The poisoned waffle

Galgbacken, a former execution site

Within Reftele is the old execution site, which still bears the name Galgbacken (Gallows hill). On 8 December, 1773, Ingjerd Johansdotter was executed here for poisoning the lay judge's Sven Jacobsson's wife with a waffle.
Ingjerd had baked three waffles, one of which was slightly larger than the other two and also contained poison. She then asked her brother-in-law Jaen Johan Arvidssson to take the waffles to Forsheda Bosgård and give Kjerstin Simonsdotter the big waffle and the other two were for her husband Sven and himself. She also sent along a bottle of brandy for him to share. Her brother-in-law carried out her wish and all went as Ingjerd intended. That night, Kjerstin died of poisoning. Ingjerd was soon suspected and was summoned for questioning. She confessed and stated that the reason for this terrible crime was that she was in love with Sven and therefore wanted to get rid of Kjerstin. Ingjerd was sentenced to beheading and then being burned at the stake. Her brother-in-law Johan was sentenced to beheading for carrying the waffles to Forsheda, but died at Jönköping Castle Prison before the Court of Appeal had time to review his sentence.