Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1884-12-05 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

THE BABOACOMBE TRAGEDY.  IMPORTANT EVIDENCE.  The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Mime Keyes was rammed at the St. Mary Church Teen Hall on Friday morning. Polioe-Sergeant Nott first made some important additions to his former evidence. He said that on Saturday he was searching in Miss Keyes's bedroom for the mining diamond ring which bad not been found, when he discovered an ottoman partly burnt, a lot of burnt Paper, and just underneath an ignited match, similar to the matches taken from prisoner when arrested. This is a freeh addition to the many facts aiding to show the house was intentionally set on firs. He produced the serest taken from the hall where the murder was oommitted. It had been burnt, was saturated with Mood, and smelt of mineral oil. Teere were also marks of blood under the carpet loading to the dining-room in which the body was found so fearfully mutilated. tieder the stairs were places of paper is which • blood-•tadued knife had evidently been wiped. The instrument had clearly also earth upon it. There was in the same Root some candle grease. The plies of board containing it wee produced hevitrebeeen more mit by the witness. Thia was all within t feet of the lam pool of blood. On the leaf of the iffonniare were spots of blood, and on the top shelf inside were bloody finger marks. On Thursday evoking, about seven o'clock, he made an experiment He entered the pantry where the foonsed slept. Another wettable set fire to paper in the hall and dining-room, the doors being open as they were usually kept. He found there was a great glare thrown into the pantry, lied very quickly there was • suffooatise smoke there. Witness mentioned this to show that in his opinion it would be impossible for a person to be 4sep in the pantry without being airfare of a drain the had sad • adjoining room. Elizabeth Harris, half-sister to the accused, and cook et the Glen, was re-called. She looked very pale and haggard; but she gave her evidences readily. She said, in answer to the coroner, she wished to add something to her former statement, and proceeded :—A.bont two months ago John Lee and I were talking in the kitchen. I said "Suppose Miss Berm won't give you a character." He said." If she won't give Lae a aliaracter I will level the place in ashes to the ground." I sa4 to Lee, "Don't burn me with it," and he said "he would let me know." I have had another conversation with the prisons: since that. It was on the 29th of October- John Lee came into the kitchen and sat down and cried. There was no one she in the kitchen. I mired him what h. was crying for, and he made no answer. Be afterwards said Miss Keyse was only going to pay him 21. • week. I said—" I thought the agreement was 21. dd.," and he said no, there was no agreement, and he would not stay there another night; but before he left he would have his revenge. On another day he came in and said Mims Heves had been grumbling with him, and that if he had been near • cliff he should have pushed her over. The statement caused much sensation in court. Continuing, witness; said, in reply to questions, that she did not know on what day this last statement was made. It was several months ago, The Coroner; Did he make any other statements t•••• Yes ; he said two should never be concerned in a murder. because one— Mr. Templar here objected to the evidence as irrelevant. The Coroner allowed the objection, and asked the witness why she did not make these statements when she drat gave evidence. Witness: Because I tried to screen Lee. The Coroner • Have you told all you know now? Witness: All. I can remember. She farther added that she had had no conversation with the accused on the night preceding the murder, and that he made no statement to her when he met her in the passage upstairs after she had been awakened by the smoke. The Coroner: Have you told me everything you know, now I Witness here paused, and then said that she remembored his saying something about setting the house on fire and going to the top of the hill to see it burn. She could not remember where this oonvJuistion took place. Witness remembered the date, 29th October, because on that day she received her salary. She did not know where the hatchet was kept, and had never seen it before the night of the murder. After hearing other evidence the enquiry was -ad journed.