Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-19
A STARTLING MURDER.
Rejecting Her Wallets Love and then
Killed and Robbed by Him.

LONDON, Nov. 15.-Torquay, the fash
ionable winter watering place on the
south coast Of England, is at present
stirred by a sensation of a most CHASTITY
character. Nearly adjoining Torquav is
the smart fishing village of BabbicOmbe.
Conspicuous for many years among the
residents Of BabbicOmbe has been Miss
Key, an aristocratic, wealthy and hand
some unmarried woman of middle ace.
The lady resided in a palatial villa and
was regarded by the families of the fisher
men as an angel because of her chari-
ties, and her accomplishments and en-
tertalnments were the envy OF most of
the fashionable visitors to TOrquay. Some
time ago Miss Key took into her personal
service as a valet a young man named
John Lee. He had come down from Lon
don, and bore such strong testimonials as
10 worth and character from personal
friends OF the hey family that he found
little dlfnculty in entering the service of
the lady. In fact, the handsome youth
GepoTted himself with such tact and in
telligence that he soon proved himself an
invaluable protector to his patron from
tue lntOlerable impertinences of fortune
hunters. His duties finally resolved
themselves into those of an escort. and
he waited upon his patron wherever she
went.
Last night the people of Babbicombe
were startled by the discovery of flames
issuing from the mansion in which Miss
Key resided. The fire had evidently been
burning for some time. as the flames broke
simultaneously through windows in the
different walls. The alarm was spread
quickly and effectively. The villagers
went to the scene in body, and the coast
guard and local police soon got control of
the fire from without. They found that
the mansion had been secuerly closed, and
that the windows and doors had all been
securely fastened. An entrance was forced
and the IRE eXtinguished. Miss Key was
found lying on the pariOr floor dead. Her
person was nude, and the body was partly
charred. An investigation revealed the
facts that her throat had been cut
and her skull fractured. There were evil
dences that the lady had been dragged
down stairs before she was killed, and
that preceding all this, and after terri
ble struggle in her private apartments,
she had been outraged. All the ieweIry
and portable valuable property belonging g
TO the lady were missing, and not shil-
ling of money was left in the house. The
murder was at once set down to jealousy,
and the robbery was set down as a ruse
to misdirect suspicion. No trace of John
Lee could be found, and it was feared
that he too had been murdered. The
country was at once secured by the police
and the fishermen, who eagerly Joined in
the chase for the criminals.
After an all night search, John Lee was
found this morning concealed in a stable
not far from the scene of the murder, A
large sum Of money and much of the mis-
sing JeWelry were found upon his person.
de was at once arrested and charged with
the crime. He confessed his guilt and
NrnNN es.Nr Il = h. -
an eX-cOnvict, and had obtained employ
ment in the service Of Miss Lee by means
Of forged letters. He SAID he had fallen
in love with the lady, and, having no
means TO secure an acquaintance with
her, resOrted to this deceit for the pur-
pose. After he had been in her EMPLOY
for a time, and bad secured kindly re-
cOgnitiOn I'm his capacity of valet, his ar
dor getting the better of his Judgment, he
mistOOk the lady's favor for more than it
meant, ana made an avOwal of love. Miss
Key was Mortified and attempted to cor
rect his folly by showing him that hls
suit was both hopeless and absurd. He
persisted, and Miss Key finally ordered
him out of her service and accused him of
being a mercenary adventurer, On the
evening of the murder he forced another
interview upon his mistress, and when
she again treated his Overtures with con-
tempt he became enraged and attacked
her. His passions once aroused, he lost
all control Of his moral senses, re said,
and after the assault he struck her sense
less so that she could not interfere with
his escape. When he saw that the blow
was apparently fatal, he resolved TO rob
the house and flee. After he had gathered
up his plumber, be noticed signs of con-
sciOusness in his victim, and then being
desperate, broke in her skull and cut her
throat If then occurred him dra ~
the body down stairs, close the doors and
windows, AMI fire the house in the hope
Of burying the crimes in mystery. He
believed that If he could have got out of
the country, the crime would never have
been attributed to him. The prisoner is
under special guard, threats of mob viO-
lence having been made against him,