The song, Llofruddiaeth Hannah Davies, tells the story of the gruesome murder of young Hannah Davies at the hands of her lover, Dafydd Evans on Pencarreg Mountain.
The story is still well-known locally, particularly as it was dramatised as part of the Dihirod Dyfed series by Bethan Phillips.
Hannah was murdered on Saturday evening 13 June, and according to reports, “…deuwyd o hyd i gorff briwedig y ferch anffodus ar Fynydd Pencarreg gan rai pobl ar eu ffordd i le o addoliad y bore canlynol, mewn afonig fechan, dyfroedd yr hon oeddynt wedi eu lliwio gan ei gwaed am tua dwy filltir.” (…the unfortunate girl’s injured body was found on Pencarreg Mountain by people on their way to a place of worship the following morning, in a small stream, the water of which was stained by her blood for about two miles.”)
A very gruesome description of a truly awful event. Turning to the pages of the Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser on 25 September, we read about his execution, which did not quite go to plan the first time…, cawn hanes ei ddienyddiad.
“On Monday the extreme penalty of the law was carried into effect on David Evans, for the wilful murder of Hannah Davies, on the drop in the County Gaol, in the presence of at least 10,000 spectators.”
However, something happened, “… and the drop fell; but by one of those accidents which the utmost foresight cannot always prevent, the apparatus for his suspension gave way, and the shock the harrowed feelings of the assembled thousands received at this untoward event, was evidenced in a groan “not loud but deep.” He fell on the platform, but did not receive any material hurt. The scene at this moment was of a painfully distressing character.”
Dafydd Evans thought he’s been saved, and that he had survived the famous ‘drop’, and according to the paper, “he exclaimed in broken English, “No hang again! No! no! no! Gentlemen, was no hang twice for same thing,” before pleading in Welsh that he should not be ‘punished’ twice for the same crime.
But all this was to no avail, and he was not to be spared. Dafydd Evans was to hang that day in Carmarthen. The report states, “He resisted the re-execution of the sentence, until he saw that force would be resorted to, when he again ascended the drop, and was launched into eternity without a struggle. After remaining suspended for an hour, he was cut down, and after being dissected was placed in a coffin. He was left open to public inspection, and thousands availed themselves of the permission given to view the mortal remains of this ill-fated young man.”
What a story, and a story that came alive and was immortalised in the song, Llofruddiaeth Hannah Daves, performed here by Gwilym Bowen Rhys.