The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-18
MISTRESS AND VALET.

n StOry OF GtIaStly CRIME winch Rivals
Sensational Fiction.
London Special
Torquay, the fashionable winter Watering
place on the south coast of England, is at pres
ent stirred by sensation of most CHASTITY
character. Nearly adjoining Torquay is the
smart fishing village of Babbicombe Conspcu-
GUS for many years among the residents of Bah
bicombe has been Miss Key. an arstocratc,
wealthy and handsome unmarried woman of
middle age The lady resided in palatial villa
and was regarded by the families of the fisher
men as an angel, because of her charities, and
her accomplishments and entertainments
the envy OF most Of the fashionable visitors to
Torquay
Some time ago Miss Key took into her per-
sonal service as valet a young man named
John Lee. He had come down from London.
and bore such strong testimonials as to worth
and character from personal friends of the Key
family that he found little difficulty in entering
the service of the lady. In fact, the handsome
youth deported himself with such tact and
intelligence that he soon proved himself an in
valuable protector to his patrons from the intol-
cradle imperhnenee of fortune-hunters. His
duties finally resolved themselves into those of
wherever she went This, of course started
much gossip the part of the euvious and
thwarted, and this gossip gradually became quite
exaggerated.
Last night the people of Babbieombe were
startled by the discovery of flames issuing from
the mansion in which Miss Key resided The
villagers went to the scene in a body, and the
coast guard and local police soon got control OF
the fire from without. They found that the
mansion had been securely closed and that the
windows and doors had all been securely
fastened. An entrance was forced and the fire
eXtngushed
Miss Key was found lying upon the parlor 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 evidences that the lady
had been dragged down stairs before she was
killed, and that, preceding all this, and after
terrible struggle in her private apartments, she
had been shamefully used.
All the jewelry and portable valuables belong
ing to the lady were missing The murder
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. The coun-
try was at once secured for him. After all
night search, he was found this morning con-
cealed in stable not far from the scene of the
murder. A large sum of money and much of the
missing jewelry were found upon his person. He
was at once arrested and charged with the crime.
He confessed his guilt, and fully told the story.
He admitted he was an ex-cOnvict. and had
obtained employment i'll the service of Miss Key
by means of forged letters. He said he had
fallen i'll love with the lady, and, having no
means to secure an acquaintance with her, re-
sorted to this deceit for the purpose After he
had been in her employ for time and had Sc
sured kindly recognition in his capacity of valet
his ardor getting the better of his Judgment, he
mistook the lady's favor for more than it meant
and made an avowal of love Miss Key was
Mortified, and attempted to correct his folly by
showing him that his suit was both hopeless
and absurd. He persisted, and Miss Key finally
ordered him ont OF her service, and accused him
of being mercenary adventurer.
On the evening of the murder he forced
another interview upon his mistress, and when
she again treated his overtures with contempt he
became enraged and attacked her His passions
once aroused, he lost all control of his moral
sense, he said; and after the assault he struck
her senseless so that she could nOteseape. When
he saw that the blow was apparently fatal he re-
solved to rob the house and flee
After he had gathered up his plumber he
noticed signs of consciousness in his victim and
then being desperate, broke in her skull and cut
her throat. 1t then occurred to him TO drag tho
remains down stairs, close the doors and win
dows and fire the house in the hope of burying
the CRIME in mystery. He believed that if no
could have got out of the country the crimo
would never have betn attributed TO him
The prisoner is under special guard, threats of
mob violence having been made against him.