Well Bouzouki, I can't help you with THAT song...other to say that it's a satirical take on a very common theme in folk music. The song "A very Unfortunate Man" is one of the variants.

But.....coincidentally (although it won't be much help) my mother, Dorothy, was good friends with Ragtime Bob Darch. Although she was primarily a "straight" musician, she loved Ragtime, and could play it reasonably well. Hopefully someone here can up with the answer.

Rick