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You must talk to me, Miss Keller.
For God's sake, start talking!
What happened in the woods?
FRIEDA'S CASE
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
ST. GALLEN, 1904
Absurd!
- He's clearly guilty. - Don't take it personally, colleague.
Must another innocent be harmed before we finally lock him up?
Have you lost your faith in the good of man?
Mr. Prosecutor.
Mr. Janggen.
It must've happened some time ago,
but heavy rains washed the soil away.
What's the matter?
First, only part of the hat and a shoe were visible.
Upon inspection, it proved to be a child's body.
It was around the neck.
Lousy weather.
In June!
Have you heard about the child in the forest?
"Last night
"in Hagenbuch Forest, the body of a 5-year-old boy was found.
"It has probably been buried there for some time."
What monster could do that?
"Since no missing children match that description,
"we ask the public to assist in his identification.
"He wore a grey, blouse-like smock,
"grey breeches,
"a white shirt, black lace-up shoes, a white cap.
Are you sure?
Absolutely. These are Ernstli Keller's.
Thank you, sister. That's all.
Ernstli, of all people.
We fed him for such a long time.
He was fetched only 4 weeks ago.
There's still an open boarding bill.
- His mother often paid late. - That's of no concern to the prosecution.
Have you written Heiri?
Oh, Friedeli...
You've stopped eating.
You're already so pale.
Other mothers have beautiful sons...
who don't just run off to Zürich.
- Frieda Keller? - No, I'm her sister.
What's it about?
We'd like to tell your sister personally.
Is she at home?
I'm Frieda Keller.
- We regret to inform... - It was me.
Why don't we slaughter a chicken? A fitting meal for pompous roosters.
Just no newfangled experiments. This dinner is too important for that.
Why are you so nervous?
It should be their idea to nominate me for grand councilor.
Check!
You should swallow your pride for once.
Just tell them what you want.
I won't beg.
Don't count on their intellect.
We both know you think they're trained monkeys.
Conrad, maybe. He's always ogling you!
- Don't you see that? - Oh, Walti.
- He has a lovely wife and five kids. - Exactly.
Pardon me.
Mr. Schönenberger.
The dead boy in the woods.
- His mother did it. - What?
- She confessed. - Okay, we'll deal with it tomorrow.
Gruel again!
It smells of cunt.
Let me rub myself on it.
Quiet!
I imagined her differently.
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
Eat!
Hey!
Open it.
She killed a defenseless child.
Then keep watch.
You must eat something.
They need a closed seam.
The shoulders.
It's far too tight like that.
Read about the dead child in Hagenbuch Forest!
Read about the child murderess of Hagenbuch Forest!
Read it!
Let me see.
Thanks. - A newspaper, please.
Thanks.
What's happened to you, girl?
Frieda.
My name's Frieda.
I don't want any lice.
Neither do I.
Why do you work in such a place?
It's not like you need to.
Inactivity's harmful to the mind.
You'll realize that soon enough.
Recognize this?
Miss Keller?
I'll ask again. Do you recognize it?
Yes.
Your boy was wearing it
when you fetched him from Tempelacker Orphanage.
Correct?
What did you do to the boy in the forest?
It was me. Isn't that enough?
No, it's not enough! I must know what happened.
Miss Keller!
Gusset-shaped earlobe.
5.7 cm.
Stand up and turn around.
Step up and lean against the wall.
Bend your left leg back.
- Stand still. - That's a woman, not a cow.
She's no woman. She's a murderess.
- 29. - Leave.
Both of you.
Come down.
Arm up.
When I do this, the woman gets a nice new dress.
Not in here.
Where's Ernstli now?
Not buried in the woods, at least.
"All that exists is man.
"The rest is the work of his hands
"and his mind.
"Man.
"It's magnificent. It sounds...
"proud.
"Man."
Don't you mind your fiancé working?
Can acting actually be called work?
Ouch! The needles.
How did you meet?
I'm a souvenir from his time studying in Berlin.
He saw me in a play and fell for me.
Leaving your homeland for a man is no easy decision.
- Feel free to move. - Sure, and get a needle in the neck!
They shouldn't prick.
- You could even go dancing like this. - I'd rather not.
In reality, the lawyer's a big scaredy cat.
Hair pin, ornate.
Needle box.
Pocketknife.
A piece of wood.
Willow bark.
- Soap. - Can you tell me how she is?
I'm not obliged to say.
- Postcards. - May I go and see her?
Step back, please.
- What's this? - Sewing patterns, of course.
That's mine.
Can you give her this?
She doesn't eat when she's scared. Maybe she'll eat some apple.
Everything's fine. No reason to stare.
Stay seated.
Can you give me any background to the crime?
I didn't know a thing till the police came to my door.
- Frieda lives with us. - And the child?
He was at Tempelacker, the orphanage.
Why not with you?
We never thought it'd turn out like this.
Do you have any doubt that Miss...
Keller. Frieda Keller.
...that Miss Keller is guilty?
You don't know what Frieda went through.
She's not at all like what the papers say about her.
What did she go through?
I hope that's enough.
That's all we have.
You must tell me what you know.
The more I know,
the better I can help your sister.
Frieda's good, hard-working.
- She liked to cook and... - What will they do to her?
- There'll be a trial. - Death penalty?
Only if the prosecution proves she acted deliberately.
Only if the verdict is murder.
What can you say of the child's father?
There is none.
With all due respect, I'm sure there is.
Might he be an accomplice?
No.
It's nothing new that women want to get rid of their illegitimate children.
Well...
We won't detain you any longer.
- Will you take the case? - Of course.
Although it's nearly pro bono, by the looks of it.
She was either totally desperate, or she's an unscrupulous bitch.
She isn't!
- She's good. - No Swiss German, please.
I like her the best at work.
She's clever and always polite.
Have you noticed anything strange lately?
She was quieter.
I thought it was the headaches she often has.
Thought that's why she missed work.
Did she have an affair, did she meet men?
Frieda only thought about work.
She never had much money.
Her sister pays a pretty penny to board there.
But you never noticed she had a child?
Are they sure she has a child?
It's not like Frieda.
Could someone have pressured her?
A woman came to the shop once.
She was... angry.
Very pretty.
Well then,
you can send Sophie in.
- You're next. - How do I look?
He'll send you home like this.
You need more color.
How do you do it?
Such lovely clothes from rags.
You'll end up at a Paris fashion house!
Nobody can stop us from dreaming!
Go on now, it's your turn.
I couldn't hear them.
And I didn't ask.
I didn't want Frieda to think I was spying.
Even considering all the circumstances
that could lead to such rotten morals...
I just can't understand!
For God's sake, a mother killing her own child!
You'd think she'd have a maternal instinct to always protect her own child.
- She asked where Ernstli is. - Oh, suddenly she's interested in her boy.
And asks you of all people.
Me of all people, yes.
Sewing patterns, Walti.
For children's clothes, by the looks of them.
- Mrs. Prosecutor? - Good day.
As I told you, no visits without the prosecutor's permission.
I know, but you also said I could bring clothes.
Clothes, I said.
It's just willow bark, for her headache.
Please.
Alright.
Can you tell me how she is?
Who can say what goes on inside a murderess?
Good afternoon.
Mothers who bring children to us struggle with motherhood from the start.
But that it comes to this...
What could I do?
We need space for all the newborns constantly being brought in.
The boy had to go. He'd have grown dull among the babies.
Then she finally fetched him.
After I set a final deadline.
And the money? Did you bring it?
I had to buy clothes for him.
Where are we going?
Well then, Ernstli...
Come on.
Bring the money next week.
For real this time.
Of course she didn't bring it. Just a moment, I'll fetch it.
Here, the book of boarding fees.
If everyone owed as much as Frieda,
Tempelacker would be a real poorhouse.
Here is the letter.
Yes.
She must have brought it at some point.
We found it later, while tidying up.
What would've happened if she hadn't fetched the boy?
We'd have delivered him to her door. We can't keep them all.
She writes that Ernstli is fine.
In Münich?
May I write a letter to Bertha?
I'd like to thank her.
It's hard to stay clear-headed with nothing to do.
For now, you may only speak with the prosecutor.
Miss Bahon from the sewing salon
pays well, doesn't she?
Too much to die on,
but not enough to live.
You could've become self-employed.
Dreams are free, madam.
But the rest...
It's beyond me.
Life feels long when you're waiting for death to set you free.
What did Ernstli need to be freed from?
From life.
From all the illnesses that winter brings.
From the stomach cramps of hunger.
From all the glances,
so full of disdain.
From being the son of a disgraceful girl.
From me.
The sewing patterns in your room...
They were for Ernstli?
A suit for school.
I hoped we could be a family with someone.
Like you, I guess.
That's enough.
Not all my dreams come true, either.
You need another filling, or it'll fester.
But you must be careful it doesn't get infected up there.
I'll give you...
a powder to take with you,
in case the pain returns.
Thanks.
Read about the child murderess in the forest!
Read more in the Tagblatt!
- Good morning, colleague. - Mr. Janggen.
- How are you? - Well, and you?
Gotten over Embroidery Master Hägeli's acquittal?
I never take it personally. It comes with the job.
You win nine, and lose one.
I should've known you'd twist it in your favor.
Speaking of the job, I'd like to visit my lady client.
You represent the murderess?
Client visits are part of my job.
You know I'm not obliged to do that before I'm done questioning her.
Not having an obligation doesn't mean you can't.
She confessed. The case is crystal clear.
I'd like to see for myself, if you don't mind.
What a waste of time!
Are you afraid I might muddy your "crystal-clear case"?
Don't overestimate yourself.
My job is to make sure people can rely on our justice system.
That includes a murderess receiving just punishment.
Is death just punishment?
That's for the judge to decide.
I must be going.
1, 2,
3, 4, 5...
... 8, 9, 10! Here I come!
Something to keep you busy.
Alter them to these measurements.
They're darning needles.
It's all I can do.
Need anything else?
Some scissors.
Actually... May I have more willow bark?
For headaches.
Hundreds of illegitimate children are born each year.
Most unwed mothers have no money.
But if they all buried their kids in the woods...
Is that all you can think about?
She could've asked for help.
- One has to speak up! - Is that right?
You organize elaborate dinner parties
instead of just asking for the nomination.
That's different.
One is shame, the other pride.
Are you comparing a dinner party to murder?
I certainly wouldn't kill for a nomination!
Walti, I want you to be a grand councilor, too.
Gesine?
What are you doing?
What do you think?
What if someone sees you?
They'll see I'm learning to ride. Hold it.
That's enough.
But it's so convenient! Why should only men ride?
Because it causes infertility.
You'll be accused of immorality.
They should praise your virtue,
not question your decency.
You're right.
Well, I never!
Who sews a suit for a child they plan on...
The murder weapon. Where did you get it and when?
Rope? Everyone has rope.
So you had it with you from the start?
Then you decided to kill your child before you left the house!
And Heiri Rothenfluh?
Surely you can tell me who this Heiri is,
who's so excited to see you again?
Is he the father?
Then who is?
"Dissection report.
"On June 7, 1904, the body of a boy was found in a shallow grave.
"The body's length is 102 cm.
"The boy seems to have been no younger than 4 and no older than 6.
"The body is fully clothed
"and covered with soil and leaves.
"Where the face once was...
"is now a living mass of maggots.
"The same are found on the extremely swollen hands and feet.
"Rinsing off the maggots reveals
"that all soft tissue of the face and parts of the nose are missing
"and that no trace of the eyes remain.
Others would be happy to have children!
But you?
Does all this leave you cold? No bad conscience? Nothing?
Are you not ashamed of yourself?
It's Wednesday. Washing day.
Come.
I'm in the midst of an interrogation!
Slaughter another.
That one.
- No one leaves our house hungry. - Erna!
I protected you from yourself. You know that!
I know.
- Yes... - Did the toothache powder go to your head?
The woman simply drives me mad.
Do you regret marrying me?
Walti...
I'll always stand behind you.
It's the best place to watch a stubborn mule like you become grand councilor.
Frieda Keller, born December 24, 1879 in Bischofszell, Thurgau.
Impregnated by Carl Zimmerli, proprietor of the inn Zur Post in Bischofszell.
Did she file a paternity suit?
She could only do that in Thurgau.
Thurgau isn't my business.
It's shameful for unwed women to go and register their brats.
Do you have any information on a Heiri Rothenfluh?
Rothenfluh, Heinrich.
"Employee of the Swiss Federal Railways,
"moved to Zürich."
He has no record.
Just a blank slate.
It's quiet. I'm off to lunch.
- Enjoy. - Thanks.
Mrs. Prosecutor?
Lovely dress.
- My husband's not here. - All the better.
Good day, Mr. Janggen.
Are these Miss Keller's?
- What do you want? - To speak with her.
Fine, then come back later.
Everyone has the right to a defense, Mrs. Prosecutor.
I beg you, let me go to her.
She can't just be convicted without us knowing what really happened.
Miss Keller?
My name's Janggen. I'm your defense lawyer.
That's Arnold Janggen, a lawyer.
He's a good catch for her.
He's easy on the eyes, and not just because of his fancy jacket.
He's got a lot to offer, judging by his inseam.
Sophie!
If only I could be so lucky someday! You'd sew my wedding gown.
Would you like to tell me what happened?
Help me,
so I can help you.
I don't need help.
Don't give up hope.
I hope that the rats in my bed last night won't be back tonight.
Were you forced to take the blame?
No.
It was me alone.
The prosecutor will do his best to prove that it was premeditated.
Miss Keller, you mustn't say anything
that could point to you planning the deed beforehand.
Enough now.
You'll have to ask my husband for anything further.
Miss Keller, write everything down.
You do write?
Write down all the details of your life.
The bright moments and the dark ones.
Promise?
Tell Bertha not to worry.
I will.
You've just missed her.
What a shame!
I feel your wife is not telling us everything.
Your sister-in-law won't say a thing, even though she's in very deep.
"Best to keep quiet, best to forget."
That's what her mother kept telling her.
But a girl's silence saves a lot of trouble.
You knew about the child?
Bertha said Frieda tried to lose it. Threw herself down the stairs.
But it didn't work.
Frieda kept begging us to take him,
but Bertha didn't want to.
She was afraid of the talk. We'd already taken in Frieda.
And she paid her boarding fees. - We're not made of money either.
Why did she come to St. Gallen?
Her father kicked her out when she got pregnant.
Who impregnated her?
We don't want gossip.
As a lawyer, I'm discreet.
My husband wants everything perfect today.
- You know him. - Of course, Mrs. Prosecutor.
No, their tastes are conservative.
Get the other set.
Yes, Mrs. Prosecutor.
Good evening, Mr. Gmür.
Finally!
You'd better hurry up!
My goodness!
I'm sorry.
What now? They'll be here any moment!
Go get dressed.
I'll think of something.
Over my dead body!
Have you got a better idea?
Do you realize how important this evening is for my career?
Yes, you've said it often enough.
It's out of the question.
Fine. Then I'll do the serving after all.
Are you out of your mind? Just imagine the gossip!
What if they recognize her?
You can't be sure!
Nobody looks at a servant's face.
They wouldn't notice if their own mother served the soup!
This discussion is over!
We shouldn't overdo it.
No work, no money. It's that simple.
I agree, Grand Council President, but not the Social Democrats.
They want to extend worker protection.
Must the Swiss always follow the latest trend?
What do you expect from politicians with Socialist hearts?
If it were up to them, women would have the right to vote!
Sometimes it's good when things just stay as they are.
How's your tooth?
Great.
Mrs. Prosecutor,
it's delicious as usual.
You couldn't dine any better in the Ambassador in Zürich.
You flatter me, Mr. Vetsch.
To your health.
But tell me,
how do you sleep so close to a child murderess?
That must be rather stressful for you.
Erna's seen worse.
As you see, my husband has taken special security measures.
I don't lack protection.
What's worse than a mother who kills her child in cold blood?
We don't know if she did it in cold blood or full of anguish.
I'm sorry, but you don't get that idea out on a forest walk.
What a criminal feels
while committing their crime is an issue for novelists.
Murder is a capital crime,
and she'll be brought to justice.
Arnold will have to dig deep into his bag of tricks to defend her
against you.
Let him try!
Death penalty. No question.
You'll see to that, won't you,
Mr. Prosecutor?
They say her mother also went to jail for murdering her baby.
Yes, it was also illegitimate.
Do they say that or do they know it?
We don't let street gossip into our house.
Well, it's made Mr. Gmür a prominent man.
All the papers are covering the case.
Which is why you'd better win and avoid a public humiliation.
Nobody wants that. - Heaven forbid!
Her head will roll as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow.
Walter Gmür
certainly has the experience to show everyone which way the wind blows.
Mr. Conrad...
If my husband wins, he'd surely deserve to become a grand councilor.
Well,
do you desire that as well, or just your wife?
Well, I'd have to think it over, of course.
Bischofszell rarely has posh guests. From St. Gallen?
Arnold Janggen. Lawyer.
Carl Zimmerli. Innkeeper of Zur Post .
But sadly cardless.
Pleased to meet you. I bet you can help me.
I'm gathering information about Frieda Keller.
- You know her? - Who doesn't know the Kellers?
Father's dead. Old friend of mine.
Good man.
But the mother, his wife...
Not to speak ill of the dead, but...
law and morals weren't her thing.
She served time, in the Tobel jail and workhouse.
- Quite some time. - What was her crime?
You have to ask the others.
I'm not one to gossip.
Are you still in touch with Frieda?
No, that's long ago.
But why are you so interested in her?
Frieda's boy...
He's yours, isn't he?
Gossip. Just because she waited tables here?
"Mother from Thurgau admits murdering her son."
Frieda?
Was it her?
And the dead child was your son,
Mr. Zimmerli.
She was always making eyes at men.
What do you expect from her kind? Like mother, like daughter!
It's on the house.
I gave her 30 francs once, and 50 once.
I felt sorry for her.
Boarding fees of 5 francs a week, five years long.
Add it up to see how long that lasted her.
Thank you, Frieda.
From my husband as well.
I didn't know he was demanding my death.
Where do you begin when you write down your entire life?
I always thought I'd die from my agonizing headaches.
I had meningitis as a child.
The doctor had given up hope.
And my dear mother was so desperate.
We had no money for proper medicine.
But she took good care of me.
When she died, I nearly broke down at her grave.
My thoughts were all jumbled
due to the horrible pain in my head.
- What are you up to? - My defense strategy.
I'll show Gmür, that smug upstart.
- So, is the woman crazy? - I almost wish she were.
Where is Heiri Rothenfluh?
Somewhere over there.
We met at the fair. I noticed her at once.
- I was surprised she talked to me. - Why?
- Was she only gallivanting with other men? - No, it's not like that.
Frieda's nice.
But never naughty or anything. Never indecent, not at all.
Did you meet her friends or family?
- What did she do? - I'll do the asking, Rothenfluh.
Her parents are both dead.
She lives with her sister. I've never seen her.
She doesn't seem to have many friends.
Did she send you postcards, too?
No, but she sent me a letter once.
What did she write?
I have a clean conscience. I haven't hurt anyone.
How would you describe your relationship?
It could've been something...
But?
I've brought you something.
A friend of Miss Bahon came to our salon.
A photographer.
He photographed all of us. In our Sunday best, for free!
Beautiful.
It's really beautiful.
But I like you better in real life.
Frieda, listen. There's something else.
I've been offered a position.
With the Swiss Federal Railways.
In Zürich.
Zürich?
But I'll still come and visit you.
In my spare time, if I can.
And now I have a nice picture of you.
Maybe you'll come collect me later...
out of longing.
Would you like that?
It ended your acquaintance,
being posted to Zürich?
She never wrote back.
Do you still have the picture?
The photograph? At home.
And the letter?
Yes.
Did Miss Keller ever mention a son?
What son?
1, 2, 3!
- Bravo! - Congratulations.
A lovely couple.
- Colleague! - Grand Council President.
Didn't you get an invitation?
- How does he have time for these things? - Gentlemen.
- Congratulations. - Thanks.
Smart girl. You caught a clever man.
He's got a promising career ahead of himself.
Maybe he was smart to catch a clever wife?
Gesine, over here!
Have another glass. You too, Mr. Prosecutor.
Let's hope he doesn't ruin his future.
Being with this wild thing seems to have clouded his thinking.
Suddenly he's advocating newfangled nonsense.
Even said, despite their nature, women could be lawyers just like men!
That's ridiculous! - I know.
Did he even study in Germany or just flirt?
"Based on their nature" were my exact words.
Gentlemen.
Isn't it in the Gmür household where the wife is known to wear the trousers?
How dare you!
Cheers.
Pardon me. My wife's waiting.
Quite a few ladies
hoped to become the new Mrs. Lawyer.
The German won the race.
Was it the same in your case?
Those were different times.
Headache?
Today would've been Ernstli's birthday.
I brought him a cake once.
With a little candle on it.
Liked it so much he didn't want to blow it out.
I thought I wouldn't feel it...
The sorrow of a mother losing her child.
But it's always here.
Everywhere.
Why didn't I feel anything before?
Should I have screamed louder?
Fought back harder?
There are too many thoughts in my head. I...
I can't understand them all.
They never let me be a mother.
But I hear him,
without my ears.
I see him,
without my eyes. His little face!
Him looking at me.
Putting his hand in mine.
So warm and so delicate.
Like velvet.
No one was to learn of the shame weighing me down.
But now, looking death in the eye, I face my darkest hour.
Maybe you'll understand, Mr. Janggen, maybe someone will understand
how I became the monster I am today.
It was on a Sunday evening that he plunged me into my misery.
Here.
Why?
We're lighting a candle for Ernstli.
Just admit it.
You preferred secret kisses at the lake.
The child only stood in your way!
You didn't want to be a mother.
- You wanted freedom. - Freedom?
I wanted to be a real mother.
A real mother doesn't kill her child and bury it in the woods!
He had no future!
Life can be cruel, more cruel than death.
You represent the law?
You have no idea!
Not everyone eats with silverware.
And if your plate is empty what use is a polished fork?
I've had enough of your self-pity!
Let me speak to Mr. Janggen.
He's sleeping off his drink.
Wait!
How do you know him?
- Listen to me! - Do you know what this is, Erna?
Treason.
I never imagined you'd do such a thing! God dammit!
Everyone has the right to a defense,
even if they did something inhuman.
Are you the warden now?
For God's sake! Teaming up with Janggen behind my back.
Just despicable!
He's her defense lawyer, after all. - Yes.
And you gave him everything he needs!
- Calm down! - She's a murderess, Erna, a murderess!
Not a friend, not the child you never had!
- She strangled him in cold blood! - And you know that for sure?
Here, read it.
... therefore, Your Honor, under the circumstances,
the perpetrator acted in a pardonable fit of emotion.
This constitutes a prison sentence of one to ten years.
Well said!
But it never would've happened if the child's father had supported her.
You forgot that part.
You imply the poor woman has brain damage.
"The law does not aid immoral women who consort with married men.
"They alone bear the consequences."
That's Thurgau law.
But immoral men create illegitimate children, too.
There is no proof of rape.
There's no proof it wasn't rape.
Then she should've sued back then, in Thurgau.
But married men can't be prosecuted there...
She obviously wanted to avoid condemnation.
But it always takes two for a pregnancy!
You're right, morally.
But I can only work with what the law allows.
No one cares how the child was conceived in Thurgau,
only how it died in St. Gallen.
But this is ultimately about morality.
Declaring women acting out of desperation as insane is just as immoral!
How will things ever change if no one takes the first step?
The thinking must change first, then the laws.
I'm not mad at you.
I'm mad at the men who make the laws.
1, 2, 3...
Doesn't it fit?
It's not for me.
I can't be out here.
- They'll all know what I did. - The whole country knows.
Why did you kill your child?
Murderess!
You'll burn in hell, witch!
Let us through!
- Mr. Prosecutor! - Do you have a minute for the Tagblatt?
Mr. Gmür!
The defendant, Frieda Keller.
Look how wretched she is!
We now open the proceedings
of St. Gallen Public Prosecution vs. Frieda Keller.
Due to the public's interest and that of the press,
we'll hold the trial here, in Grand Council Hall.
Gentlemen of the Grand Council,
Welcome.
Prosecutor Gmür, please present the accusation.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I shall prove that the accused seamstress,
Frieda Keller from Thurgau, killed her child,
and acted with premeditation.
The child was the unwanted result of indiscretions,
during casual employment at the Zur Post inn in Bischofszell,
where she was unable to resist the innkeeper's overtures.
- Rape! - Order, please.
According to Bertillon anthropometric measurement,
we identified a gusset-shaped earlobe.
This is clear proof of a disposition to thieving and lying.
The latter can be substantiated.
- Order in the court! - Sister Wyss, step forward.
How would you describe Miss Keller's character?
Negligent.
She only showed up when we demanded it.
Did you have the impression that Miss Keller was fond of her child?
She hardly knew the boy.
After being forced to take her son from the orphanage,
Miss Keller wrote the following to you:
I write to inform you that our journey went smoothly.
Ernstli has been settling in well to life in Münich.
Correct.
The letter is dated June 1, 1904.
Ernstli was long dead by then!
- Order, please. No interjections! - Thank you, no further questions.
We just don't have enough space for the many illegitimate children.
We can't feed them all. There's too little money as it is.
Be seated.
But where can I collect the boarding fees she still owes me?
Please, sit down or leave the courtroom.
Gentlemen,
the fact that the defendant concealed her crime
points to a premeditated plan.
To that end, I wish to call another witness.
Request granted.
Heiri Rothenfluh.
Deposition of Heinrich Rothenfluh, railway employee in Zürich.
His testimony under oath is as follows:
"Two years ago, in the autumn of 1902, I met Frieda Keller
"and we formed an intimate relationship."
In the course of this relationship with the defendant,
did you exchange letters or postcards?
Occasionally.
This little letter, for example.
Did Frieda Keller write this to you?
- Yes. - Then please read it to the court.
"Dear Heiri, I saw you just yesterday
"and already I'm full of longing.
"I could think of nothing else all night, and...
"all I could do was kill time.
"I can't imagine how it will be after you leave.
"If only I could accompany you.
"I'd give you 100 kisses every day.
So much lewd immorality on so little paper!
You have to be pretty modest to find lewdness in that!
Mr. Rothenfluh, when did the accused tell you about her fornication?
And about bringing a child into the marriage?
Frieda was always decent!
Answer my question!
She never told you about the child?
- No. - Harlot!
- Order, please! - She deceived you.
Thank you, Mr. Rothenfluh.
The defendant wanted to get rid of her burden
so she could lead a free and carefree life.
She entered the forest with the child and a rope
with the firm intention of killing him there.
And that is murder!
Order in the court!
Mr. Janggen, your statement.
Dear President of the Court,
dear judges,
when a mother kills her child,
her reasons must be profound.
Reasons that reveal something wrong with our society,
not just with the women concerned.
We don't listen to them.
We ignore their cries for help.
The accused, whose character isn't at all bad,
found herself in a dilemma she couldn't solve.
A simple seamstress of humble upbringing
facing life's challenges alone, and crushed by mounting boarding fees.
It was too much for the already plagued mind of Miss Keller.
Brain-damaged from a childhood illness, impaired in her abilities of thought
and feeling, she believed herself to be in a crisis.
Her own mother had already shown the defendant the way out.
As a young woman,
she too killed her illegitimate child to solve the problem.
Order!
Years later, her daughter chooses the same path.
Yes, the legal consequences are more grave here
seeing that her mother's victim was a newborn baby.
But still, how can we explain this?
A foul inheritance.
The crime must be judged in light of this
as it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the defendant's life.
Total desperation drove Frieda Keller mad
and put her in a situation
where she felt she had no other choice but to kill her child.
She was alone in her adversity!
Without support. Without money.
"Best to keep quiet, best to forget."
That was the only advice she was ever given in life.
And that's a reoccurring theme throughout her life.
Just like how the prosecutor denied her a just trial
by refusing to let the defense see her before this proceeding began.
Unbelievable!
Even though the defendant's life is on the line.
For she is facing a highly questionable punishment!
- That's right! - Abolish the death penalty!
Order!
At least his wife...
... seems to have a sense of justice. Follow her example, Mr. Prosecutor.
Frieda Keller
is by all means a caring mother.
The child had a rope around its neck!
A sewing pattern for a school suit
that the prosecution found in her room...
- The boy's face was gone! - Quiet!
That pattern for a school suit the victim would've needed in the future
prove that Frieda Keller had indeed planned to take her son back
as soon as she could, under honorable circumstances.
But fate had other plans.
President of the Court, judges,
yes, my client is guilty.
Frieda Keller killed her child.
But the guilt I speak of here is more far-reaching
and lies, at least in part, somewhere else.
And Frieda Keller is not an isolated case.
Many mothers must hide their children.
Hide, not bury!
And what do we do?
What does society do with a person in need?
We turn our backs on them.
What do the sisters of the Tempelacker Orphanage do?
They throw the child out of the home.
And what does her own family do?
They deny the child a home for the fear of gossip.
And the witness, who the prosecutor said was fooled by the defendant...
What does he do?
He lets his sweetheart write him love letters
and show him how to kiss, only to ditch her at the first opportunity.
Rogue!
Irrelevant! Speculation!
Mr. Prosecutor, please!
Our dear prosecutor thinks all this is irrelevant.
If you'll allow me, it begs the question: irrelevant for whom?
For you personally, Mr. Gmür.
You are representing a society and its double standards.
I ask you, Mr. Gmür:
would you have taken in
the shameful child yourself?
Your Honor,
the defense considers it proven that this...
hideous crime wasn't planned by a sound mind.
The defense requests lenient punishment with a limited prison term,
and psychiatric evaluation if deemed necessary.
Thank you.
Would the defendant like to speak?
No, President of the Court.
This hearing is closed.
The court withdraws for deliberation.
The court has decided.
The defendant Miss Frieda Keller is,
in accordance with Article 133 of the Criminal Code,
found guilty of murder
and sentenced to death.
Not everyone agrees with the verdict.
This verdict is highly controversial,
not only in court but also in society.
... fighting in vain for her life. ... defense appeal is rejected.
He wonders who'd actually...
But there seems to be opposition in the civilian population.
CLEMENCY
WOMAN -LIFE -FREEDOM
- White wine! - I'll take some.
The fact that the public is ardently demanding clemency for Frieda Keller
shows that it's time for a change of attitude.
NO DEATH PENALTY CLEMENCY
Just because we're not yelling, doesn't mean it's not a crying injustice!
MEN SHOULDN'T DECIDE WOMEN'S LIVES
This trial showed once more
that rights, morals and justice don't correspond with each other.
Now just a handful of men will decide
whether our law is interpreted in accordance with justice.
Mr. Prosecutor?
Congratulations on your win.
I heard you'll soon be nominated for the Grand Council.
Here.
My petition for clemency.
You know full well that's not enough. The convict must apply, too.
She refuses. She won't talk to me.
I'm asking you for help.
What did you expect? You presented her as mad.
You blocked my access to her,
to your own advantage.
Now you've won and are highly respected.
Help me save the life of this suffering woman.
Mr. Gmür, time is running out. We have two days to file the petition.
Why should I, of all people, help you?
Was that really necessary?
That our home was not blessed with children's laughter is our misfortune.
Exploiting someone else's suffering won't make up for it.
No one was to learn of the shame weighing me down.
But now, looking death in the eye,
I face my darkest hour.
It was on a Sunday evening that he plunged me into my misery...
It's right this way.
It's just...
I would've liked to try being a mother to him.
I really thought that things
could work with Heiri.
I wrote you a letter.
But you can't read it yet.
Not until you're on the train.
A farewell letter?
I hope not.
I'll come and visit you soon.
What if we shared a room... in Zürich?
But don't you like working at Miss Bahon's?
Surely they need seamstresses in Zürich, too.
I don't think women are allowed in the barracks.
We could save for a flat. We don't need much.
A kitchen, a bedroom, maybe a kid's room...
Go, run!
You play like a real footballer!
Shoot and score!
- Good shot! - Thanks!
- You're really good! - Well...
They're a bit smaller than me.
What if I already had a child?
A child? You?
No, you're not one of them.
That only happens to cheap girls.
Will you bring me to the station?
Yes.
I liked him so much.
If only he'd married me.
Or if Ernstli could've stayed at Tempelacker a bit longer.
I never would've done it.
You must believe me, madam...
"When my sister refused to keep going,
"my father sent me to work at Zur Post because we needed the money.
"Zimmerli asked me to get wine from the cellar.
"Then he followed me, and I was lost."
That's what your sister wrote.
She was serving at Zimmerli's because you wouldn't work there anymore.
You knew Zimmerli would molest Frieda...
because he did the same to you.
Do you realize you could've prevented all this?
If you had told someone,
if at least someone had said something!
Out!
I wanted to politely ask...
Who sentenced her to death? You did!
It's your fault that it's come to this at all.
Is it true what he said?
You were right.
I was an idiot to give you such a hard time.
I'm sorry.
Sit down.
Take a sip.
Open your mouth.
In here, you forget that life goes on outside.
You mustn't give up now!
You must write that petition for mercy.
They can't just kill you!
I'd rather die
than rot in here all my life.
Caged like an animal.
Spat at.
Declared insane.
Maybe they're right.
They don't know you at all!
But they condemn me anyway.
I didn't want this.
None of this. You must believe me.
It's okay.
No.
It's not.
I am at fault...
... for everything that's happened to you.
I knew very well what Zimmerli was doing to you.
Friedi, I'm so sorry! I just couldn't bear it anymore.
I was so ashamed.
That's not true.
How could I have helped you?
I couldn't take in a child who'd look at me with his eyes.
Go.
Carry out the sentence as quickly as possible.
I don't enforce laws.
All the gossip is unpleasant for me and my family.
We're being denounced,
but we haven't anything to do with this!
- You must understand... - I've work to do.
What's he doing here?
Mr. Zimmerli was just leaving.
You belong in hell!
He could never keep it in his trousers.
He was always groping us.
Men like him think they can help themselves to us women.
Like a piece of furniture to sit on whenever you like.
Frieda's cushions were softer than yours.
People can do bad things to protect themselves from their own pain.
I'm a public prosecutor.
I had no choice.
Neither did I.
I do believe you, actually.
That you prefer death to life.
You've already proven that.
Now you're doing it again.
I don't agree with what you did,
but you don't deserve death.
You've never opened your mouth.
For God's sake, raise your voice now and plead for mercy!
Your story...
You must stay alive.
Or nothing will ever change!
Fight for your life, Frieda.
How does it look?
I bravely bore the deprivations and worries,
for five long years.
Never sharing my terrible suffering, keeping it quietly in my heart.
When my mother died, I lost my footing.
Without her compassion
and her helping hand, my strength wasn't enough anymore.
Mr. Gmür!
I didn't do it out of hate or loathing for my child.
It was the fear of condemnation and contempt that made me so desperate
that I could no longer think straight.
It was as if I was driven by an evil spirit.
I lost sight of the size of my guilt.
God only knows how I looked on the inside.
What I did is horrid.
My grief will accompany me all my life.
But I plead for your mercy. Grant me the grace of life
so that I may improve through sincere and deep remorse
and find the calm and peace of mind I have lost.
And so, if through diligence, obedience and good behavior
I can prove myself worthy,
a tiny hope may remain for me to experience freedom again
and return to good people.
Mercy is your prerogative. I plead that you deem me worthy.
May both you and God be merciful toward the poor, weak girl that I am.
The unfortunate,
Frieda Keller.
We open the vote
on the petition for clemency for Frieda Keller.
The Grand Councilors are asked to cast their ballots.
The ballot box, please.
It's the will of the Grand Council
that Frieda Keller,
who was sentenced to death,
receive clemency.
The death sentence is lifted
and converted into a life sentence
with an order of silence in solitary confinement.
As a convicted criminal
you are not eligible for any privileges.
You are not entitled to letters or visits.
You have lost the right to carry a name
and are not allowed to speak with other people ever again,
from this day forward.
FRIEDA KELLER SPENT 15 YEARS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
IN POOR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SHE WAS PARDONED IN 1919.
AFTER SUFFERING A STROKE IN 1939,
SHE WAS HOSPITALISED IN THE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC MÜNSTERLINGEN
WHERE SHE DIED THREE YEARS LATER.
HER CASE BECAME A SYMBOL FOR THE INJUSTICE OF CRIMINAL LAW AT THE TIME.
IT MOBILISED SWISS WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS DEMANDING EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.
IN 1942, THE SWISS CRIMINAL CODE CAME INTO FORCE
AND THE DEATH PENALTY WAS ABOLISHED.
SINCE THEN, MARRIED MEN ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT.