User:Weltschmerz11/Alois Irlmaier

Alois Irlmaier (June 8, 1894 - July 26, 1959) was a German well builder by profession, but also a known dowser and fortune-teller. During World War II, Irlmaier is credited with predicting the location of bombings, as well as the whereabouts of missing people. Irlmaier is reportedly also known to have helped solved various crimes throughout his lifetime.

Life
Born in Scharam, near Siegsdorf, Upper Bavaria, to a farmer, Irlmaier served as a soldier from 1914 to 1916 in the First World War.

In 1920 he married Maria Schiesslinger, taking over his father's farm the same year. Irlamaier raised four children with Schiesslinger, one of whom was a foster son. In 1928 he began working as a self-employed well builder. He also experienced his first "predictive visions" in this year. From 1939 onwards, Alois Irlmaier increasingly received visits from people who had heard of his visionary abilities and asked for advice and information. To accommodate the large demand, Irlmaier build a small shack from which he provided his visionary services. The service was free and voluntary.

By 1947 Irlmaier had obtained 15 previous convictions; seven counts of fraud and eight counts of payment difficulties. That same year Irlmaier was reported to the district court in Laufen by a pastor for fraud and trickery; a crime that was considered a criminal offense under the Bavarian Police Penal Code until 1957. During the trial, two witnesses testified that they had not believed Irlmaier's contradictory prophecies from the outset. Five other witnesses testified that Irlmaier's interpretation was correct. A conviction for fraud was therefore ruled out. The court also acquitted Irlmaier of the allegation of trickery, as this could not be determined with the necessary certainty.

Alois Irlmaier died of liver cancer in Freilassing Germany, in 1959.