"I think the English versions have that spooky quality which is missing in the American versions"

I have to disagree (surprise!): American versions are often quite 'spooky' with Willie the murderer going mad, tortured by guilt, dying and going straight to Hell, etc.

"Went on a piece further and felt it not right
Went raving, distracted and died the same night" - Addie Graham

In general, American versions 'show' more than they tell, and the sparseness and compression intensifies the emotional impact of the ballad.