Jean Lanfray

Jean Lanfray was a Swiss farmer whose actions in 1905 led to the event known as the Morges murder, which subsequently played a significant role in the history of Switzerland's legislation on alcohol. His case became a pivotal moment in the temperance movement in Switzerland, leading to a national referendum on the prohibition of absinthe.

Background

Jean Lanfray was born in the late 19th century in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. He was a laborer and farmer by profession, living a seemingly ordinary life with his family. However, Lanfray struggled with alcoholism, a common issue of the time, exacerbated by the widespread availability of absinthe, a potent spirit that was popular in Switzerland and France during this period.

The Morges Murder

On August 28, 1905, Jean Lanfray committed the murders of his wife and two daughters in their family home in the village of Commugny, near Morges, after a day of heavy drinking. Despite consuming vast quantities of different types of alcohol, including wine, brandy, and absinthe, it was the consumption of two glasses of absinthe that was widely publicized and blamed for his actions. The following day, Lanfray attempted suicide but was unsuccessful. He was arrested, tried, and eventually sentenced to life in prison, where he died by suicide in 1906.

Impact on Absinthe Legislation

The murders committed by Jean Lanfray had a profound impact on the public perception of absinthe in Switzerland. The case was sensationalized by the media, which focused on his consumption of absinthe, ignoring the other forms of alcohol he had consumed. This led to a surge in the temperance movement, with absinthe being portrayed as a particularly dangerous and morally corrupting substance. In 1908, just three years after the murders, Switzerland held a national referendum that resulted in the prohibition of absinthe.

Legacy

The Jean Lanfray case remains a significant chapter in the history of alcohol legislation and the temperance movement. It illustrates the complexities of addressing substance abuse and the potential consequences of sensationalizing specific aspects of such cases. The prohibition of absinthe in Switzerland, and later in other countries, reflects the societal response to a tragedy that was, in reality, the result of a broader issue of alcohol abuse.