Charles Peace, or The Adventures of a Notorious Burglar
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OR THE
Adventures of a Notorious Burglar
CHARLES PEACE.
No. 1.
Charles Peace alias John Ward, whose life and adventures form the subject-matter of our story, has gained for himself a reputation equal, if not superior, to the lawless ruffians, Jack Sheppard, Dick Turpin, and others of a similar class. He is a union of various elements.
In more senses than one he was a local character. Born in Sheffield he was, in early days, trained according to the customs of the day, and when about eight or ten years of age was one of the foremost amongst his companions in any game of audacious fun.
He was always considered a “rough,” even amongst his earlier associates, and it is said that he was dreaded by the children with whom he played. At ten years of age he had to assist his father who was named Joseph Peace, in the earning of the daily bread for the family.
Mr. Joseph Peace was a man well respected. He was what is known in Sheffield as a “little master,” but in commercial terms would be placed as a “file manufacturer.” He had a large family, and amongst his children was this lad, who has achieved such notoriety in the world.
Charles Peace, from his very boyhood, was wild. It is said that there was no adventure to be undertaken in regard to which he had any fear; neither did he require twice telling when he was requested to lead the way in any mischievous plot.
Mr. Joseph Peace was a man of religious inclinations, and was a member of the Wesleyan body. He occupied a house in George-street, Langsett-road, a thoroughfare which is now known as Gilpin-street.
He had a taste for music, and played the “bass” at the Wesleyan Chapel, Owlerton. When ten years of age Charles Peace commenced to take lessons on the violin, his instructor being his father, who rather prided himself on the way he could play the double-bass.
Anonymous
Transcriber’s Note:
CHARLES PEACE
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
OAKFIELD FARMHOUSE—THE BURGLARY—DESPERATE ENCOUNTER—VILLAGERS TO THE RESCUE.
CAPTURE OF THE BRISTOL BADGER—MURDER WILL OUT—CHASE AFTER CHARLES PEACE—HIS MYSTERIOUS ESCAPE.
COMMITTAL OF GREGSON—JANE TELLS A TERRIBLE TALE—BROXWELL GAOL.
PEACE RETURNS TO BRADFORD—THE SLEEPING BEAUTY—HIS DISGUISE AS A ONE-ARMED MAN—THE ROBBERY AT DUDLEY HILL.
THE CONCERT.—PEACE AS A PUBLIC ENTERTAINER.—THE SURPRISE.
BBOXWILL GAOL—GUILTY OF WILFUL MURDER—PEACE SEES THE LAST OF GREGSON.
THE OLD FARM HOUSE—THE MASTER PASSION—JANE RYAN.
PEACE HAS ANOTHER NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE.
PEACE RETURNS TO HIS LODGINGS.—A VIOLENT SCENE.—THE ACCUSATION.
PEACE HASTENS UP TO LONDON—CUNNING ISAAC—THE JEW “FENCE”—THE VISIT TO SHEFFIELD.
THE PROPOSAL—MRS. MAITLAND BECOMES COMMUNICATIVE.
THE BURGLARY AT WOOD-HILL—AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.
THE DRUNKARD’S HOME—THE ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY.
THE FLIGHT—A CONFIDENTIAL FRIEND—THE ROLL OF NOTES.
PEACE MEETS WITH A TARTAR—THE CAPTURE, AND ITS RESULT.
THE EXAMINATION AT THE POLICE COURT.
THIEVES IN THE LOCK UP—A HORSE-STEALER TELLS THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
PRISONERS AWAITING TRIAL—THE ASSIZES—PEACE’S DEFENCE.
PEACE’S PROVINCIAL TOUR—THE “OLD CARVED LION.”
THE OCCUPANTS OF THE PARLOUR—A CONVIVIAL PARTY.
PEACE BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH THE LANDLORD OF THE “CARVED LION.”
PEACE’S BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS—A VISITOR FROM THE HALL.
LORD ETHALWOOD—A CHRONICLE OF PAST EVENTS—THE SHADOW ON THE HOUSE.
THE CHILDLESS MAN—IN THE HANDS OF FATE.
THE SOLITARY STUDENT—THE FALL OF AN ANCESTOR—HIS RESTORATION BY PEACE.
THE END OF THE INEBRIATE.
THE WORTHY VICAR—A FRIENDLY COUNSELLOR.
THE NOBLEMAN AND THE DETECTIVE—A CONSULTATION.
MR. DETECTIVE WRENCH AND CHARLES PEACE.
THE HOME OF THE WORKING MAN—THE ARRIVAL OF A STRANGER.
THE RETURN TO BROXBRIDGE.—A MIDNIGHT ALARM AT THE “CARVED LION.”—A CHASE, AND AN ESCAPE.
THE MORNING AFTER—A VISIT TO LORD ETHALWOOD—THIEVES AND “THIEF CATCHING.”
LORD ETHALWOOD AND HIS SOLICITOR.
THE LOVERS—PEACE BECOMES FURIOUS—VIOLENT ALTERCATION—PHILIP JAMBLIN TO THE RESCUE.
A YOUNG POACHER—THE INDIGNANT AGRICULTURIST.
ALF’S RESOLVE—HIS MEETING WITH THE WHITECHAPEL BIRDCATCHER.
PEACE IS INTRODUCED TO A GAMBLING CLUB.
THE TWO PERILS—LONDON BY NIGHT.
PEACE PAYS A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE—THE BOY BIRDS-NEST SELLER.
THE LODGING-HOUSE IN WESTMINSTER.
AT BROXBRIDGE HALL—THE TEMPTER AND THE TEMPTED.
THE THIEF AND THE THIEF CATCHER.
PEACE PURSUES HIS LAWLESS CAREER—THE BURGLARY AT HIGHGATE.
A VISIT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE—THE UNEXPECTED MEETING.
ALF PURVIS IN HIS NEW HOME—A FRESH LINE OF BUSINESS—PEACE AND LAURA STANBRIDGE.
THE ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AT THE JEWELLER’S—PEACE HAS ANOTHER NARROW ESCAPE.
JANE RYAN—THE CLOSE OF A TROUBLED LIFE.
LAURA STANBRIDGE AND HER PUPIL.
A VISIT TO THE BLACK MUSEUM—PEACE AND BANDY-LEGGED BILL—THE BURGLARY AT DENMARK-HILL.
MISS STANBRIDGE AND HER PROTEGE—A VISIT TO A THIEVES’ HAUNT.
THE EARL AND HIS GRAND-DAUGHTER.
THE ALLUREMENTS OF WEALTH AND RANK—THE DESPAIRING HUSBAND.
PEACE’S LIFE AT SHEFFIELD—THE ROBBERY AT CROOKES-MOOR HOUSE—TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
AFTER CONVICTION—A GLIMPSE AT PRISON LIFE.
THE LOVERS—A WARNING VOICE—THE MURDER OF MR. PHILIP JAMBLIN.
THE RIDERLESS HORSE—CONSTERNATION AT STOKE FERRY FARMHOUSE—DISCOVERY OF THE BODY OF THE MURDERED MAN.
AFTER THE MURDER—THE INQUEST.
MYSTERIOUS MURDERS.
THE EARL AND THE FARMER—MR. WRENCH ENGAGED.
ANOTHER GLANCE AT PRISON LIFE. PEACE’S NEW OCCUPATION.
MR. WRENCH’S WANDERINGS—THE SEARCH AFTER A MURDERER.
MR. WRENCH AND JOE DOUGHTY—A VAGRANT’S LODGING HOUSE.
THE HIRING FAIR.
THE BENCH OF MAGISTRATES—EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.
THE COMPANY AT THE “SHOULDER OF MUTTON” INN.
REMOVAL OF A BATCH OF CONVICTS—PEACE TAKEN TO DARTMOOR.
GILES CHUDLEY IN PRISON.
AT BROXBRIDGE HALL—THE EARL AND HIS LAWYER.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF THE LARCHGROVE-LANE MURDERER—THE PLEA OF WITCHCRAFT.
THE LAST HOURS OF THE CONDEMNED.
CHARLES PEACE LEAVES DARTMOOR.
LAURA STANBRIDGE AT HOME—A CONFERENCE AND A SCENE.
PEACE RETURNS TO HIS NATIVE TOWN, SHEFFIELD—HE TAKES UNTO HIMSELF A WIFE.
PEACE AND THE TRAVELLING SHOWMAN—THE COMPANY AT THE “BLUE DOLPHIN”—THE SHOWMAN’S LEGEND.
THE DESIGNING WOMAN AND HER VICTIM.
HUNTING UP EVIDENCE FOR A DIVORCE—MR. SLINGSBY SET TO WORK.
THE EARL AND HIS LEGAL ADVISER—A WIFE’S TREPIDATION.
HOME LIFE OF CHARLES PEACE—A MUSICAL EVENING—THE DETECTIVE’S STORY.
THE RETURN TO BROXBRIDGE HALL—THE FARMER AND HIS DAUGHTER.
THE NOTTINGHAM SILK ROBBERY—HOW PEACE DID IT.
STOKE FERRY FARM HOUSE—THE LOVERS—A CONFIDENTIAL TETE-A-TETE.
PEACE’S LAWLESS CAREER—CAPTURE, TRIAL, AND CONVICTION—HIS ATTEMPTED ESCAPE FROM WAKEFIELD.
PEACE BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH THE INTERIOR OF MILLBANK PENITENTIARY—A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRISON.
LORD ETHALWOOD AND HIS ADVISERS—MR. CHICKNELL MAKES A PAINFUL REVELATION.
PEACE’S DISCHARGE FROM PRISON—THE RETURN HOME.
PEACE’S LATER CAREER—THE WHALLEY RANGE MURDER.
CHARLES PEACE AND THE DYSONS.
THE BANNERCROSS MURDER—PEACE’S ADVENTURES AFTER THE DEATH OF MR. DYSON.
PEACE’S DOINGS IN LONDON AND THE SUBURBS—HIS HOME LIFE AT EVELINA-ROAD, PECKHAM.
AN OUTCAST IN LONDON—THE GIPSY’S TRIALS AND TROUBLES.
THE UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY—HUSBAND AND WIFE.
BILL AND THE DOCTOR’S WIFE—A TALE OF SORROW AND MISERY.
MR. WILLIAM RAWTON’S CUNNING DEVICE—THE MISSING PAGE.
THE GIPSY AMD MRS. BOURNE—THE SURPRISE.
WATCHING AND WAITING—A TETE-A-TETE BETWEEN TWO DETECTIVES.
THE WOUNDED MAN AND HIS BETTER HALF.
MR. DETECTIVE SHEARMAN IS OUTSPOKEN—A STORY OF WOMAN’S WRONGS AND MAN’S BASENESS.
THE INQUIRY—THE END OF A MURDERER.
AFTER THE DEED—THE SALE BY AUCTION—MRS. BOURNE PAYS A VISIT TO MR. THOMPSON.
DOMESTIC SQUABBLES—BILL RAWTON PAYS A VISIT TO THE EVELINA-ROAD.
BURGLARS AT BLACKHEATH—THE SURPRISE—THE STRANGE MEETING.
CHARLES PEACE IS CHECKMATED.
THE TWO DETECTIVES—CAPTURE OF A SMASHER—PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A DETECTIVE.
AT “SANDERSON’S HOTEL”—RECOLLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN DETECTIVE.
A GLANCE AT BROXBRIDGE—THE ROBBERY AT NETTLETHORP—A VISIT TO MOTHER BAGLEY—A STRANGER AT THE FARM HOUSE.
THE STRANGER IS COMMUNICATIVE—BREAKERS AHEAD.
KITTY’S SUSPICIONS—HER RENCONTRE WITH FORTESCUE.
A YOUNG WIFE’S DANGER—THE DENOUEMENT.
MR. ERIC FORTESCUE AND HIS RESPECTABLE ASSOCIATES—THE CHALLENGE, AND THE RESULT.
THE SURPRISE AND ESCAPE—A DRIVE FOR LIFE.
A PAINFUL SCENE—THE DEATH OF TOMMY—PEACE’S GRIEF.
MISS LAURA STANBRIDGE MAKES A MISTAKE—CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
THE PRISON CHAPLAIN.
LAURA STANBRIDGE HAS CONFEDERATES—A VISIT TO THE PRISON.
THE YOUNG ENTHUSIAST—A WOMAN’S WILES.
THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE—MURDOCK, THE SMUGGLER.
THE INJURED MAN AND HIS ATTENDANT—A PIRATE’S YARN.
LAURA STANBRIDGE AND THE CHAPLAIN—AN IRRESISTIBLE APPEAL—THE ESCAPE.
DEATH OF MAT MURDOCK—THE LAST BEQUEST.
MISS STANBRIDGE’S PEREGRINATIONS—HER VISIT TO CHARLES PEACE.
THE TRIAL OF THE DETECTIVES—PEACE’S VISIT TO BOW-STREET.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
STOLEN LETTERS—AN AMERICAN DETECTIVE’S STORY.
THE YOUNG EARL OF ETHALWOOD.
FURTHER ENTANGLEMENTS.
THE RIVAL LOVERS.
THE HOSTILE MEETING—A DUEL TO THE DEATH.
AFTER THE TRAGEDY.
CHARLES PEACE AND HIS UNLAWFUL GAINS—A VISIT TO MR. SIMMONDS—A SURPRISE AND ESCAPE.
THIEVES AND RECEIVERS.
PEACE HAS A FEW FRIENDS—A MUSICAL AND ANECDOTAL EVENING.
TIED TO THE TRACK—A STATION MASTER’S STORY.
LORD ETHALWOOD’S RETURN HOME—REGRETS FOR THE PAST—NEWS FROM ABROAD.
SOME PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF A LONDON THIEF.
THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND THE PRISONER.
MR. SUTHERLAND IS TRIUMPHANT—THE AMICABLE ARRANGEMENT.
THE FASHIONABLE GATHERING AT LADY MARVLYNN’S.
SIR WILLIAM’S TALE—A MUSICAL MELANGE.
THE SURPRISE—CHARLES PEACE’S NEW PANTOMIME TRICK. HIS UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE ON THE SCENE.
THE VALIANT FOOTMAN AND THE DESPERATE BURGLAR—THE PRISONER IN THE STABLE—UNEXPECTED RELEASE.
CHARLES PEACE RETURNS HOME—THE BARRISTER’S STORY.
A VISIT TO A PRISON—SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
A GLANCE AT STOKE FERRY FARM HARVEST HOME.
PEACE’S LAST BURGLARY—A BRAVE POLICEMAN—PEACE’S CAPTURE BY ROBINSON—A VISIT TO NEWGATE.
PEACE’S EXPERIENCE OF THE INTERIOR OF NEWGATE.
VISITING DAY AT NEWGATE.
THE TRIAL OF CHARLES PEACE FOR BURGLARY.
THE TROUBLES OF MRS. PEACE.
A VISIT TO NEWGATE—IDENTIFICATION OF PEACE—MRS. THOMPSON’S PERSONAL HISTORY—RECEIVERS OF STOLEN GOODS.
A VISIT TO WHITECHAPEL—THE STREET OF WOMEN—A MOTHER SEEKING HER SON.
A POPULAR WATERING PLACE—THE RENCONTRE, AND FEARFUL DENOUEMENT.
THE STOKE FERRYMAN.
THE UNEXPECTED MEETING—LAURA AND MRS. GROVER.
IDENTIFICATION OF PEACE—CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF MR. DYSON.
OUTSIDE THE POLICE-COURT—EXTRAORDINARY SCENES.
THE EXAMINATION OF CHARLES PEACE UPON THE CHARGE OF MURDERING MR. DYSON—SCENES IN COURT.
PRISONERS AND THEIR CUSTODIANS.
SCENE AT STOKE FERRY—LAURA STANBRIDGE LED INTO AN AMBUSCADE—A LOVE STORY TO UNWILLING EARS.
THE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST LAURA STANBRIDGE.
PEACE’S LAST NIGHT IN SHEFFIELD—HIS REMOVAL TO WAKEFIELD—INCIDENTS BEFORE THE TRIAL—A TRUE BILL FOUND.
THE TRIAL AND CONVICTION OF CHARLES PEACE.
AFTER CONVICTION—PEACE AT ARMLEY GAOL—INTERVIEW WITH HIS RELATIVES—PEACIANA.
MRS. DYSONS DEPARTURE—AUTOBIOGRAPHIC SKETCH AND SELF-VINDICATION.
PEACE CONFESSES HIMSELF TO BE THE MURDERER OF A POLICEMAN NEAR MANCHESTER—THE CONVICT AND MRS. THOMPSON.
THE CONDEMNED MAN VISITED AGAIN BY HIS RELATIVES—PEACE CONFIRMS HIS CONFESSION.
THE CONVICT’S CONFESSION.
SKETCH OF THE CONVICT’S CAREER.
PEACE’S EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
EVENTS BEFORE THE EXECUTION—LETTER FROM THE HABRONS.
THE EXECUTION OF CHARLES PEACE.
THE EXECUTIONER’S STORY—A QUIET CHAT WITH MARWOOD.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT—MERCIFUL AND MERCILESS MODES IN DIFFERENT AGES.
CONCLUSION.
Transcriber’s Note:
