The hunt is on for the culprit who has stolen a grim York heirloom.
As historic artefacts go, it is unique – the skull of the last York prisoner to be executed at the city’s Tyburn.
She was Elizabeth Johnson, and she was put to death in 1800. Her skull was inside a display case at the Golden Fleece pub on Pavement.
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Tonight, the pub put out an urgent appeal: “Unfortunately over the course of last night/today someone has taken it upon themselves to remove Elizabeth from her resting place.
“This is beyond us why anyone would want to take her and we sincerely hope the culprit had a lapse of judgment and will return her to us asap.
“We are currently looking through all our CCTV in order to hand it over. Please contact us if you have any information on her whereabouts to bring her back to her rightful home.”
Elizabeth Johnson was hanged on Knavesmire on 23 August 1800, the last execution to take place there.
Her crime? She was found guilty of “uttering a forged £1 bank note with intent to defraud the Bank Of England in the parish of Pontefract on June 7th 1800”.
The theft has upset pubgoers. One commented: “Why would anyone think it’s a great idea to take her?
“No morals, no respect. Hope she does her worse and make their life hell so they return her.”
If you have any information, call the Golden Fleece on 01904 620491 or ring police on 101.