Bio

Theresa Antonini was born in 1785 in Berlin. Her family name is given in sources as Marschall.

She married a man known as Antonini. He was a native of southern Italy. As a boy he had been captured by Barbary pirates and later freed by a French warship. He worked at different jobs, including as a drummer in a Corsican battalion, a sutler, and a French army postilion.

Contemporary accounts describe Theresa as wild and obstinate in her youth. After her marriage she traveled with her husband. They were heading south toward his native place in Messina and had little money.

They traveled with a young relative, Carl Marschall, who is described as Theresa’s brother and about fifteen years old at the time. Sources place these events in the years around 1809.

Murder Story

Dorothea Blankenfeld left Danzig in November 1809 on her way to Vienna. She reached Dresden and then left with two people who posed as French postilions. Those two were actually Theresa Antonini and her husband. They learned that Dorothea had fine clothes, jewels, and money. They began to plot to take her valuables.

Theresa Antonini brought her brother Carl into the plan. The party travelled through several towns as they looked for a chance. In Hof and Berneck they talked of using smoke. In Nuremberg they thought the city's waters might hide a body. At Roth they found a mattock in a loft and a pool of water nearby. They tried other ideas too, such as putting glass in food or using heated metal, but none were used for certain reasons. They drugged Dorothea and searched her trunks after taking her keys.

At the post-house in Maitingen the group decided to act that night. Carl hid a heavy roller and dug a hole in the yard. Candles and warm water were prepared. Dorothea drank brandy mixed with laudanum and went to bed half stupefied. In the early morning Carl struck the first blow and a struggle followed. Repeated blows were given and Dorothea died. The attackers took money and wrapped the body in a cloak. They put the bundle behind the carriage and left with only one woman in the coach.

The postmaster grew suspicious and went to Dorothea’s room. He found the room stained with blood and told the authorities. The carriage was pursued and overtaken at the gates of Augsburg. Theresa Antonini, her husband, and Carl were arrested and taken to jail.

During the hearings Carl confessed first. Theresa admitted her part after many examinations, and her husband later made a statement. The court at Nuremberg convicted the husband and wife. Carl was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment at hard labour because of his youth. The husband died in prison, and Theresa Antonini was executed by the sword in December 1809.