~Bizarre News!
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Presented to you by: Mary Oloroso; Caren Matibag
Source taken from: bnn.network
News Author: Ebenezer Mensah
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Remembering Anna Maria
von Stockhausen: The Tragic
Fate of the Last Witch
In the 18th Century, Europe was gripped by a wave
of witch-hunts that claimed the lives of thousands of
people, mostly women. Many of them were accused
of practicing Satanism, a crime punishable by death.
One of these unfortunate victims was Anna Maria
von Stockhausen, a German noblewoman who was
arrested in 1775 and sentenced to beheading.
However, her execution was never carried out, and
she spent the rest of her life in prison until her death
in 1781. Even after her death, she was not spared
from the cruelty of her accusers. She was buried with
chains around her body to prevent her from rising
from the dead, a superstitious practice that was
common at the time.
Anna Maria von Stockhausen was born in
Würzburg, Germany, 1737. She belonged to a noble
family and had a privileged upbringing. She married
Friedrich Wilhelm von Stockhausen, a military officer, in 1756 and had four children with
him. She was known for being a devout Catholic and a charitable person who helped the
poor and sick. However, her life took a dark turn in 1775, when she was accused of
practicing Satanism by a local priest named Johann Baptist Rauh. He claimed that he had
seen her performing rituals in her castle with candles, incense, and animal blood. He also
accused her of having an affair with a French officer named Charles de Broglie, an
allegedly high-ranking member of the Illuminati, a secret society believed to be plotting
against the Catholic Church.
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Rauh reported his accusations to the authorities, who arrested Anna Maria and her
husband on February 17, 1775. They were taken to Munich, where they were interrogated
and tortured. Anna Maria denied all the charges and maintained her innocence
throughout the ordeal. Her husband also defended her and claimed that Rauh was
motivated by jealousy and resentment. Despite their pleas, they were both found guilty
and sentenced to death by beheading. Their execution was scheduled for April 11, 1775,
but it never happened. On that day, the executioner who was supposed to carry out the
sentence refused to do so, saying that he could not kill an innocent person. He also
claimed that he had received a divine sign that Anna Maria was not guilty.
This unexpected event saved Anna Maria’s life, but not her freedom or dignity. She was
transferred to another prison in Kemptem, Bavaria, where she remained until her death
in 1781. The cause of her death is unknown, but some sources suggest that she died of
natural causes or illness. After her death, Anna Maria was buried in an unmarked grave
with chains around her body. This was done to prevent her from rising from the grave and
haunting the living, a belief that was widespread among people who feared witches and
their powers. It’s a chilling testament to the superstitions and prejudices that dominated
the society at that time.
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The Injustice
Anna Maria von Stockhausen’s story remained largely forgotten until 1972, when her grave was
accidentally discovered by construction workers who were digging near the prison where she had
died. They found her skeleton wrapped in chains and reported it to the authorities.
The discovery sparked public interest and curiosity about Anna Maria’s identity and fate. Her story
was investigated by historians and journalists who uncovered the details of her trial and
imprisonment. They also found evidence that she had been falsely accused and that Rauh had
fabricated his testimony against her.
Anna Maria’s story was also brought to the attention of the public through various media outlets,
such as books, documentaries, and films. She became a symbol of the tragic fate of those who
were accused of witchcraft and suffered under the tyranny of superstition and ignorance.
Today, Anna Maria von Stockhausen’s remains are kept in a museum in Kemptem, where they
are displayed as a reminder of the horrors and injustices of the past. Her story is also
commemorated by a plaque near her former prison that reads:
“Here lies Anna Maria von Stockhausen (1737-1781), accused of witchcraft
and Satanism by priest Johann Baptist Rauh (1728-1803). Sentenced to death
by beheading on April 11th 1775 but spared by the executioner who refused to
kill an innocent woman. Imprisoned here until her death on February 6th 1781.
Buried with chains around her body to prevent her from rising from the dead.”
