The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Suffolk, England in 1827. A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover, William Corder, the son of the local squire. The two had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, a local landmark, before eloping to Ipswich in order to be married. Maria was never heard from again. Corder fled the scene and although he sent Marten's family letters claiming she was in good health, her body was later discovered buried in the barn after her stepmother claimed to have dreamt about the murder. Corder was tracked down in London, where he had married and started a new life. He was brought back to Suffolk, and, after a well-publicised trial, found guilty of murder. He was hanged in Bury St. Edmunds in 1828; the execution was watched by a huge crowd. The story provoked numerous articles in the newspapers, and songs and plays. The village where the crime had taken place became a tourist attraction and the barn was stripped by souvenir hunters. The plays and ballads remained popular throughout the next century and continue to be performed today.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Barn_Murder

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1644: John Milton published Areopagitica, arguing for the right to free speech and against publication censorship during the English Civil War. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagitica)

1867: The Manchester Martyrs were hanged in Manchester, England for their rescue of two Irish nationalists, who played important roles in the failed Fenian Rising, from jail. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Martyrs)

1963: The BBC television series Doctor Who premiered with William Hartnell in the titular role. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who)

1971: The People's Republic of China was given China's permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_and_the_United_Nations)

1985: Omar Rezaq and two others from the Abu Nidal terrorist group hijacked EgyptAir Flight 648 over the Mediterranean Sea. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Nidal)

2003: Rose Revolution: Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as President of Georgia following weeks of mass protests over disputed election results. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Shevardnadze)

_____________________ Wiktionary's Word of the day:

kismet: Fate; a predetermined or unavoidable destiny. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kismet)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today. I can't control my destiny. I trust my soul. My only goal is just to be. There's only now, there's only here. Give in to love, or live in fear. No other path, no other way. No day but today. -- Jonathan Larson in "Another Day" from Rent (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jonathan_Larson)