New Delhi: Why are talking about Johan Alfred Ander, a convicted Swedish murderer? Because he was the last person to be executed in Sweden. After the instatement of the guillotine in Sweden, he was the only person to be executed in the country. Also, he is the only person who has been executed like this in the history of Sweden. In this article, we will take a look at the life of Johan Alfred Ander and the crime which led to his execution.
The impact during childhood
Johan Alfred Ander was born in Ljusterö and from 1893 to 1894, he served in the military. After his military career, he got married and tried his hands as a waiter and a hotel owner. However, he was mostly a failure as a businessman and according to reports, he was addicted to drinking and mistreated his wife which led to their financial ruin. He was imprisoned for petty crime in 1900 but escaped. He was sentenced three times for theft by the time of his final conviction.
The robbery of Johan Alfred Ander
To solve his financial problems, Johan Alfred Ander observed an exchange agency, Gerells Växelkontor in Stockholm. On January 5, 1910, he not only robbed the agency but beat the clerk, Victoria Hellsten to death. There was a hotel named Temperance near the exchange agency and its staff told the police about the strange and anxious behaviour of one of its guests. It was Alfred Ander and when his hotel room was searched, several items were found connected to the murder including the blood-stained stolen money. Ander was later arrested at night in his father’s house. He carried an oblong package with him which was also found during the arrest. It had a steelyard balance, the apparent murder weapon.
Ander denied his crime during the trial but all court instances sentenced him to death. The execution of Ander occurred at Stockholm’s Långholmen Prison on November 23, 1910, by a new guillotine imported from France. It was the last execution to be carried out in Sweden and the executioner was Albert Gustaf Dahlman. After he died in 1920, there was pressure in Sweden to abolish capital punishment and it took place the following year.
After the instatement of the guillotine in Sweden, Johan Alfred Ander was the only person to be executed in the country. Also, he is the only person who has been executed like this in the history of Sweden. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
