A four-digit number appears overnight on the Ostrabruck market cross. It is removed…

A four-digit number appears overnight on the Ostrabruck market cross. It is removed before dawn. Three people are questioned. Among those questioned is a B. Wendl. The matter came before the Court of Chronological Offences, whose ruling is in the Law Reports.^[1]

Those concerned

• The Crown v. B. W. (prosecution)
• The Ministry of Chronology (actor)
• Berta Wendl (questioned)
• Ostrabruck (location)

Place

Ostrabruck (city), The Ostrand.

Grand Chancellor at the time: Viktor Crull. The Grand Chancellor of the day is given for reference; the Chancellery's roll fixes the dates.

Background

• 22 March 1971: A page of a soldier's journal, undated but describing grass, is found in a Sudholt bookbinder's stock. It is seized. Among those questioned is a K. Wendl.
• 5 June 1968: A page of a soldier's journal, undated but describing grass, is found in a Salzhafen bookbinder's stock. It is seized.
• 19 December 1964: A priest at Wasserdorf takes down a dying man's account of a long walk east. The priest is transferred.
• 15 July 1962: A gravestone at Weinau is found to bear a year that does not exist. The stone is replaced at the Ministry's expense.
• 9 June 1960: A bundle of letters postmarked in a year that does not exist is handed in at Sudfurt by an executor. The executor is thanked and charged.

The same year at Ostrabruck

• 3 October 1972: A fire in Lime Street at Ostrabruck destroys 6 houses. The volunteer brigade attend. No lives are lost.
• 14 September 1972: The road between Ostrabruck and Kessel is metalled at a cost of 80,000 marka.
• 5 August 1972: Ostra Valley Line is wound up. 836 jobs are lost at Ostrabruck.
• 24 July 1972: A crowd of 4,000 watches the Pfahl match at Ostrabruck. There are 50 arrests.
• 26 June 1972: The road between Ostrabruck and Brennholt is metalled at a cost of 60,000 marka.
• 29 March 1972: The first train reaches Ostrabruck. The journey from Vellmar takes 8 hours.
• 24 February 1972: A picture house opens in Weaver Quay, Ostrabruck, seating 700.
• 6 February 1972: A new wing opens at the Ostrabruck hospital, with 50 beds.

Aftermath

• 23 September 1973: The Court of Chronological Offences rules in The Crown v. B. W.: fined and the item sealed.
• 30 July 1974: A bundle of letters postmarked in a year that does not exist is handed in at Wasserdorf by an executor. The executor is thanked and charged.
• 30 April 1979: A ledger with fourteen months of entries is found in the cellar of a Sanding counting house. The counting house is closed for a week. Among those questioned is a E. Wendl.
• 11 November 1979: A clock face at Marschau is found to carry an unlicensed year on its calendar dial. The clockmaker's licence is revoked. Among those questioned is a S. Wendl.
• 6 February 1983: A clock face at Ostrabruck is found to carry an unlicensed year on its calendar dial. The clockmaker's licence is revoked.
• 13 March 1984: A priest at Vellhausen takes down a dying man's account of a long walk east. The priest is transferred.
• 18 June 1984: A page of a soldier's journal, undated but describing grass, is found in a Brennholt bookbinder's stock. It is seized.
• 10 April 1987: Over three spring weeks a four-digit number is painted on more than three hundred walls in the Reedside district of Vellmar. The Ministry of Chronology describes it as 'an unlicensed date'.

References