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
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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)
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Wiktionary's Word of the day:
kismet: Fate; a predetermined or unavoidable destiny.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kismet)
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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)