A summer of stories. A medieval punishment in southern Alsace and elsewhere: the chattering stone

When reading some of the hateful opinions and comments left on the internet, one might be tempted, for the most violent among them, to rehabilitate this medieval punishment: the chatterbox stone. However, it must be recognized that the Klappersteins and other Lastersteins had this misogynistic side that is fortunately no longer relevant today.

The story often began with an argument, or even a fight. Tempers thus heated or angry would let slip a few bitter remarks, or even insults, sometimes against individuals, sometimes against institutions. If an official complaint was made, it was a matter for lower justice and was settled before what we would today call a police court. Cases were examined in the very locality of the offense, by the lord or his representative: schultheiss, provost or maier, assisted by a few notables as jurors. Major causes, such as crimes or witchcraft,...

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