A Motive Without Reward?
In the long and often sensationalised history of the Babbacombe Murder, few assumptions have lingered as stubbornly as the belief that Emma Keyse was killed for money. But the Emma Keyse will and probate reveal a very different story.
But as this section reveals, the truth behind Miss Keyse’s estate tells a very different story.
Far from leaving behind riches, Emma Keyse died nearly penniless. Her modest will, proved in Exeter just months after the murder, shows an estate encumbered with debts, small legacies, and loyal but underfunded intentions. Even her home — a gift from her mother — failed to yield the financial windfall that public imagination had presumed.
The records that follow dismantle any lingering fantasy of a lucrative motive. They reveal instead a woman of declining means, whose final wishes centred on duty to family and service — not luxury or inheritance. By exploring Emma Keyse’s will and probate, we not only clarify an important aspect of the case but also humanise a victim too often reduced to a footnote in her own tragedy.
This is the story of what was truly left behind — and why the crime that took her life may never have been about money at all.
Was the Motive Really Money?
If the motive behind the killing of Emma Keyse was financial gain, the perpetrator was sadly misinformed. Far from being wealthy, Miss Keyse was, in fact, close to insolvency at the time of her death.
On 1 April 1885, newspapers reported that probate had officially been granted for the will of the late Miss Emma Keyse. The document, written entirely in her own hand on 16 December 1875, was proved at the Exeter Registry by her sister, Amelia Hamilton Edwards. It named as executors several trusted individuals, including her nephew, George Maxwell.
In the will, Emma requested that her home, The Glen, be sold if not already disposed of before her death. The proceeds—£1,000—were to be invested to benefit her faithful servants: William Discombe, and Eliza and Jane Neck. Additional legacies were allocated to her sisters, nephews, nieces, and the residue to Mrs. Edwards.
Yet, when the estate was wound up, the gross value was just £1,079 6s 6d. After deducting debts of £964, and covering funeral expenses, a meagre balance of £31 18s 4d remained. There was some leasehold property, but no real estate of note.
By mid-April, Miss Keyse’s furniture and personal effects were being sold off to cover her liabilities. Auctioneer Mr. G. Richardson oversaw the well-attended sale, which drew spirited bids from the public.
A final notice from solicitor Mr. William Burd requested that all creditors submit their claims before 8 May 1885, warning that the estate would soon be distributed and that the executrix would no longer be liable beyond known claims.
View the Emma Keyse Will and Probate Records
You can view both the will of Elizabeth Whitehead (Emma’s mother) and Emma Keyse’s will and probate record in PDF format by clicking the respective images below.
I had the will of Miss Keyse electronically transcribed on the 7th July 2025
ON the eleventh day of March 1885,
the Will of Emma Ann Whitehead Keyse,
late of Babbacombe in the County of Devon, Spinster,
deceased, who died on the fifteenth day of November 1884,
at The Glen in Babbacombe aforesaid,
was proved in Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division thereof at Exeter
by the Oath of
Amelia Hamilton Edwards (wife of The Reverend Joseph Edwards, Clerk of Croft Rectory, near Leominster in the County of Hereford), sister of the deceased, one of the Executors named in the said Will,
she having been first sworn duly to administer.
Power being reserved of granting Probate of the said Will to George Maxwell, nephew of the deceased, one other of the Executors. Arthur Oakes Wilkinson, the other Executor named in the said Will, having duly renounced the Probate and execution thereof.
Further Grant issued July 1885.
Gross Personal Estate: £1079.6.6
Net: £31.18.4
(in Leaseholds)
Extracted by: Wm. Burd, Solr. Okehampton.
The Will (Page 2)
This is the last Will and Testament of me, Emma Ann Whitehead Keyse, of Babbacombe in the parish of Saint Mary Church, Devon.
If the property bequeathed to me by my late dear mother at Babbacombe be not sold, I desire that my executrix and executors shall take steps to dispose of it to the best reasonable advantage.
When sold, after my just debts are paid, I give and bequeath to my executrix and executors or those executors or administrators the sum of One thousand pounds, to be invested to the best advantage in good Government security, the interest to be paid quarterly and equally between my late mother’s faithful servants Eliza Neck, Jane Neck, and William Dudenabe as long as they live — the survivors to survive to enjoy the whole for life. On the decease of all three, to the use of my sister Charlotte Baldry if living, or her children, or my sister Charlotte Baldry’s further bequest according to my late Mother’s wishes — the sum of One thousand pounds if living, free from the control of her husband; if not living, to her children equally.
To my dear sister Mary Maclean, I give and bequeath the china tea kettle enamelled in copper, the enamelled bowl and jug, the very large Oriental fan on stand, I have the plate in black chest marked with her father’s crest, her father’s drawing books. I also direct she shall have the power to select anything she may like from my personal things as my gift and remembrance.
Also to her the Bible and Book of Shepherds.
To my sister Harriett Eliza Maxwell I bequeath the marble table, alabaster clock, the telescope in the hall which belonged to her father. I give to her daughter Mary Fenn my piano.
The remainder of the money I direct to be divided into three equal parts:
-
First paying a legacy of fifty pounds to my brother John Eardis Keyse (if living) and to my nephew George Maxwell a legacy of ten pounds.
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The remainder of the money to be divided into three equal portions between my sisters Harriett Eliza Maxwell, Amelia Hamilton Edwards, and Harriett Emily Keyse, the lawful (next of kin) of my brother Charles Keyse, for their sole and separate use free from the control of debts or incumbrances of their husbands.
If my sister Harriett Eliza Maxwell is not living, her portion to be divided between her daughters married and unmarried. Should my sister Amelia Hamilton Edwards not be alive, her portion to be divided between her two youngest daughters Ellen Edwards and Amelia Hall Edwards. Should Harriett Emily Keyse not be living, her portion to go to her only child and daughter Kathleen Montgomery Campbell, for her sole use free from the control of debts or incumbrances of her husband.
And as to the rest and residue of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever…
End of Will and Executors (Page 3)
…I give and bequeath the same all to my sister Amelia Hamilton Edwards, appointing her residuary legatee, should she not be living, to my sister Harriett Eliza Maxwell, leaving her residuary legatee.
And I hereby appoint my sister Amelia Hamilton Edwards, my nephew George Maxwell, and Arthur Oakes Wilkinson, the survivors or survivor of them, Executors of this my Will.
As witness my hand this sixteenth day of December 1875.
(Signed) Emma Ann Whitehead Keyse
Witnesses:
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Sophia Blossom, Widow, Babbacombe
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Emily Grace Houghton, Spinster, Babbacombe
Proved at Exeter the eleventh day of March 1885 by the Oath of Amelia Hamilton Edwards (wife of The Reverend Joseph Edwards, Clerk), the sister, one of the Executors to whom Administration was granted. Power being reserved of making the like Grant to George Maxwell, the Nephew, one other of the Executors. Arthur Oakes Wilkinson, the other Executor named in the Will, having duly renounced the Probate and execution thereof.
Letters of Administration (Page 4)
ON the eighteenth day of July 1885,
Letters of Administration with the Will annexed of the personal Estate and Effects of
Emma Ann Whitehead Keyse,
late of Babbacombe in the County of Devon, Spinster,
deceased, who died on the fifteenth day of November 1884 at The Glen in Babbacombe aforesaid,
were granted by Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division thereof at Exeter,
to Edmund Pearse Burd of Hampton Road, Teddington in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, the lawful Attorney of George Maxwell now residing at Kilbernie near the City of Wellington in the Colony of New Zealand, Nephew of the deceased, one of the Executors named in the said Will,
for his use and benefit and until he shall duly apply for and obtain Probate of the said Will to be granted to him,
he the said Edmund Pearse Burd having been first sworn duly to administer.
Former Grant: District Registry at Exeter, 11th March 1885.
Sureties:
-
William Burd, Solicitor
-
George Vanhouse Burd, Surgeon
(both of Okehampton in the County of Devon)
Gross Personal Estate: £1079.6.6
Net: £31.18.4
Extracted by: Wm. Burd, Solicitor, Okehampton