Born: 15 February 1743, Austria
Died: 26 February 1785
Country most active: Liechtenstein
Also known as: Golden Boos
Barbara Erni was a Liechtenstein woman renowned for her thieving exploits across western Europe using a confidence trick. In Liechtenstein legend, she is immortalized as Golden Boos (“boos” meaning a disreputable woman or sex worker), and her story is intertwined with the region’s folklore. Erni became the last person executed in Liechtenstein, although the death penalty was not abolished until 1989.
Born to a homeless couple in Feldkirch, Erni and her siblings stole food and clothing to survive. As an adult, she engaged in sex work, increased her stealing to bigger jobs, and married a thief, “Tyrolean Franz” Schindele, in 1779.
According to legend, Golden Boos, with her distinctive red-blond hair and extraordinary strength, travelled with a large treasure chest or backpack. During her overnight stops, she insisted on securing her chest in the most secure room, claiming it contained valuable treasure. As night fell, a small man would emerge from the chest, collecting valuables from the room. Erni and her mysterious accomplice would then vanish into the night. The elaborate scheme brought her considerable wealth over the years.
In May 1784, Erni and her male partner were apprehended at Eschen and imprisoned in Vaduz. At trial, she admitted to seventeen thefts using the trick. On December 7, 1784, the court found her guilty of being the Golden Boos and sentenced her to death by beheading. The execution took place in Vaduz before, reportedly, thousands of spectators. The name and fate of her partner remain unknown. The legacy of Golden Boos lives on in Liechtenstein folklore, inspiring various artistic interpretations and becoming an enduring part of the region’s cultural history.