By Tim Binnall
The proprietors of a purportedly haunted pub in England say that a sticky-fingered miscreant stole a replica human skull that served as something of a mascot for the establishment. The strange caper reportedly occurred at the Golden Fleece in the city of York sometime Sunday evening or Monday morning. Prominently displayed at the pub had been a recreation of the skull of Elizabeth Johnson, who was executed in 1800 after she had been convicted of using a counterfeit bank note. The final person ever put to death in the city, it is believed that the woman frequented the Golden Fleece when it had been an inn, which is how the replica of her cranium wound up becoming showcased at the pub.
However, much to the dismay of the staff and regulars at the Golden Fleece, they discovered on Monday that the skull, which they call 'Elizabeth,' was missing. Taking to social media, the pub lamented that "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." Fortunately, it would seem that the case may come to a conclusion rather quickly as the Golden Fleece reviewed their security footage and saw both how the theft unfolded as well as who was behind it. In an update on their Facebook page, the pub spoke directly to the individual in question, declaring that if the skull is not returned within "the next couple of days" then they would turn the matter over to police.