In July, 1876, he threatened to blow out their brains, accompanying the threat with pointing a pistol at the head of Mrs. Dyson.
A warrant was taken out against him for this, but he evaded apprehension, while continuing to annoy the family, and on October 29 the Dysons removed to Bannercross, with the hope of being free from his disagreeable visits; but on the very night they removed Peace appeared at Bannercross and confronted Mrs. Dyson, saying in a malicious tone of voice, “You see I am here to annoy you, wherever you may go.”
Mrs. Dyson remonstrated with him, and told him “he was a wretch.”
Peace only laughed derisively at this, and said, “he was not to be shaken off, that he would follow her if it was to the end of the world.”
Just one month after this he went to Bannercross at eight o’clock in the evening, and perpetrated the murder for which he afterwards suffered death.
Peace proceeded to Sheffield the night after the trial of the unfortunate young man, William Habron, and he went to Bannercross in the evening.
At the back of the house where the Dysons lived, which was in one of the houses in the terrace called Bannercross-terrace, there was a low wall.
Peace wanted to see Mrs. Dyson—so he afterwards declared—he knew the house very well. He stood on the low wall at the back of the house. He was well acquainted with the back premises as also the front, and he knew that the bedroom was at the back.
For some time Peace’s eyes were directed towards the apartment in question; presently he noticed a light at the window.
The blind was up, and he could, with tolerable distinctness, see her carrying a candle and moving about the room.