“Stella Kenney”

Description

Stella Kenney is murdered on her way home after spending ten months with her uncle Rob Frazier. Frazier, married and with three children, is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder

Supplemental text

Stella Kenney [Laws F37]
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Jean Thomas, Ballad Makin', pp. 151-153.

It was on one dark and stormy night,
On the second day of May;
Stell Kenny she was murdered,
For home she was on her way.

With her Uncle Rob Frazier,
Where she had been to stay;
She'd spent ten long months with him
Before her fatal day.

(12 additional stanzas)

Historical references

• 1917 (?) - Murder of Stella Kenney. She was pregnant; presumably her uncle was the father

References

1. Laws F37, "Stella Kenney"
2. Thomas-Makin', pp. 151-153, (no title; Thomas's informant called the girl "Stell" or "Stellie," not "Stella") (1 text)
3. ST LF37 (Partial)
4. Roud #2273
5. BI, LF37