries constantly. She looks at the guards & asks through her tears, “How will they do it?”
One of the guards replies, “You will be taken out to the yard, made to mount the scaffold, blindfolded, made to lie face down with your neck in that groove, chained & then the executioner will behead you with an axe”
Anna moans in terror
The guard continues.“We need to get you ready Anna”. She then goes behind the prisoner & starts to put her hair into a bun so that the executioner’s axe has a clear path to her neck. She gently lifts up the hair & ties it up using safety pins to hold it in place. As the slender alabaster skin is revealed the guard caresses it for a second & thinks to herself, “What a lovely neck you have Anna. What a pity it is to be severed by an axe”
Anna sobs as the guard prepares her hair. Just as the guard finishes the cell door opens & the Prison Governor, two male guards & the prison chaplain enter the cell
The Governor says not unkindly, “It is time Anna. You need to try to be brave”
Crying silently the prisoner rises to her feet assisted by the two female guards who then hand her over to their male colleagues. Led by the Governor the execution party leave the cell, go down a flight of steps & out into the prison yard
As she enters the yard Anna blinks in the sunlight & her eyes then go wide & she gasps as she sees close up for the first time the scaffold on which she is to die. She whimpers in terror & stumbles, only stopped from falling by the two guards who have a grip on either arm
Firmly but gently the guards lead Anna up the three steps to the wooden platform. They push her down to her knees & & then make her lie face down, her neck resting on the raised wooden groove.
The guards hold her in position as the executioner comes forward & secures the trembling woman with the chains fixed to the platform. He then ties a blindfold around her eyes
Several of the watching witnesses, all male, can feel themselves being aroused by the sight of the terrified, crying woman being prepared for death
The guards get up, Anna is whimpering like a child, the nape of her soft white neck bare, ready for the blade
The executioner leaves the platform & goes & picks up the axe from under the piece of material it had been hidden under so that the doomed woman couldn’t see it. He then returns to the platform & looks at the Governor waiting for the signal
There is total silence in the prison yard apart from the gentle sobs coming from the shaking terrified prisoner.
The Governor nods & the headsman raises the razor- sharp axe above his head, he pauses for a moment to make sure of his aim & then brings it down expertly beheading the prisoner with one blow. There is a dull thump as the axe cuts all the way through the neck & then comes into contact with the wood below
The Governor says, “Justice has been done. These proceedings are now at an end”
On that note everyone leaves the yard apart from the executioner & one of the guards who begin the process of preparing Anna’s remains for burial
You need to be logged in to view attachments.
Page: 1
Forum > Public / Stories > The Execution of Anna Lindquist 2