Born: 15 February 1743, Austria
Died: 26 February 1785
Country most active: Liechtenstein
Also known as: Golden Boos
Barbara Erni, widely known as Golden Boos (February 15, 1743, in Altenstadt near Feldkirch – February 26, 1785, in Eschen), 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, and her story is intertwined with the region’s folklore. Erni became the last person to face execution in Liechtenstein. Born to a homeless couple in Feldkirch, she married Franz, a Tyrolean man with a known criminal reputation, in 1779.
According to legend, Golden Boos, with her distinctive red-blond hair and extraordinary strength, roamed the European countryside carrying a large treasure chest or backpack. During her overnight stops, she insisted on securing her chest in the best room, claiming it contained a fabulous 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. Tried by Liechtenstein authorities, she admitted to seventeen thefts using the confidence 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 a public audience of approximately 1000 spectators. Her beheading marked the last execution in Liechtenstein, a country that abolished the death penalty in 1987. 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.