Stone of Wisdom

In front of the Remigius Church in Viersen, two mighty stones are reminiscent of the so-called sage and pillory stones.
In the past these large stones were used to support case law. For example, in the past, the accused were led around the stone three times before they could comment on their charges. The following judgment was then also pronounced on the stone.

Stone of Wisdom

In addition, legendary wise men were used for a long time to make judgments if there were several suspects and the perpetrator could not be clearly identified. According to tradition, the suspects had to hit the stones with their hands until the first blood dripped from their noses. This was then regarded as the culprit according to the “judgment of God”. But one day the “stone judgment” led to a wrong decision.

An already convicted man swore on the way to the gallows that he was innocent. And in desperation he is said to have finally shouted into the crowd of onlookers: “I am innocent, and so God help me, this tree will lose all leaves if I am innocent!” And so it happened. The astonished crowd saw how the linden tree suddenly lost all leaves, so that the convict was released shortly thereafter.