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The staid burghers of Zurich, so obviously part of the modern world, re acted to the unfolding murder story with a primitive moral fury that the tabloid Blick described as "terrifying." Despite the judge's plea for temperance, police cars taking the accused to and from the court needed extra protection against would-be lynchers and were covered with spittle. Newspapers received hundreds of suggestions for punishment no less demonic than poor Bernadette's exorcism. One writer suggested tying the couple to a telephone pole and "delivering them to the people's anger until their God delivered them." Another wanted to seal them into a barrel full of spikes and set it afire.
The court was swamped with threatening letters, including a postcard promising that "the entire courthouse will be blown up if they don't get the maximum penalty." Though Switzerland has no death penalty, one letter writer offered his services as a hangman "without pay." At week's end the six were found guilty; they will be sentenced this week. The worst they can expect is 20 years, for "inflicting injuries that could be reasonably expected to cause death."