We understand that John Lee who was condemned to death for the murder of Miss Keyse at Babbacombe, has been released, being brought from Portland to his mother’s borne in Devonshire on Wednesday afternoon.
Lee who protested his innocence, was sentenced to death at the Devon Assizes in 1885 and after three abortive attempts were made to hang him on February 23 the sentence was commuted to one of penal servitude for life.
On inquiry at the Home Office a press representative was informed that no official news of the release of Lee had been received, but that Mr. Gladstone had given instructions that it should take place before Christmas.
Lee’s mother resides at Abbot’s Kerswell, near Newton Abbot, and it was reported there that Lee had arrived in a cab a few hours previously.
A number of pressmen visited the house, but the door was not opened. In response to knocks a female voice replied:
“It’s all right, but I can’t see you.”
BNA copywrite – Chard and Ilminster News – Saturday 21 December 1907
