[digitalengineer]

Not in the article, but in the book it self: there is also the function of combating superstition! Lots of people believed incredibly dangerous things. Such as cutting of the (arm or) hand of a new born (and carrying it when you attempt to burglar a house) can make you invisible. This believe was obviously quite dangerous for new borns. Thieves and burglars would sometimes “try their luck”. When they got caught it was the executioners job to also demonstrate/ educate the people.