This true story is told by André Pernet, an honorary citizen of Montbovon, who for a long time stood at the head of the commune.
“Both old and young residents of Monbovon are well aware of the story that happened in the valley of the Ongran River, in a place called Ayer. This drama played out in the Iron Cross Hotel, which exists as a cafe to this day.
A robber was operating in the region, attacking peasants coming from the fair and fleecing them to the skin. In the summer, he wandered in the mountains, entered any chalet he came across without knocking, and forced the shepherds to share food and clothing with him. No one dared to resist this man, for his appearance was extremely formidable. He was of gigantic stature, and the people called him Big Eshe. I tried to find this name in the lists of citizens living in the territory of the Monbovon commune, but I couldn’t find it. What Eshe means is unknown. It must be a nickname, and it was invented by people who spoke a local dialect, which not everyone understands these days.
Big Ash had an amazing ability. He could jump over the highest fences without even touching them.
The day came when people were no longer able to put up with the outrages of the robber. A complaint was submitted to the authorities of the city of Bühl. The gendarmes showed up and raided Big Ash. They shot at him, but in some strange way the bullets bounced off the robber, and he managed to escape. Rumors began to circulate among the people that lead bullets would not take this man. Then the prefecture of police suggested that an elderly soldier, who had served in Napoleonic army and even visited Russia, take up this matter. His name was Alexander Jordan, but people called him Shtof, perhaps because of the old man’s passion for damasks, bottles and decanters - not empty ones, of course. So, Shtof was tasked with arresting Big Ash, and if he did not want to surrender, then kill him.
One evening Big Ash came to the Iron Cross Hotel to spend the night in the barn there. He preferred this place for overnight stays. The owner of the inn was informed that as soon as the robber appeared near his establishment, Shtof should immediately be informed about it.
Having learned that the beast was in its den, Shtof took his gun and gathered the people. People surrounded the Iron Cross Hotel. The old soldier, knowing that Big Ash was invulnerable to lead bullets, decided, if necessary, to shoot at the robber with the tine of a steel fork. They were already making good steel back then. Shtof inserted a prong into the gun barrel. He had a Napoleon-era gun that was loaded from the end of the barrel and fired only one shot, after which a new charge had to be hammered. My great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle had such guns, and even my brother now has a similar old gun. So, Shtof loaded the gun with the tine of a steel fork and said: “I don’t think he can dodge this bullet.”
At dawn, Shtof was near the Iron Cross Hotel, at the door of the barn where Big Esche slept. I believe that door no longer exists, but when I was a child, my father always said when we passed the inn: “See this door? Big Ash was shot near her.”
The door where Shtof stood was the only exit from the barn. Soon it opened, and a robber appeared on the threshold. At the sight of the crowd and the man with the gun, he froze for a moment. Shtof was instructed to give a warning before firing, and he shouted: “In the name of the law! Give up!" Big Ash said, "Go to hell!" Shtof repeated: “In the name of the law! Give up! I have been given orders to shoot if you do not surrender!” Big Ashe answered him: “Shoot, but if you miss, then I won’t miss!” He had a huge club in his hands. It must be said that Big Ash never killed anyone. He was a robber. He threatened with this club, and people gave him their money in fear. But he didn’t kill to kill.
Shtof raised his gun, aimed at his head and fired. The steel prong hit the robber in the forehead. Big Ash swayed and fell dead. And so he ended his days. Obviously, Shtof, who had been in the war, knew that some people wear armor or chain mail on their bodies under their clothes. Perhaps Big Eshe had such chain mail, and therefore the gendarmes could not shoot him. This is the story of Big Ash. This is exactly how the old residents of Monbovon tell it.
My grandmother was well acquainted with the main participant in the dramatic events that unfolded at the Iron Cross Hotel. When she was a little girl, Shtof worked as a shepherd and lived next door to her family. Almost every evening she went to the old soldier to listen to the wonderful stories that he loved to tell. But Shtof never told the story of Big Ash.
Grandmother said that Shtof suffered greatly because he had to kill the robber. After all, this man did nothing wrong to him. After the raid at the Iron Cross Hotel on the Great Ashe, Shtoff did not live long. The soldier was tormented by remorse. Perhaps they became one of the reasons for his death.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru