There are many contemporary accounts of the arrest and trial of William Corder. The best - and most informative - was written by a journalist, James Curtis. His book The Mysterious Murder of Maria Marten  was published shortly after the end of the trial to cash in on the public interest. During the summer of 1828 Curtis spent a fortnight in and around Polstead researching the story. He talked to anyone who could tell him anything about the story and the people involved. Curtis also reported the trial for The Times newspaper, which published detailed accounts of the proceedings. For the less well-off, the story was printed on broadsheets which sold for a penny.