Stubbe or Stump?

It is probably the most famous, or infamous, of all the accounts of REAL werewolves, that of Stumpf Peter, aka Peter Stump, aka Peter Stumpp, aka Stubbe Peter. The problem is, the case occurred back before there was anything resembling uniformity of spelling. The OTHER problem is, neither “Stubbe” nor “Stump” nor “Stumpf” is a particularly werewolf-ish-sounding name. When you’re dealing with history instead of fiction, you have to take the names as they come. You can’t make up names that have the best “ring” to them, or pick names that offer symbolism. Thus it is that we have a noted werewolf known as “Stump.”

One could argue that Stump or Stubbe is no worse a moniker than “Ol’ Stinker,” another supposedly real werewolf. You might even argue that it’s an improvement. But c’mon, how likely is it that somebody somewhere will choose to refer to the poor lycanthrope as “Stubby the Werewolf”?

Peter Stubbe, by the way, was tortured to death in 1589 in Germany, after confessing—while being tortured—to being a werewolf and sorcerer. His name, “Stump,” was supposedly a nickname given to him because he was missing a hand. Legend says that, while in the form of a werewolf, he’d had his paw cut off, thus when he transformed back into a man he was missing a hand. Which, if true, makes “Stubby the Werewolf” at least a little more fitting, now that I think about it.

By The Evil Cheezman

WAYNE MILLER is the owner and creative director of EVIL CHEEZ PRODUCTIONS (www.evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/evilcheezproductions), specializing in theatrical performances and haunted attractions. He has written, produced and directed (and occasionally acted in) over a dozen plays, most of them in the Horror and Crime genres. His first novel, THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER: WEREWOLF, is available for purchase at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763 MORTUI VELOCES SUNT!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.