Lee Doon
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1895
- Age at first offence
- 27
- Characteristics
- argument
- Victim profile
- His employer, Sing Lee, 33
- Method of murder
- Hitting his head on the stove
- Date(s) of murder
- September 9, 1922
- Years active
- 1922
- Date of arrest
- 7 days after
- Status
-
Executed
Executed by hanging at Armley Gaol in Leeds on 5th January 1923
Background
Sing Lee was 33-years-old. He owned a chain of laundries and lived over the premises at his shop at 231 Crookes Road, Sheffield. Another person living over the shop was 27-year-old employee, Doon, who had worked for Sing Lee for only three or four weeks. Another of Lee's employees was Lily Siddall.
The offence
On Saturday 9th September 1922, Lee asked Lily Siddall if she could work the following morning while Lily was finishing work for the day. Lily agreed and returned the next day.
Lily was told by Doon that Sing Lee said: "Go back China. Business belong me." Lily became suspicious after Lee's absence.
Doon got labourers in to dig a hole in the cellar floor. Doon was later seen trying to move a heavy trunk.
A female friend of Lee turned up at the laundry asking why Lee had failed to meet her for their date the evening before.
Investigation
Lily became thoroughly alarmed and Mrs Siddall pondered on matters for a few days before discussing her suspicions with Sing Lee's relatives and then reporting it to the local police.
Officers attended the laundry around midnight on the following Friday. They gained entrance and found Sing Lee's body hidden in a tin trunk and buried in the hole in the cellar under several tons of coal and coke. Sing Lee had been battered and there was a rope around his neck.
Trial
Doon came up for trial. He admitted that he had been present when Lee had died.
Doon claimed that he had fallen out with his employer after asking him not to take opium. He said the pair had struggled before Lee had fallen over and injured himself.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty. It was not a defence that impressed the jury, especially as police could find no trace of opium on the premises.
Sentencing
Lee Doon was sentenced to death.
Appeals
His appeal was dismissed.
Outcome
Lee Doon was hanged at Armley Gaol, Leeds, on 5th January 1923 by Thomas Pierrepoint and Thomas Phillips.
Other details
A case which is notable for the stupidity involved in trying to conceal the crime.
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