“Maria Marten; or The Murder in the Red Barn” by John Latimer is the basis for this adaptation. Again, I have updated the action, edited the text and added new scenes. I have also used contemporary sources – i.e. Corder’s actual confession and the Judge’s summing up. We must not forget that this was a true-life crime, albeit sensationally adapted for the stage.

Characters (In Order of Appearance)

Radka A Mysterious Old Gypsy Woman

William Corder The Squire’s Son

Maria MartenA Village Lass

Mark A Gypsy

Amos His Brother

Thomas Marten An Honest Rustic

Ann Marten His Wife

Nancy Maria’s Sister

Tim Bobbin Nancy’s Intended

Pharos Lee A Police Officer

Chorus of Villagers, Gypsies & C.
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The Action Passes in Suffolk and London

In the Latter Half of the Nineteenth Century
Act One

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Scene 1: The Village of Gallows Hill

Scene 2: The Forest

Scene 3: A Cottage on Corder’s Estate

Scene 4: The Forest

Scene 5: Corder’s Farm

Scene 6: Outside the Old Red Barn

Act Two

Scene 1: Outside the Old Red Barn, Later That Same Evening

Scene 2 The Old Red Barn

Scene 3: Marten’s Cottage

Scene 4: The Old Red Barn

Scene 5: Corder’s House in London

Scene 6: The Condemned Cell & Gallows

Back to Top The Haunting of William Corder!

Or; “Blood For Blood”
A Ghost Story
In this Scene, Corder having seduced Maria Marten, hatches another dreadful plan…

Radka enters, leading a mysterious “Dance of Death” with Corder, Maria and the gypsy woman. Corder and Maria kiss and fall to the floor in a passionate embrace. Corder suddenly stands up and appears to be in some sort of trance. The gypsy woman leads Maria off, leaving Corder to dance on his own. He stops and stares straight ahead. Radka smiles.

Radka My plan succeeds beyond all hope. Maria Marten has fallen Corder’s next victim. And a child, the offspring of her shame, is secretly born. The child is now ill, I hear. And Master Corder already wearies of his toy. This night he comes to our encampment to purchase a deadly poison… One known only to our tribe. I have my thoughts… By appointment I meet him in this forest. Oh, I shall watch him like a lynx. The stars tell me the hour of retribution is at hand!

Chord

Corder snaps out of his trance and is momentarily disoriented. He sees Radka.

Corder You have the drug of which we spoke?

Radka The poison? Yes.

Corder Can you answer for its effect?

Radka Aye. I have seen it used on animals… And men.

Corder (Aside) She suspects my purpose.

Radka Use it how ye like. It little matters to me. Pay me well and it is yours.

Corder My tenant’s complain that my dog has been destroying their flocks. ‘Tis my favourite dog and I want its death to be sharp and sudden. No pain and little misery. I would not have it suffer.

Radka They say one drop can kill twenty men. Its effect be as swift and as sudden as the very lightning. It leaves no trace of its deadly work and has oft’ defied the most learned doctor’s skill.

She hands him a small phial. He pays her.

Corder Here’s yer gold. Let our paths from this moment be divided. Henceforth we are strangers. Forget ye ever saw my face.

Radka Be it so. Farewell, most kind and generous sir. Farewell. (Aside) Now will I watch his every action! I’ll watch… I’ll watch!

She exits.

Music

Corder The poison I must use this night. (Takes out a letter) Maria writes her bastard brat is ill and says I must provide a doctor. Were the child proven to be mine, I would face ruin. My father, ever honourable and virtuous, would drive me from his home and cut me from his will! Nay… The child shall die this night! And Maria will be my unwitting accomplice. I shall bury it here, in the forest. (Begins to have doubts) Think, William, think! Maria may yet have scruples and uncover my deadly plot. She may well reveal all that I would not have known… If so, my second victim will be Maria Marten!

He throws the letter to the ground and exits. Radka re-enters with Mark and Amos. She picks up the letter and reads it.

Radka ‘Tis as I suspected. He takes the path towards the cottage in which Maria hides her secret shame. Now is my vengeance about to triumph. Beloved Zella, guide thy mother’s hand!

She gazes heavenwards.

Radka Oh, spirit of my heartbroken Zella! Look down from thy home among the stars! Steel thy mother’s heart to make Corder’s scaffold thy monument!
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© Copyright Alistair John Ferguson 2005. No Part of this work to be reproduced without written permission. All Rights Reserved.