Ewing Brooks (Maxwell's Doom) [Laws E12]

DESCRIPTION: The singer, Ewing Brooks, departs England and assumes the name [Walter] Maxwell in America. He murders a man out of petty jealousy, then flees west, ending in New Zealand. Extradited to the U.S., he is condemned to die despite his family's plea
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1930 (Randolph)
KEYWORDS: exile homicide execution
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1885 - Hugh M. Brooks, who used the name Walter Lennox Maxwell, murders Charles Arthur Preller
Aug 10, 1888 - Execution of Brooks (apprehended after fleeing to New Zealand)
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Laws E12, "Ewing Brooks (Maxwell's Doom)"
Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety, pp. 413-415, "Maxwell's Doom" (2 texts)
Randolph 156, "Ewing Brooks" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen-OzarkFolksongs-Abridged, pp. 148-151, "Ewing Brooks" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 156)
Cohen-AmericanFolkSongsARegionalEncyclopedia1, p. 374, "Maxwell's DOom" (1 text)
DT 690, EWNGBROK
Roud #890
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Charles Guiteau" [Laws E11] (tune & meter) and references there
File: LE12

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