Case of Dārte Bērziņš crime

3 Names: Bērziņš, Otto, Stryk

This is a letter of Vidzeme {Livland] consistory of the Ev. Lutheran Church to the Pastor Otto in Valka [Walka] town (1866). The letter reveals less known part of the duties of the Church in Livland.

First the text of the letter in German:

No. 1445

Aus
dem Livländischen evangl. luth. Consistorio
an
den Herrn Pastor Otto.
Walk

Eu. Hochwohlehrwürden wird aus dem Livl. evangl. lutherischen Consistorio des mitfolgt aufgegeben:

mit der wegen der Vergiftung eines halbjärigen Kindes zu 4 monatlicher Gefängnißhaft und zur Kirchenbuße, in Walk inhaftirten Dahrte Behrsing die Kirchenbuße in Grundlage des Circulair-Befehls vom 16 April 1847 sp. No. 7 Pkx. abzuhalten und über die Erfüllung dieses Comissums seiner Zeit dem Walkschen Ordnungsgericht Bericht zu erstatten.

Livländisches evangl. luth. Consistorium, Riga Schloß, den 13. September 1866.

W. v. Stryk

Präses

My translation:

From
evang. Lutheran Consistory in Livland
to
Mr. Pastor Otto.
Walk

Your Reverence is charged by Livland's Consistory of the Ev. Luth Church with the following:

to conduct, in accordance with the Circular Order of April 16 1847, the Church penance upon Dārte Bērziņš who is sentenced to 4 months of imprisonment and to the Church penance for the poisoning of a half year old child and now is jailed in Valka, and thereafter to report to the Order court of Valka about the accomplishment.

Livland's Consistory of Ev. Luth Church. Riga Castle. September 13, 1866.

W. v. Stryk

President

Comments: One may imagine after the reading of the text that the Russia Empire courts were very tolerant to the poisoners of babies. In reality there was in the Criminal Code rather detailed classification of homicides and as a rule they were punished by penal servitude (katorga). Only a manslaughter through recklessness or negligence - if the defendant did not know and could not predict that the conduct may cause the death - was punished by imprisonment for 2-4 months and the Church penance, which was the current case of D.Bērziņš. Of course, I do not know what in reality Dārta committed, that killed the baby.