Marian Parker 1 'Way out in California, a family bright and gay Were preparing for their Christmas not very far away They had a little daughter, a sweet and pretty child And everyone who knew her loved Marian Parker's smile She left her home one morning for her school not far away And no one dreamed that danger was lurking near that day But then a murdrous villain, a fiend with heart of stone Took little Marian Parker away from friends and home The world was horror-stricken, the people held their breath Until they found poor Marian, her body cold in death They hunted for the coward, young Hickman was their man They brought him back to justice, his final trial to stand The jury found him guilty, of course they could not fail He must be executed soon in San Quentin jail And while he waits his sentence, let's hope he learns to pray To make his black soul ready for the great judgement day There is a great commandment that says, "Thou shalt not kill" And those who do not head it, their cup of sorrow fill DT #731 Laws F33 From Burt, American Murder Ballads William Hickman took Marian Parker out of school in Los Angeles in 1927 with the excuse that her father was injured. He demanded ransom. collected in Idaho and New York no tune given SOF apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!