“Prince Edward Island Murder”

Description

William Millman was "his mother's hope and joy" He "led [Mary Tuplin] astray," then murders her and sinks her body in the river with a heavy stone. The body is discovered and Millman executed on the gallows.

Supplemental text

Prince Edward Island Murder
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Helen Creighton, Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia, #140, pp. 306-308.
"Sung by Mr. Ben Henneberry, Devil's Island."

Good people, all attention pay to what I do relate,
Of this most awful tragedy in Charlottetown of late.
The murderer of whom I write a few years beyond a boy,
William Millman was his name, his mother's hope and joy.

(12 additional stanzas)

Notes

This song is item dF59 in Laws's Appendix II.

Roud has at least five different numbers for this event:

Roud #1837: Creighton-NovaScotia 140, "Prince Edward Island Murder" [Laws dF59]

Roud #4129: Doerflinger, pp. 285-286, "The Millman Song" (also Ives-DullCare, pp. 180-181, "The Millman Murder Trial") [LawsdF60]

Roud #9179: Ives-DullCare, pp. 46-47, "The Millman and Tuplin Song" (also Manny/Wilson 50, "Young Millman")

Roud #9552: Shea, pp. 174-179, "The Millman Tragedy"

Roud #12463: Dibblee/Dibblee pp. 72-73, "The Murder of Mary Tuplin" - BS

Historical references

• Jun 28, 1887 - Murder of Mary Tuplin by William Millman
• 1888 - Execution of Millman

Cross references

• cf. "The Millman Song" (subject)
• cf. "The Murder of Mary Tuplin" (subject)
• cf. "The Millman and Tuplin Song" (subject)

References

1. Creighton-NovaScotia 140, "Prince Edward Island Murder" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST CrNS140 (Partial)
3. Roud #1837
4. BI, CrNS140