Stories
In the early 1860s, an unusual trial was held in the courthouse. Farmer Karl Granroth from Pirilö was charged with eight murders. Not all the murders could be proven, but those of two children were enough to sentence the farmer to death. The senate changed the death sentence to 40 whippings, a public confession of sins in the church of Vaasa, and expulsion to Siberia. Granroth is said to have lost his life on the way to Siberia. (Lehtinen: PS Pulssi 14 July 2017)
Former Chief Judge Lennart Johansson remembers that, even as late as the early 1960s, life remained busy on the church hill and in the courthouse, on those days when all parties were summoned to the opening of the court session. A court service would be held in the adjacent church and a period of public peace during court sessions declared. Johansson also remembers the last session at the courthouse, which was held on 16 March 1967. The lay members used to speak the nearly unintelligible Swedish dialects of their home villages, but no one spoke Finnish. (Rintala: Lakimies Uutiset 27 August 2014)