against restaurateurs Bill and Wendy Meade, who left Bermuda leaving behind unpaid debts estimated at around $250,000.

At one stage it was thought that Bermuda law allowed the couple to return to the Island within six or seven years and not be held liable for a cent of what they owe.

Then, it became apparent that they could not escape so easily and, to all intents and purposes, might never be able to come back without having to face up to civil or, possibly, criminal accusations.

But research into how Bermuda's law affects debtors who abscond threw up several odd, non-related, quirks in the Island's legal system which are truly incredible.

For instance, a doomed man or woman staring certain conviction might like to refer to a little-known law which allows for a defendant to demand `trial by battle'.

It was last used in the UK during the 19th century when a man charged with murdering a woman challenged his accuser -- the victim's brother -- to a fight.

Terrified at the prospect of further blood being spilled, the brother did not accept and a judge had no option but to allow the defendant to walk away a free man.

Appalled by the loophole, judges immediately set about changing the law, but only in the UK. In Bermuda, it is believed to be still in existence to this very day.

Local lawyers said Bermuda's law books were full of oddities. Under the Summary Offences Act, anyone who performs carpentry or does their laundry in a public place is liable to a fine of $240 or a six-month prison sentence.

Bermuda's hookers -- yes, there are some -- had also better beware that they give value for money.

Under one law, "any person in any public place being a night walker or common prostitute'' can be charged if they are found to have given "no satisfactory account of themself''.

The Fire Brigade might also like to know that it is an offence for "any person who wantonly and unnecessarily causes any animal or vehicle in his charge to pass over a hose being used, or about to be used, for fire fighting purposes''.

Even Bermuda's favourite Easter pastime and its most popular summer sport are not sacred.

It is unlawful to fly a kite or play cricket or any other game in a public place "to the annoyance or danger'' of passers-by. Cup Match teams, who have often been accused of annoying spectators by playing in a boring fashion, had better watch out.

And Heaven help any cruise passengers who act up during a voyage to Bermuda.

According to statute, it is lawful for the master of a vessel to use "such force as he believes, on reasonable grounds, to be necessary'' to discipline anybody on board, including, presumably, the administering of a good flogging with a Cat `O' Nine Tails.

Ridiculous though these laws may seem, they cannot be ignored by a court of law.

As one leading lawyer said: "It's no good arguing that they are absurd. If an offence is proved, a judge is obligated to do his duty under law and convict.

The law must be adhered to at all times. The only way a law can be removed is by an Act of Parliament.'' *** Does journalism contain a disproportionately high number of knowledgeable people? More specifically, is having an unusually large capacity for the retention of facts and figures one of the criterion used by The Royal Gazette Ltd. to offer someone a job? These were two of the questions being bandied around last week after all three teams of journalists contesting the Brains of Bermuda quiz competition reached the last 16.

If that wasn't enough, all but one of the nine members of the teams work for The Royal Gazette Ltd, which publishes this newspaper, The Mid-Ocean News and magazines. Even the odd man out, Sean Dill, worked for the company until very recently.