In the usual telling the father welcomes back the prodigal son by slaying the fatted calf … not the son himself. This, uh, alternate version comes from the diary of Nuremberg executioner Franz Schmidt.

April 2nd [1590]. George Schweiger of Falckendorf near Nerzogaurach, a thief who, in his youth, together with his brother, first stole 40 florins from his own father. Later, when his father sent him to settle a debt, he kept the money and gambled with it; lastly, discovering that his father had a treasure buried in a barn behind the house, he stole 60 florins of it. He had a lawful wife, but left her and attached himself to two whores, promising marriage to both. Beheaded with the sword as a favour.*

His father let him lie in prison here, and desired and insisted that justice should be done, in spite of the fact that he had recovered his money.

(Emphasis added.)

* i.e., he was sentenced to hanging as a common thief, but was given the quicker and more honorable execution of beheading as a mercy.

On this day..

• 1759: Mary Edmondson
• 1942: Ewald Schlitt, performative cruelty
• 1828: William Dyon and John Dyon, all in the family
• 1954: Henry Frank Decaillet
• 1756: Veronika Zeritschin, the last witch executed in Germany
• 1880: James Madison Wyatt Stone, landing on his feet
• 1897: Ernest and Alexis Blanc, brothers in blood
• 1674: Benjamin Gourd, the last bestiality execution
• 1977: Girma Kebede in the Ethiopian Red Terror
• Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
• 1781: John Donellan, Esq.
• 1582: John Payne, snitched out