here were two reasons for the erection of the Käppelijoch in 1392. On one hand, it served as an additional support for the piers to resist high water, on the other hand, it should remind people of the union of the originally separated towns Grossbasel (greater Basel) and Kleinbasel (smaller Basel). At times, criminals were thrown into the river Rhine at that place to be drowned. They drowned above all women, who had commited serious theft, child murderer, adultery or procuration. Men who were found guilty of bigamy or maltreatment of their parents suffered the same punishment. They were thrown into the river after their hands and feet had been tied up and some weight attached to them. At St. Johann (as the district further downstream is called), the dead criminals were pulled out by fishermen. The ones who survived this torture were set free. If somebody was found guilty of witchcraft or related, they were tied up with a rope, thrown into the river and pulled through under the bridge three times ("Wiedertaufe").