The marks which were described as on the missing Peace are all distinctly on him. Before he can appear in the police court at Sheffield on the charge of murder, the Chief-constable for Sheffield will have to apply to a superior court for a writ of habeas corpus.
Upon this he will be taken to answer the capital charge now made against him.
After committing the murder on the night of the 26th November, 1876, Peace was completely lost sight of; his career in this life, it was said, was closed, for he had made away with himself.
But Peace was not such a fool as that, for he had no sooner finished the murder than he took to his old game of burglary—an avocation which appears to have had a curious attraction for him.
Subsequent events have proved that Peace went to Hull, and there replaced his waning funds by breaking into a gentleman’s house, from which, he extracted a large quantity of plate and valuable jewellery.
From thence, after realising on his spoil, he repaired to Nottingham, where a near relative resided, and with her he took up his quarters.
Although it was well known that there was a heavy reward offered for his apprehension, it does not seem that any of his relatives considered it advisable to state who was in the midst of them.
After effecting a very clever warehouse robbery, in which silk goods were the principal booty, Peace appears to have then considered that his proximity to Sheffield was dangerous, and he again changed his abode.
Thus it will be seen that the Sheffield authorities were correct when they stated that they had traced the man to Hull, but there had lost sight of him.
It was believed that he had escaped to the Continent. But not so; the fox had “doubled,” and in the Midland Counties, with Nottingham for his centre, was continuing his depreciations.