Broadsheet publishers were not the only businesses to cash in on the notoriety of John Lee. Local photographers offered portraits of the prisoner: Pearce's Photographic Studio advertised 'The Photograph of John Lee, the accused, considered the best likeness out'. This annoyed Mr C. Collis who countered, 'The Prisoner, John Lee - Photos Direct From Life ... having the only original Negative Plate, the public are cautioned against purchasing Vile and Spurious Copies'. Mr Collis also took an 'Artistic Photograph' of the'Scene Of The Murder'; whilst Mr Kitto gained access to the grounds of The Glen and offered 'The Only View Of The House - including the broken dining room windows'. However, the prize for enterprise must go to the barmaid who found an old piece of fisherman's rope on Babbacombe Beach; then sold strands to guillible visitors, claiming they were from the hangman's rope used at the attempted execution of John Lee!

Written by Mike Holgate

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