John Lee Trivia Quiz

Answer: Babbacombe

Babbacombe is an area of the town and resort of Torquay in Devon. The middle name "Babbacombe" was not part of his real name. It is thought that it was given to him by the press to distinguish him from others of the same name. He has been known by all three names ever since although his full name was John Henry George Lee.

Answer: Emma Anne Whitehead Keyes

John "Babbacombe" Lee was convicted of the murder of Miss Emma Anne Whitehead Keyes. John was a footman in her house in Babbacombe. He apparently "lived in" and slept in the pantry.

Answer: The Glen

Miss Emma Anne Whitehead Keyes lived at The Glen. She was unmarried but lived with her servants, one of whom was footman John Lee. It is of note that investigation concluded that the house had not been broken into on the night of the murder.

Answer: Her throat was cut

Miss Emma Anne Whithead Keyes had her throat slashed. She also had the side of her head smashed and an attempt had been made to burn the body. The house was very badly damaged by fire. Oddly, for a murder suspect, it was John Lee himself who raised the alarm.

Answer: 20

John "Babbacombe" Lee was born is 1864 making him 20 years of age at the time of the murder. By that age he had already been in the Navy but had been invalidated out.

Answer: His defence lawyer

Reginald Gwynne Templer was John "Babbacombe Lee's" defence lawyer. Evidence gathered since the murder and examined over many years including witness statements point to John Lee having known who the actual murderer was and covering for him. Templer had a link to a cook in the house whom he had made pregnant, but this and other evidence did not reach court. Templar died insane in 1886 shortly after the murder. On his deathbed he made rantings about the murder that caused further doubt to be cast on the original verdict.

Answer: False

John "Babbacombe" Lee had been sentenced to a period of hard labour following a conviction for theft from his employer, Colonel the Hon. Edward Brownlow in Torquay. He had tried to sell the goods in Torquay but suspicions were raised and he was arrested. This was the year prior to the murder for which he became famous.

Answer: 3

John "Babbacombe" Lee was hanged three times. Each time the gallows failed even though they had been thoroughly tested each time. The Home Secretary at the time decided that he had suffered enough by the ordeal and sentenced him to prison where he should never be released. However, following many petitions he was released in 1907 on licence after serving 22 years.

Answer: Portland

John "Babbacombe" Lee was imprisoned in Portland jail from 1892 until his release in 1907 under licence. He had previously been imprisoned in Portsmouth as part of the same sentence and in Exeter prison for a crime prior to the murder that made him famous.

Answer: Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention produced the album "Babbacombe Lee" in 1971. Dave Swarbrick, violinist and vocals with the band, found the story in some old papers and decided to put it to music.