“Edward Hickman (Marian Parker IV)”

Description

Hickman kidnaps Marian Parker, hoping to gain a ransom. After briefly treating her well, he kills her and flees. At last captured, he is tried and sentenced to be hanged. His mother laments his fate

Notes

This is item dE49 in Laws's Appendix II. Laws lists a total of four Marian Parker ballads (the others are F33, dF56, and dF57). This, one of two by Andrew Jenkins and appearing in the Brown collection, has the opening stanza, "Oh, come all ye good people And listen while I tell The fate of Edward Hickman, A boy we all know well." - RBW

Historical references

• Dec 14, 1927 - Kidnapping and murder of twelve (eleven?)-year-old Marian Parker
• Dec 17, 1927 - Discovery by her father of the girl's mutilated body
• Oct 19, 1928 - Execution of William Edward Hickman for the murder

Cross references

• cf. "Marian Parker (I)" [Laws F33] (subject)
• cf. "Marian Parker (II)" (subject)
• cf. "Marian Parker (III)" (subject)

Recordings

• Blind Andy [pseud. for Andrew Jenkins], "The Fate of Edward Hickman" (OKeh 45197, 1928) [The flip side is also a Marian Parker ballad]
• Edd Rice, "Fate of Edward Hickman" (Vocalion 5216, c. 1928)

References

1. BrownII 257, "Edward Hickman" (1 text)
2. Roud #4106
3. BI, LdE49