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FACTFILE
Maria Marten and William Corder,
the son of a well liked and wealthy local farmer, had been having a secret affair for sometime.
They had a child together which
later died, subsequent stories suggested Corder my have
murdered the chid, but no proof exists.
One evening in May Corder
invited Maria to the Red Barn the following evening, this
conversation was witnessed by Maria's mother.
Wednesday 16th May 1827,
Maria arrived believing the plan was that they were to run
away together to get married in Ipswich. But Corder murdered
her and buried her under the floor, he then ran to London.
While in London he wrote to
Maria's mother saying they were in London and all was well,
Maria herself could not write the letter as she had hurt her
hand.
Maria's mother had a vivid dream
in which the ghost of Maria appeared to her, telling her
that she had been murdered and put under the floor in The
Red Barn.
When Corder reappeared in the
area two weeks later the mother became suspicious an
reported her worries to police.
The floor of the barn was dug
uyp to find the decaying body of Maria.
Corder was swiftly arrested.
11th August 1828, Corder hanged in
Bury St Edmunds in front of a huge crowd.
After the execution the body was
taken to a local hall for the public to view. Scavengers and
relic hunters tore the body apart, item including bits of
his skull are still in The Moyse Hall Museum in Bury St
Edmunds.
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