Source of my bounty

[nightscrawl]

Is there a way to figure out how I got a bounty? By chance when looking at the stats tab, I discovered I had a 1000g bounty in Winterhold and have no idea where it came from. Later on, after arriving at Winterhold, the guards confronted me and I paid it. I'm not worried about that part of it. I'd just really like to know where it came from. I don't do criminal activities (except stealing very rarely for certain quests). On the Wiki, I saw that murder nets a 1000g fine, but I don't recall murdering anyone*... but I've been playing this game for over 100 hours now, so I can't remember everything I've done.

 

The guards mentioned stolen items, but I hadn't stolen anything from Winterhold residents. The only thing that even comes close is my stealing the rings from the evidence locker for that midden quest, but apparently that counts for the College, not Winterhold.

 

 

* The only person I've outright murdered is Grelod the Kind, but I've also read that there are no penalties for this (but that was in Riften, anyway...)

[saurusmaximus]

The most common way this happens is if you get into a fight, some 'friendly' NPC's jump in to help, and you accidentally 'friendly fire' them. As far as figuring out it happened, it's pretty much impossible at this point.

[nightscrawl]

The most common way this happens is if you get into a fight, some 'friendly' NPC's jump in to help, and you accidentally 'friendly fire' them. As far as figuring out it happened, it's pretty much impossible at this point.

 

Thanks for the response!

[Kapteyn]

Friendly-fire would be an assault and you'd have to hit 25 people get that much bounty. No, one thousand gold is for actually killing somebody. I wouldn't at all be surprised if you bump into some assassins in due course.