John Henry George Lee

The man they could not hang
John Babbacombe Lee
sent to the gallows at 21
but fate would see him free

Was it granny Lee
with her curse on the scaffold pole
many from Ogwell thought it so
but his stories still to be told

The grounds man of Miss Emma Keyse
John Henry George Lee
accused of killing his mistress
a murder most grizzly

Lizy Harris Miss Emmas cook
raised the alarm real quick
police were soon at the house
what they saw made them sick

Miss Emmas head was battered in
her throat cut to the bone
paper and paraffin poured on her
a fire started in her home

Arrest soon fell on John Lee
as hed been lead astray
Ive lost my best friend
is all that he could say

Elizabeth Harris could say the word
which would clear me
I am innocent of these charges
said John Babbacombe Lee

But the Judge and Jury did not think it so
the black cap was worn that day
John Lee will hang
is what the court did say

Twenty third of February
Eighteen eighty five
Lee leaves his cell alone
his last day alive

James Berry the hangman
consigns Lee to his fate
but the lever does not move
the gallows wont operate

Once again Berry tries
but the result is still the same
Granny Lees curse ?
or a problem with the frame

After the third attempt
the surgeon calls a halt
divine intervention ?
or just a simple fault ?

Breakfast is then produced
Berry is feeling queer
so Lee eats the both of them
a man whose conscience is clear

The home office is consulted
about this strange event
20 years of breaking rocks
will be Lees recompense

Category:

Music

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• John
• Lee