Society, Justice, Punishment: The Story of Mrs. Imre Besze

“Mrs. Imre Besze (Erzsébet Bigló) is a historical criminal case. The account of the case describes the background of the crime, the investigation, the court proceedings, and the social impact of the case."

The case of Mrs. Imre Besze reflects the social and legal context of Hungary in the 1930s. The case is significant not only because of its factual account of the murder, but also because it reveals the social conditions of the time, the social status of women, and the severity of the justice system. The story also sheds light on the complex interplay between violence against women, potential family conflicts, and social expectations.  Mrs. Imre Besze—who became known in common parlance as Erzsébet Bigló— was a woman who lived her life amidst the often restrictive social and economic conditions of her time. Conflicts in their family life, financial difficulties, and the expectations regarding women’s roles at the time may all have contributed to the tragic events that followed.  In the 1930s, opportunities for women were extremely limited, and family dynamics were often one-sided, which contributed to the development of tensions. Contemporary society was highly hierarchical, and the norms governing women’s roles left no room for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.  In 1935, Mrs. Imre Besze committed murder when she killed her husband. According to reports—although the details come from contemporary sources— her act was not a premeditated, cold-blooded murder, but likely the result of a violent emotional outburst or possibly long-standing abuse, which we would today describe as a crime committed in a sudden fit of passion.  Based on the available documents and witness statements, physical evidence was found at the scene of the murder which emphasized the spontaneous and impulsive nature of the act (a sudden outburst). Although detailed technical descriptions, such as the tools used or the precise description of the crime, have since faded with the passage of time, the results of the investigation at the time proved sufficient to hold the perpetrator accountable.  

Investigative methods and tactics at the time differed significantly from those used today; the authorities interviewed several witnesses, and the physical evidence collected at the scene—which, in the absence of modern procedures, was less accurate— provided sufficient evidence to identify the perpetrator.  In addition to the evidence collected from the crime scene, this played a key role in understanding the crime. The technical procedures of the time did not provide credible evidence of the commission of the crime or its motives. Given the standards of the judicial system at the time, this was sufficient to reach a verdict.  During the court hearing, both the defense and the prosecution presented their positions in detail. The prosecution emphasized the gravity of the offense and the fundamental violation of family order, while the defense highlighted the defendant’s mental and environmental pressures as mitigating circumstances. 

The court handed down a death sentence, and Mrs. Imre Besze was executed in 1936. The verdict reflected the criminal law norms of the time, which responded to violent domestic crimes with severe punishments. The case is still cited today as a moment when social expectations and the legal system left no room for the resolution of women’s emotions and conflicts.  The case generated massive media coverage and sparked a wide-ranging public debate on women’s roles, domestic violence, and the criminal justice system. 

Although the case itself did not lead to immediate legal reforms, it contributed in the long run to the modernization of subsequent criminal proceedings, as well as the modernization of the treatment of female prisoners and victims. The case of Mrs. Imre Besze remains vivid in the history of Hungarian criminal law as the last executed woman to fall victim to the tragic injustices of the judicial system of her time.