Did Richard really do it?
Nothing in the lyrics kinda suggested it. He was a traveling companion. He probably would've had more opportunities to kill her, if it was him.
By the time Mary undid the latch of her front door, Richard already left, stating in the lyrics:
"Slade tipped his hat and winked his eye
And turned away without goodbye"
After that, "Mary sat on her bed thinking of home".
Then she undid the latch.
But Richard was already gone, it doesn't make any sense if he would've come back to see if it happened to be the case that Mary undid the latch of her door.
Tragic song, tragic end nonetheless. But was it really Richard?
Did Richard really do it? Nothing in the lyrics kinda suggested it. He was a traveling companion. He probably would've had more opportunities to kill her, if it was him.
By the time Mary undid the latch of her front door, Richard already left, stating in the lyrics: "Slade tipped his hat and winked his eye And turned away without goodbye"
After that, "Mary sat on her bed thinking of home". Then she undid the latch.
But Richard was already gone, it doesn't make any sense if he would've come back to see if it happened to be the case that Mary undid the latch of her door.
Tragic song, tragic end nonetheless. But was it really Richard?