'The man they couldn't hang'

John Babbacombe

Lee

Photograph of John Babbacombe Lee published in the Daily Mirror, 3 January 1908. Reproduced by kind permission of Mirrorpix.Marriage notice of John Lee. Published in the Western Chronicle, 29 January 1909. Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).This map from 1880 shows the Glen, the house where the murder took place. You can also see the Cary Arms next door. The Glen burnt down so isn't there anymore. The Cary Arms is where people went to get help when they discovered the fire and the murder. (Know Your Place: http://www.kypwest.org.uk/)

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Who were they?

Do you like scary stories? This one is a bit gruesome - John Lee was found guilty of murder and sentenced to die. The prison tried to execute him three different times, but it didn't work, so in the end they said he could live.

What did they do?

Have you ever seen a film or TV show where people have servants who work in their home? John Lee was a servant, and the lady he worked for was murdered. He was found guilty of the murder, although for his whole life he insisted that he didn't do it. He was sentenced to death (something we don't do in the UK anymore). Even though they tried 3 different times something went wrong each time, so in the end they said he could live. He spent 20 years in prison before he was released.

When they lived

Do you know what year the Second World War ended? Even though he was convicted and sentenced to death in 1885, John Lee actually lived until 1945.

Interesting fact

Have you ever wanted to live in another country? Although John Lee did live in Babbacombe after he was released from prison, in the end he moved to America.

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Photograph of John Babbacombe Lee published in the Daily Mirror, 3 January 1908. Reproduced by kind permission of Mirrorpix.Marriage notice of John Lee. Published in the Western Chronicle, 29 January 1909. Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved. With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).This map from 1880 shows the Glen, the house where the murder took place. You can also see the Cary Arms next door. The Glen burnt down so isn't there anymore. The Cary Arms is where people went to get help when they discovered the fire and the murder. (Know Your Place: http://www.kypwest.org.uk/)

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