Simon Bingelhelm

Simon Bingelhelm (1565 – 2 June 1600), called The Thousand Devils of Halberstadt, was a German robber and serial killer.

He was brought to Gröningen, the location of the Diocese of Halberstadt at the time, and which was the residence of Duke Henry Julius of Brunswick.

He confessed to numerous burglaries and theft offences, primarily in Halberstadt, but also in Wernigerode, Reddeber, Falkenstein, Hoym, Aschersleben, Seehausen, Ballenstedt, Eilenstedt, Heimburg, Klein Quenstedt, Westerhausen, Dardesheim, Prenzlau, Salzwedel, Haldensleben, Neuhaldensleben, Calvörde, Derenburg, Herzberg, Oschersleben, Schermcke, Krottorf and Quedlinburg.

During the interrogation, this was recorded:"Admit that he, Black Hans, Pothans, Rickel and the fat Marten zu Hessen [on the highway from Halberstadt to Wolfenbüttel] took a child of 3 or 4 years before the gates of a man.

"[1]On his execution on 2 June 1600, in Gröningen, he was "attacked with pincers for honour, dragged to the town court, then quartered".

Billboard at Daneil's Cave
Entrance to Daneil's Cave where, according to local lore, Bingelhelm robbed and murdered some of his victims
Cave interior