Johan Alfred Ander
Encyclopedia
Johan Alfred Andersson Ander (27 October 1873 – 23 November 1910) was a convicted Swedish
murderer and the last person to be officially executed in Sweden, and the only to be executed by a guillotine
in Sweden.
, Ander performed his military service duties from 1893 to 1894 at the Coastal Artillery Regiment of Vaxholm
. When his military service was over he got married and tried to make a living as a waiter and hotel owner. Most of the businesses failed however (both in Strängnäs
in 1898 and in Helsinki
in 1903). There have been claims that Ander's excessive drinking and mistreatment of his wife were, at least partially, the reasons for the economic failures. In 1900, he was imprisoned for a few small crimes but managed to escape. In all, by the time of his final conviction, he had been sentenced three times for theft (tredje resan stöld). In 1909, the couple moved back to Ander's parents' house in Karlsudd.
. On 5 January 1910, he robbed the agency and beat the clerk, Victoria Hellsten, so severely that she died. He managed to steal 6,000 Swedish kronor
in Swedish and foreign notes at the agency of which he spent some before he was caught. Some of the notes in Ander's possession were covered in blood, and this and the murder weapon lead to him being connected to the crime.
. The execution took place at Långholmen Prison
in Stockholm on 23 November 1910.
Ander appeared mostly calm during the execution, even greeting the execution team with "Good morning, gentlemen!" He also wanted to say a few last words about his views on death, but was ignored by the executioner. Shortly thereafter, Ander was forced onto the guillotine, which did its work flawlessly as the rope was pulled and his head fell into the bucket fastened onto the guillotine. It was the first execution in Sweden for more than a decade, and the last ever to be carried out.
His body was donated to science. Doctors could conclude that he at the time of death suffered from tuberculosis
, and also found a large chunk of porcelain
in his stomach, likely from an in-prison suicide attempt prior to the execution.
The executioner
was Albert Gustaf Dahlman
, who thus became Sweden's last official executioner. His death in 1920 was considered levying the pressure to abolish capital punishment in Sweden
, which took place the following year. Ander subsequently became the last person executed in Sweden, although a further number (including socialist Anton Nilson
and child murderer Hilda Nilsson) were sentenced to death. The last woman to have been executed in Sweden was Anna Månsdotter
, beheaded
by manual blade in 1890, which was also carried out by Albert Gustav Dahlman.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
murderer and the last person to be officially executed in Sweden, and the only to be executed by a guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
in Sweden.
Early life
Born in LjusteröLjusterö
Ljusterö is an island in Sweden.It is in the northern part of the Stockholm archipelago in Österåker Municipality, Stockholm County. It is approximately 65 kilometers north of central Stockholm....
, Ander performed his military service duties from 1893 to 1894 at the Coastal Artillery Regiment of Vaxholm
Vaxholm
Vaxholm is a locality and the seat of Vaxholm Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. It is located in the Stockholm archipelago. The name Vaxholm comes from Vaxholm Castle, which was constructed in 1549 on an islet with this name on the inlet to Stockholm, for defense purposes, by King Gustav...
. When his military service was over he got married and tried to make a living as a waiter and hotel owner. Most of the businesses failed however (both in Strängnäs
Strängnäs
Strängnäs is a locality and the seat of Strängnäs Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 12,296 inhabitants in 2005. It is located by Lake Mälaren and is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Strängnäs, a former Roman Catholic and present Lutheran Diocese, with the Strängnäs Cathedral, built...
in 1898 and in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
in 1903). There have been claims that Ander's excessive drinking and mistreatment of his wife were, at least partially, the reasons for the economic failures. In 1900, he was imprisoned for a few small crimes but managed to escape. In all, by the time of his final conviction, he had been sentenced three times for theft (tredje resan stöld). In 1909, the couple moved back to Ander's parents' house in Karlsudd.
The robbery
Ander sought a way to find a solution to his money problems, and for weeks he had been seen observing an exchange agency, Gerells Växelkontor on Malmtorgsgatan 3 in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. On 5 January 1910, he robbed the agency and beat the clerk, Victoria Hellsten, so severely that she died. He managed to steal 6,000 Swedish kronor
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
in Swedish and foreign notes at the agency of which he spent some before he was caught. Some of the notes in Ander's possession were covered in blood, and this and the murder weapon lead to him being connected to the crime.
Trial and execution
During the trial, Ander claimed that he had received the money from a foreign (and unknown) man, whom he had met during his stay at a hotel in Stockholm. He never admitted to the crime, but was sentenced to death by all court instances, and he never appealed to the king to be reprieved (however, an application for clemency was made by his father). Clemency was however not granted by the king, thus making Ander the first person to be executed in Sweden in a time period of ten years. He was also the only person in Sweden to have been executed by the guillotineGuillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
. The execution took place at Långholmen Prison
Långholmen prison
Långholmen Prison, officially Långholmen Central Prison , was historically one of the biggest prison facilities in Sweden with more than 500 cells, located on the island of Långholmen in Stockholm. It was built 1874-1880 as the central prison of Sweden, and was in use until 1975...
in Stockholm on 23 November 1910.
Ander appeared mostly calm during the execution, even greeting the execution team with "Good morning, gentlemen!" He also wanted to say a few last words about his views on death, but was ignored by the executioner. Shortly thereafter, Ander was forced onto the guillotine, which did its work flawlessly as the rope was pulled and his head fell into the bucket fastened onto the guillotine. It was the first execution in Sweden for more than a decade, and the last ever to be carried out.
His body was donated to science. Doctors could conclude that he at the time of death suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and also found a large chunk of porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
in his stomach, likely from an in-prison suicide attempt prior to the execution.
The executioner
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
was Albert Gustaf Dahlman
Albert Gustaf Dahlman
Albert Gustaf Dalman , was a Swedish executioner. He was the last executioner to carry out capital punishment in Sweden....
, who thus became Sweden's last official executioner. His death in 1920 was considered levying the pressure to abolish capital punishment in Sweden
Capital punishment in Sweden
Capital punishment in Sweden was practiced up until 1910. It is now outlawed by the Swedish Constitution which clearly states that capital punishment, corporal punishment, and torture is strictly prohibited.- Dates for abolishment of the death penalty :...
, which took place the following year. Ander subsequently became the last person executed in Sweden, although a further number (including socialist Anton Nilson
Anton Nilson
Anton Nilson was a Swedish militant socialist and convicted murderer.Nilson was born and grew up in a peasant region in Skåne, the southernmost province of Sweden...
and child murderer Hilda Nilsson) were sentenced to death. The last woman to have been executed in Sweden was Anna Månsdotter
Anna Månsdotter
Anna Månsdotter, also known as Yngsjömörderskan , was the last woman to be executed in Sweden. The Yngsjö murder is one of the most famous murder-cases in Swedish history...
, beheaded
Beheaded
Beheaded is a Death metal band from Malta. They were formed in 1991, by singer Marcel Scalpello, guitarist David Bugeja, and drummer Chris Brincat...
by manual blade in 1890, which was also carried out by Albert Gustav Dahlman.
Sources
- Aftonbladet 11/23 1910, Anders afrättning
- Liv för liv (Forsberg, J. Bonnier 2005)
- Sveriges siste skarprättare A.G. Dalman (Gunne, G.O. Skandinaviska pressförlaget, 1934)