Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Monday 05 October 1885
THE BABBACOMBE MURDER.
LETTER FROM THE CONVICT LEE.
It has been rumoured in Newton Abbot and the neighbourhood during the past two or three weeks that John Lee, who, it will be remembered, was sentenced to penal servitude for life after an ineffectual attempt was made to hang him, had been placed in solitary confinement and in irons for having assaulted a warder so dangerously that his life was despaired of. The following letter, received from Lee by his parents, will show that the rumour was false, and also that Lee still asserts his innocence:—
“H.M. Convict Prison, Wormwood Scrubs, September 21st, 1885.
My dear parents,—I am now at liberty to send you a few lines to let you know how I am getting on. I am very glad to tell you that I am in good spirits, and that I am quite happy and trusting in the Lord. I hope this will find you in good health.” Lee then refers to some acts of kindness that had been shown to him during his trial, for which he expressed great thankfulness. Proceeding, he says, “I was wrongly punished. I never did the murder, nor had anything to do with it, but I should think that now the Lord has saved me from the gallows that He will bring the guilty persons to punishment and deliver me. Everything will take its time. I hope that you have received my clothes from Mr. Superintendent Barbor, of Torquay. We must trust in the Lord and pray to Him, and He will help us. He has helped me so far and will help me to the end. I forgive all my enemies, because I know they only wanted to make their case good; but I am sure that my step-sister, E. Harris, could get me clear if she liked, only she is afraid she will get into it herself. I will trust in the Lord, and He will bring it all to light after a while, and then the people will see I am innocent. My dear parents, I must thank you for all you have done for me. You have done everything you could. I hope you are getting on all right, and I am very glad to hear that you are trusting in the Lord; it is the best thing we can do. You must not put yourself to any trouble about me, because I am very happy, and in good health, and with a clear conscience. This is a new prison which I am at now, and I think it is a nice healthy place—I feel much better than I used to. When I came up by train we had more than half-an-hour’s drive through the streets before we got to Pentonville Prison, and another ride to this one. I think London is a much better place than I thought it was. I am going on all right, doing the best I can, and I have not been reported yet for bad conduct, and I hope I shall not.”
Lee then sends his love to his various friends, and concludes, “From your affectionate son,
JOHN LEE.“