Perrissona Gappit case

Perrissona Gappit (also Perrussone) was tried for witchcraft in 1465 in Switzerland.

Background

Witch trials were still uncommon in the 15th century when the concept of diabolical witchcraft began to emerge. The study of four chronicles concerning events in Valais, the Bernese Alps and the nearby region of Dauphiné has supported the scholarly proposal that some ideas concerning witchcraft were taking hold in the region around the 1430s recasting witchcraft as an alliance with the devil that would undermine and threaten the Christian foundation of society.

According to the work of historian and professor, Georg Modestin, Perrissona Gappit was a widow who was remarried and living with her in-laws at the time of the accusation and trial. She was living in Châtel-Saint-Denis in the "foothills of the Alps," in an area that had only one prior case related to witchcraft. The pre-trial investigation began on January 11,1465 and was carried out by Claude Burritaz, the notary of Lausanne, acting on behalf of the bishop; three witnesses and Perrissona herself were interviewed.

The first witness interviewed was her son in-law, Jordan dou Molard and then her husband, Guillaume dou Molard. They both considered her a heretic, which at this time was an "equivalent for witch," due to her character. Her accusers considered her to be quick to anger and focused on revenge; her alleged vindictive character was seen through her ability to "wreak evil in the form of strange illnesses." The records include pre-trial depositions, include Perissona's own deposition, and several witnesses. The trial lasted seven sessions between 23 January and 4 February 1465. Some of the confessions were extracted under torture. Another study published in 1989 explored details about the backgrounds of the accused. Scholars have also examined the unstable political situation in Châtel in the 1460s in connection with the case.