Thursday, March 16, 2006

News..... of the Weird

Pub has to pay a fine for murder from 1664

Auditors discovered the long-forgotten penalty for The Swan in Ipswich, Suffolk, while balancing the books for the towns St Mary Le Tower Church Charities.

The annual bill of 40 shillings, equivalent to £2, seems to be a punishment for a killing in 1664 when Charles II was king


The fine is supposed to be given to the poor specifically to buy coal for them. It continues:

Simon Trenter and Pam Wilson, who run The Swan, have agreed to pay the fine, which includes backdated payments to 1999, when the bill was last paid. Ms Wilson said: We are all intrigued. We like being part of history. Little is known about the murder although it is mentioned by guides who conduct tours of Ipswich.

1999? They were paying it up to that point? I suppose I would pay it NOW, makes a good story for tourists. Cheap publicity and all.