Church Court Record 1832
Anna Ruefenacht
Read letter of the District Court of Knolfingen to the Evangelical Church Court of Walkringen of April 28th.
Deed
Today the paternity case of Anna Ruefenacht, daughter of Nikolaus of Walkringen, was brought before the Deistrict Court for judgement. The records of the Church Court of Walkringen were read. They state that
1. The Anna Ruefenacht had delivered an illegitimate boy in the Delivery Institution at Bern on February 18th. He was baptized on March 2nd, 1832 at Walkringen and given the name of Jacob.
2. Anna Ruefenacht cited before the Church Court of Walkringen on 18 March 1832, has kept her pregnancy at first a secret. She has given the officials the name of Jakob Schlaederach of Worb, former servant in Moosacker near Muri, as the father of her child, but now drowned in the Aare. She stayed overnight at said Moosacker, even worked there a number of days. The last time she had been impregnated by Laederach.
3. The Ruefenacht has reported her pregnancy already last summer to Mr. Kupfer, president of the chruch court of the city of Bern.
4. This is already the fourth child which the Ruefenacht has burdened the Evangelical Parish of Walkringen, and since all four children are alive and most be raised at the expense of the parish. Because she has already spent two years in the penitentary the church court and the parish of Walkringen apply that full punishment of the law be given to the Ruefenacht.
Yes Consideration
1. That the Anna Ruefenacht does not have a father who has confessed to have fathered her boy -- and has been found guilty of her fourth moral disgression
2. That the punishement of a two year sentence given to the Ruefenacht previously did not result in an improvement
The tribunal decided:
1. The boy Jacob born to the Anna Ruefenacht illegitimately is granted to her together with all lawful consequences, and
2. Because of her 4th mistake she is to be sentenced to a four year sentence in the penitentary and also be responsible for the payment of the court costs, which is declared wherewith.
Schloss Wyl, 28 April 1832
The President of the Court
(signed) Eigter
The Clerk
J. Schmalz, Not.