Babbacombe Lee book

Subject: Babbacombe Lee book
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 09:32 AM

ok in my obsession with the Babbacombe Lee story I went ahead and tracked down and am purchasing a 100 year old paperback copy of 'the man they couldn't hang', John Lee's account of his life's story after he was let out of prison at the end of 1907. Anyone know how many copies were printed of this paperback? Just trying to figure out how rare it is. I'm sure not many survived no matter how many were printed. Was I taken? I paid about 70 US dollars for it. I got it from England so English folkies may have an idea. Thanks and ..drop away! DulcimerJOHN (same age as John Lee 100 years ago..hmm)

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 01:31 PM

I don't see any that old listed at www.addall, the best place to check up on all books, but esp. out of print ones, imo. However, it looks as though there are newer printings of it available, according to what came up. A quick check at amazon show none of the old versions available and no newish ones showed up, either.

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 02:35 PM

I think the 'newish' one might be the one by Ian Waugh of the same name 'man they..'. Guess it's a good sign if you can't find much on the old one. Remember seeing it was printed in England as well as Cleveland between 1908-10 or so. Anxiously awaiting the shipment. Dulcimerjohn

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 03:22 PM

If you follow that link, you'll see that the newer ones must be reprints as the author is listed as "John Lee." Unless, I am mistaken that is the same as the one you are getting? Still, not being bale to find an old one is a good sign.

If you really want to know more of value, you could always go to whats it worth to you.com/ and pay for an appraisal.:-) I hope someone here will know more about it, though.

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 08:35 PM

Seems the story of John Lee caught the attention of Matt McGinn, who wrote a song about him: on one of his CDs.

THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG (JOHN LEE)                Matt McGinn

Chorus
        There was an old hangman in Exeter,
        And a fine old hangman was he,
        He had hanged a thousand or more,
        But he couldn't hang John Lee, John Lee, he couldn't hang John Lee.

1.        Emma Keyse of Babbacombe was rich as rich can be,
        She had servants in her home, and one was Johnny Lee, John Lee, and one was Johnny Lee.

2.        Johnny Lee was a bad, bad man, so the story said,
        So they threw him in the local can,
        When they found old Emma dead, so dead, when they found old Emma dead.

3.        The judge he listened to the cons, and then he heard the pros,
        And it was clear that Johnny Lee had fewer friends than most, than most, had fewer friends than most.

Chorus

4.        The judge picked up his old black cap, he looked John in the eye,
        Said, "It falls on me to sentence thee to be hanged until you die, you die, to be hanged until you die".

5.        James Berry was the hangman's name, and it filled his heart with glee,
        When they placed into his gentle hands the prisoner Johnny Lee, John Lee, the prisoner Johnny Lee.

6.        He led him to the scaffold high, and then to John says he,
        "One last request I'll grant to you".
        "Close your trap" says Johnny Lee, John Lee, "Close your trap" says Johnny Lee.

Chorus

7.        James Berry pulled the lever down to send John Lee below,
        Then he began to curse and frown, when John Lee would not go, not go, when John Lee would not go.

8.        Again and then again he tried, again and again he failed,
        Then word came down from London town, John Lee for a life in jail, in jail, John Lee for a life in jail.

Chorus

9.        'Twas back in 1885 they tried to hang John Lee,
        In 1917 he sailed for far Amerikay, did he, for far Amerikay.

10.        There he went and died in bed, in 1933,
        Here lies the man they could not hang,
        And his name was Johnny Lee, John Lee, and his name was Johnny Lee.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 12:33 AM

Odd too that John Lee managed to die in three places: Tavistock, Milwaukee in the US and somewhere in Australia.

Gwilym Davies of this parish also wrote a song about him.

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 12:37 AM

By "also" I mean as well as Dave Swarbrick. Obviously.

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 08:01 AM

I hear Swarb suspects the gallows were 'fixed', wonder if he also suspects someone was also exploiting John's fame and that there were 'more than one Lee' after the release..?

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: davyr
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 09:35 AM

Several copies on AbeBooks at present, including a couple of the original (1908?) editions:

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&sortby=1&tn=the+%22man+they%22+could+not+hang&x=0&y=0

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 09:45 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_%27Babbacombe%27_Lee

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 09:50 PM

perhaps I paid a bit much..hope it's in better shape than those though, will see when it arrives. Guess I'm like the rubes that would buy 'pieces of the rope' from a barmaid at the Cary Arms (next to where the 'Glen' was). Just hope SOME of it makes it's way to Lee's descendants..heh.

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 03:02 AM

It's £40 (about what you paid) on Abebooks and Alibris - Alibris also have a cheaper copy of the original, but it's described as in poor condition. As ong as it's worth $75 to you, it's all that matters...

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: dulcimerjohn
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:14 PM

just received my copy today..surprisingly good condition for a 100-yr old paperback. Came w a paper clipping stapled into the front: John Lee Weds ..Jan 24th 1909. A stamp from Tavistock is on the back..hmm. Bet it'll be the quickest 100 pages I've read in a while! Inspiring me (even more) to do a film representation/musical endeavor of his story...

Subject: RE: Babbacombe Lee book
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 02:39 PM

"'more than one Lee' after the release..? "
conspiracy theories mayhap?


Where Is John Lee?
I'm convinced.

Charlotte (the Saturday view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)