Mediaeval Dungeons
Topics - Justice
- Torture Chamber.
Criminal Jurisdiction
The beginnings of criminal jurisdiction in Nuremberg remain hazy. First of all, jurisdiction was the privilege of the Empire and was controlled by the Royal Steward. In the 13th century, the Burgrave took over jurisdiction. And finally, from the beginning of the 14th century, the Imperial Bailiff was obliged to carry out the judgements delivered by the Jury (part of the City Council).
- Handcuffs.
The "Gerüft"
Whenever a culprit was caught red-handed, he had to be brought to court with the corresponding "Gerüfte" (court cry). In the middle ages, the word "Gerüft" or "Gerücht" signified a crime call uttered by someone who had been wronged, the so-called "hue and cry", such as "O Weh!" or "o Wappen" or similar. Any adult who heard this cry, was supposed to rush and help overwhelm the wrongdoer, tie him up and fasten the "Handhafte" (i.e. the stolen goods, or the hand or the finger of the murdered person) to his back.
The formal accusation of person who had been arrested or pursued with these cries, also had to start with this "Gerüft": e.g. "Murderer!" or "Thief!" He was then dragged to the judge in the City Chambers accompanied by continuous calling of his crime.
Later on it was sufficient for the accused to be convicted by 7 sworn witnesses. This procedure was superseded in 1320 by the procedure of establishing one's "good repute".
In the early 14th century, however, a criminal code, the "Halsgerichtsordnung", with the title: "How to Sit in Judgement Over A Person" was drawn up. The rules were written down in a book of statutes. In 1532, Emperor Karl V published a criminal code applicable to the entire Empire.
