Read on Twitter
Today during my research in a set of historical newspapers I stumbled across a peculiar murder that occurred in 1870 in my own home parish, Herrestad. A magician and folk healer was murdered. 1/?
A man called Olof Bryngelsson made a visit to his neighbour, Lars Olsson, on 11 December 1870. Many drinks were had. The two had known each other for two years, even since Olof healed Lars' bad leg. 2/?
During the drinking, Olof asked for food, and was given a meal. He didn't like it, and so began to drunkedly threaten to "do magic and destroy Lars and all of his house". Lars reacted poorly. 3/?
One of the witnesses, Andreas Niklasson, stated to the courts that violence had thus begun, and Lars had loudly called to Olof to "cease your magic or I'll kill you!" The threats didn't work, and Olof continued chanting his curse, despite being manhandled. 4/?
And so, simply put, Lars Olsson beat Olof Bryngelsson to death, in front of witnesses, in his own home. A grim tale with many, many details. 5/5
