The Jura Mountains are a low range found north of the Alps in France, Germany and Switzerland.  Our Grandparents were both from the Bavarian towns of Nabburg and Schwartzenfeld that adjoin each other.  Between the two towns was a steep hill named the Henkerberg that means in German, Hangman’s Mountain!  To pass between the two towns it was necessary for you to walk over the Henkerberg.  People did much more walking then they do now. 

Our Grandfather was born on April 30th a day that means nothing in America, but in much of Middle Europe meant it was a spookier day then our Halloween.  People who had their birthday on that date were supposed to have supernatural powers, and were capable of seeing things that were denied to mere mortals.  One of the things our Grandfather was able to see was a black dog when nobody else could.  He also believed himself he had supernatural powers; among them was being able to cast spells or call up the Devil.

Until the day of his death he had a mystical book called the Seventh Book of Moses, a book of incantations and spells dating back to the Middle Ages.  On the day he died our Grandmother stuffed the book into the kitchen stove bringing an end to all the spells for once and for all.

Now, back to the Ghostly Hangman of the Jura’s this was one of the ghost stories related to us by our mother.  “It seemed that this particular hill was the place where hangings took place with a prominent gallows displayed at the top of the hill alongside the passing road.  According to the stories that have come down this gallows was well used.  In the past there were many more laws calling for the services of the hangman then there are today.  One hangman was known to be real cruel in performing his duties it is supposed to be his ghost that haunts the Henkerberg.

If travelers passed over the Henkerberg in a group at night the ghost would never appear as he feared facing living men.  If someone was to pass over the Henkerberg alone he had to whistle all the way over the Henkerberg or the hangman’s ghost would give him such a blow to the head that it would cause its swelling to twice its normal size.