Antti Isotalo, also known as Isoo-Antti, Isoon talo(o)n Antti or Isontalon Antti (born 30 August 1831 in Hanhimäki,

Alahärmä Alahärmä is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä, to Kauhava on 1 January 2009. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. T ...

- died 8 August 1911 in Alahärmä) was a Finnish

farmer A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer ...

and

puukkojunkkari (, translated to English as knife-fighter; ) or () was a term used of troublemakers who were active in the Southern Ostrobothnia region of Finland in the 19th century. Fights among puukkojunkkaris were common, and often resulted in death. Puu ...

, who led the criminal gang ''Isoo-joukko'' (literally, 'Iso

alo Alo or ALO may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Alo'' (film), a 2003 Bengali drama * Alo Creevey, a fictional character in TV series ''Skins'' ** "Alo" (''Skins series 5'') ** "Alo" (''Skins series 6'') * Animal Liberation Orchestra ...

s Bunch') together with Antti Rannanjärvi from 1856 to 1867. Isotalo was a restless character, and his hobbies included

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

. He was a shrewd businessman, and felt right at home at the town market. He seldom had to gather people around himself, instead people were reported to gather around him on their own initiative. He was a fearless and ruthless fighter. Because of his large size, he was often asked to act as a security guard in festivities. Isotalo was accused of

homicide Homicide is an act in which a person causes the death of another person. A homicide requires only a Volition (psychology), volitional act, or an omission, that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from Accident, accidenta ...

in 1858, but was released due to lack of conclusive evidence. Based on new witness statements, the court sentenced him to death in 1869. The

Senate of Finland The Senate of Finland (; ) combined the functions of Cabinet (government), cabinet and supreme court in the Grand Duchy of Finland from 1816 to 1917 and in independent Finland from 1917 to 1918. The body that would become the Senate was establis ...

changed the sentence to 12 years of hard labour at the

Hämeenlinna Hämeenlinna (; ; ; or ''Croneburgum'') is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Kanta-Häme. It is located in the southern interior of the country and on the shores of Vanajavesi, Lake Vanajavesi. The population of Hämeenlinna is appr ...

correctional facility. Isotalo is reported to have denied his guilt for the rest of his life. In prison he behaved well. Isotalo was married three times.

In court

* 1855: Proved guilty of assault with a knife. * 1856: Sentenced to fines for illegal sale of

moonshine Moonshine is alcohol proof, high-proof liquor, traditionally made or distributed alcohol law, illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol (drug), alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the ...

and disobeying

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. * 1858: Released of charges of having stabbed Matti Tönkä, sentenced to fines for openly carrying a knife without reason. * 1862: Sentenced to 38 lashes of a

whip A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...

and public church penalty for

pickpocketing Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft at the time. It may involve considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. A th ...

. * 1864: Accused of illegal distillery of moonshine. * 1869: Sentenced for appearing in court drunk, openly displaying his knife,

burglary Burglary, also called breaking and entering (B&E) or housebreaking, is a property crime involving the illegal entry into a building or other area without permission, typically with the intention of committing a further criminal offence. Usually ...

theft Theft (, cognate to ) is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shor ...

and

arson Arson is the act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercr ...

. * 1869: Because of new witness reports, sentenced to the death penalty for the homicide in 1858. Appealed to the Senate in 1870 and received pardon, but sentenced to fines, whipping, loss of honour and hard labour for 12 years. * 1882: Released from prison. * 1883: Assaulted a man but only sentenced to fines.

References

Sources

Tourism directory for Ostrobothnia: Personal history: Isotalo Antti
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isotalo, Antti 1831 births 1911 deaths People from the Grand Duchy of Finland 19th-century Finnish criminals Finnish male criminals People from Alahärmä People from Vaasa Province (Grand Duchy of Finland) Finnish people convicted of murder Finnish prisoners sentenced to death

In court

See also

References

Sources