Charles Peace, alias George Parker, alias Alexander Mann, alias Paganini, alias John Ward—the man of many aliases—is trapped at last, and the general hope is that now he is caught there may be evidence enough to make him suffer the penalty of his greatest crime—that which startled this town and district so terribly in the winter of 1876.
A journalist furnishes us with the following descriptive visit to Newgate and the scene at the identification:—
That Charles Peace, the murderer of Mr. Arthur Dyson, of Bannercross, is at last caught there cannot now be the shadow of a doubt. He has been clearly identified by a Sheffield constable, who knew him most intimately.
The result of my researches into the history of this man’s career reveals a depth of depravity, hypocrisy, daring, and low cunning, such as have scarcely ever been penned in the annals of crime.
On entering Scotland-yard, and making known my errand—that I desired to prosecute inquiries into the history of the man then in their custody, who was committed for trial from the Greenwich Police-court, on charges of attempted murder and burglary, a man who had given the name of John Ward, the replies given were certainly very courteous, but in no way satisfactory to a reporter in quest of information.
The result was that after about an hour and a half’s waiting, and after being interviewed successively by some dozen or two very polite gentlemen, who were evidently “authorities,” I was ultimately told, with a smile, by one that they did not give information to members of the Press.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it’s against regulations, and we are not allowed to answer questions.”
“Well,” I said, “where is this man Ward or Peace confined, because I want to see him?”
He had a short look at me, and after telling an untruth in the words “He’s not in town,” took his departure.