A girl goes missing, but her stepmother’s fearful dream points to the whereabouts of her murdered body. The case became notorious and was the subject of songs and plays and, in 1936, a film.
“On Monday evening a constable from Suffolk, of the name of Ayres, made an application at Lambeth-street police-office, stating that a strong suspicion was entertained that a most diabolical murder had been committed in Suffolk, by a person named William Corder. An inquest had been held that day on the body of the unhappy victim, which stands adjourned to Friday. In consequence of this communication, James Lee, an officer of this establishment, in company with Ayres, apprehended Corder; and a few minutes before the office closed on Tuesday evening, he was brought in custody before Matthew Wyatt, Esq. the sitting magistrate. From the statement, on oath, of the constable Ayres, it appeared that the murdered woman, whose name was Maria Martin*, aged 26, was decoyed, in male attire, on the 18th of last May, from the house of her parents at Polstead, in Suffolk, by the prisoner, who desired her to meet him at his red barn, when he promised her that they should go to Ipswich, and be married by licence. The unsuspecting girl (who was pregnant by the prisoner) accordingly attended at the time and place appointed. From that day to this, the girl has not been heard of. Since that time, however, many letters have been received by the parents of the unfortunate girl from the prisoner, in which he uniformly stated that he and their child were living most happily together in married state; and in the last letter he wrote, he stated that he should soon return and resume the occupation of his farm. He feigned many excuses for the silence of the deceased, from time to time. The mother of the girl, however, became alarmed, and the subject preyed so much on her mind, that she dreamed that her daughter was murdered, and her body buried under the floor of the barn by the prisoner, where he had appointed to meet her on the 18th of May. The corn which was in the barn having been recently thrashed, the mother requested that the floor might be taken up, which was accordingly done, when to her horror, she discovered the remains of a sack, in which was the mangled body of Maria Martin! The body was, of course, in a state of decomposition, but it was identified by one of the teeth in the jaw being out, which was her case. She was also dressed in the same male attire she wore on the fatal night. The prisoner was apprehended at Ealing, in Middlesex, and is reported to be married. At his house were found a passport for France, dated the 17th of December last, and a brace of pistols, which were bought at Ipswich. He said nothing, and was sent in the custody of the constable to Suffolk.”
The Stamford Mercury, 25th April, 1828.
*Her surname was really Marten.