Anna Månsdotter, a 48 years old widow lived with her grown son Per in the south of Sweden. Per had been Anna's lover ever since his early youth. Their sexual relationship even continued after Per had married, and Anna was jealous on Per's bride. Together they killed Per's young wife. Per received a life sentence while Anna was sent to the scaffold.

On August 6, 1890 at 8:00 a.m. Anna was led to the low block. She was dressed up like going to a party in a white dress, that fell beautifully over her slim figure. Her steps were unsecure and her big eyes looked around nervously.

Anna made no resistance as she walked to the scaffold. She kneeled down at the block, looking a last time at her executioner who hided the axe behind his back. An assistant blindfolded her and Anna laid down with her head on the block sobbing like a child. Just before the blow she moaned and lifted her head. The assistant had to press it back in position, and this time the soft sound of the blow could be heard. Anna's blindfolded head rolled forward while a jet of blood sprayed from her neck.
Two seconds after Anna's head fell a medical student examined it. For one minute her eyes seemed blank and "alive" as if they could see.

The blade stroke her right under her ears, cleaved her tungue and went through her mouth, leaving her chin with the body.

Anna's body was quickly removed and undresed for scientific experiments. Her heart was removed while it was still beating.

The head was assigned to an artist, who made a death mask for the Wax Museum "Panoptikum" in Stockholm.
(From Murderpedia)