Folkestone Murder, The
The Folkestone Murder
The song tells of an actual murder, of sisters Caroline (19) and Maria Back (17), by Dedia Bedanies, a private in the British Swiss Legion based at Shorncliffe Barracks near Folkestone. Bedanies tried for murder and hanged at Maidstone gaol, January 1857.
Sung by both George Spicer and his son Ron. George learned this from his father-in-law, Sydney Appleton, of Lydden, Kent.
Charlie Bridger from Stone-in-Oxney also had a full version, with very similar tune and words. Truncated versions have been recorded from a number of Southern English Traveller singers, for example Charlie Scamp.