The most remarkable and at the same time unaccountable part of Peace’s career is certainly that portion of time while he was in the occupation of the house in the Evalina-road, Peckham. It appears almost incredible that he could have remained there for so long a period without being discovered.
After the murder of Mr. Dyson the police were supposed to be on the alert.
Every effort was made, so it was stated, to hunt down the perpetrator of the murder at Banner-cross, but in spite of all this Peace was free from suspicion, and night after night committed the most daring burglaries ever attempted by one solitary individual.
Indeed, had it not been for the determination and courage displayed by Police-constable Robinson, the chances are that the scoundrel, whose deeds have so surprised the world, would be even at the present time at large and undiscovered.
It really does appear most remarkable that so many murderers should be able to elude justice. We have several instances of this since Peace expiated his crimes on the public scaffold.
The Wallaces, who went off in a cab after the death of their victim, have never been arrested.
The Burton-crescent murder—the murder of Miss Hacker, of a servant girl at Harpurhey, near Manchester, of a youth at Rotherhithe, who died from bayonet wounds, and lastly, the woman whose body was found in a tub at Harley-street, one and all remain deep impenetrable mysteries.
But Peace, who although for a time managed to escape detection, was in the end run to earth.
The last burglary committed by this lawless man, whose remarkable career we have endeavoured to shadow forth, proved fatal to him.
At Blackheath, on the night of 10th of October, 1878, a burglary was committed of a most daring character.