Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Ella Speed (Bill Martin and Ella Speed) [Laws I6]

DESCRIPTION: Ella Speed goes out to "have a li'l fun." Her man, Bill Martin, finds out and shoots her because she has been unfaithful to him. He is sentenced to (hanging/life imprisonment).
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Sandburg)
KEYWORDS: murder punishment death trial
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Laws I6, "Ella Speed (Bill Martin and Ella Speed)"
Sandburg, pp. 28-29, "Alice B." (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 117-118, "Bill Martin and Ella Speed" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen-AFS1, pp. 348-349, "Ella Speed" (1 text)
DT 658, ELLASPED*
Roud #4175
RECORDINGS:
Huddie Ledbetter [Lead Belly], "Ella Speed" (AFS 120 B5, 1933)
File: LI06

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2012 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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