Lyr Add: Murder of Mary Donnelly (recitation)

Subject: Murder of Mary Donnelly (recitation)
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 15 Apr 02 - 11:22 AM

Murder of Mary Donnelly

While live exists and memory god, we ever shall remember,
The cruel murder that was done on the fourteenth of December;
A man as lodger once in West Stanley used to dwell,
He stayed with Thomas Donnelly, a man that we know well.

Donnelly had a little girl, she was but ten-year-old.
When we think about her death, it makes our blood run cold.
It was on a Monday night, a cruel part to play,
This lodger left West Stanley and enticed the girl away.

This loving little creature was far too young to know,
What the man was going to do, or whare  she had to go.
She was taken to a lonely place, the murdereer had a knife,
And when he had done as he choosed, he took away her life.

At nine o'clock she had not come, the mother thought her long;
At ten o' clock the father said, there must be something wrong,
The father to the mother said, go tell Inspector Stark
And I will go in search of her although the night is dark.

Inspector Stark and Officers, along with working men,
Commenced their search that evening shortly after ten.
Close upon a week was spent, searching night and day,
By scores of willing helpers, at home and far away.

Ponds were dragged both far and near for many miles around.
And Reservoirs run dry to see if the body could be found.
Whickham, Swallwell, Rowland's Gill, likewise Gibside Wood,
Was searched by officers and men without rest or food.

On the Nineteenth of Deceomvber, the man for which they sought,
Near Barcus Close and Tanifield by officers was caught.
They took him up to Consett, and locked him in a cell,
But how his thoughts and mind was, there's no one can tell.

The searchers still continued on  they n'ere seemed to tire,
To find the body of the child was all they did desire.
The twentieth of December which was on a Sabbath Day,
Inspector Stark with volunteers from Wesst Stanley bent their way.

While searching near the Pea Farm, the mystery was revealed,
The body of the child was found in the corner of a field.
From the field the villages, the news was spread around.
That the body of the child that morning had been found.

One Good Source:Polisses & Candymen, The Complete Works of Tommy Armstrong, The Pitman Poet,  ed. Ross Forbes, TommyArmstrong Memorial Trust, 1987.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Murder of Mary Donnelly (recitation)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 May 21 - 12:28 PM

Visited her grave today

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Murder of Mary Donnelly (recitation)
From: Charmion
Date: 03 May 21 - 10:58 AM

Where did this happen, and when?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Murder of Mary Donnelly (recitation)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 21 - 11:15 AM

http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=207&termRef=Jeremiah%20OConnor

Executed: Jeremiah OConnor
Age: 52

Sex: male

Crime: murder

Date Of Execution: 23 Feb 1909

Crime Location: West Stanley, Oxhill

Execution Place: Durham

Method: hanging