Frozen in time stands the Skovfoged F Thomsen 16 3 1866 Stone. A stark reminder of a tragedy it whispers a story of a man felled in his prime. This unassuming stone marks the spot where a dedicated forest ranger met a brutal end. Skovfoged Thomsen a large strong and hardworking man lived in nearby Ravnehus.
On March 16 1866 he toiled in the forest near Virum. Returning home with two fellow workers they encountered three suspicious individuals. One carried a sack. Skovfoged Thomsen suspected poaching a common crime in the area. He tried to stop them. They fled. He gave chase. As he neared the last man the man turned and fired his shotgun at point-blank range.
Twenty-two pellets tore into Thomsen’s lower body. Carried home to Ravnehus he gave a statement to the police. They already knew where to look. The next day Skovfoged Thomsen died. A terrible loss especially for his four orphaned daughters. His wife had died years earlier.
The police swiftly apprehended notorious poacher Hans Hansen known as Sorte Hans. His two sons were also arrested. After questioning they confessed. Sorte Hans fired the fatal shot. The trial reached the Supreme Court. Sorte Hans received eight years of hard labor. The Skovfoged F Thomsen 16 3 1866 Stone serves as a chilling memorial to a life cut short a testament to a man’s dedication and a grim reminder of the dangers he faced. Let us take a moment of silence to remember Skovfoged Thomsen and his family. The Skovfoged F Thomsen 16 3 1866 Stone stands as a solemn tribute in the heart of this peaceful place. It is a reminder that even in the tranquility of nature violence can strike unexpectedly.