It has been remarked by ancient as well as by modern writers that wherever there is a piece of outrageous mischief there is sure to be a woman at the bottom of it.
The experience of the present civilised age does not present any instances to the contrary, but rather strengthens the opinions previously held. Charles Peace was clever in one thing, that he knew his “profession” and succeeded in it so long as he did it “single-handed;” but when he obtained a partner, like many others who have preceded him, his fortunes, though apparently improving, were really on the decrease.
Whilst in Nottingham—and this only happened within a month after the murder of Mr. Dyson—he succeeded in securing to himself the affections of a young female relative.
This young “lady” followed him through his many hazardous adventures until at length the two were in Lambeth, where they occupied a decent house, and to all intents and purposes were a well-conducted pair—the lady being slightly younger than her husband, but as “Mr. Johnson” was well-to-do it was supposed that there had been a marriage of love.
Business in Lambeth proved of a paying character, although those who did the paying were not always aware of the fact until before banking hours in the morning—when the news was brought to their bedroom doors by the earliest risers in the house.
On removing to Greenwich, Peace was accompanied by the young lady who had followed his fortunes, although she might not know the whole of his crimes and there were again commenced the robberies which, have made his name so notorious in the criminal annals of the country.
Peace resumed his business; as he had not to press sales on the market he did not care what came to his hand, and being well versed in the legerdemain of the light-fingered fraternity he obtained access to the mansions of the rich around him, and their loss was his gain.
As the aristocrats in his neighbourhood became more indignant, he became more pious, and his immediate neighbours, whilst looking out for the midnight thieves, relied somewhat on his perception and assurances that nothing would be wrong.
But all this time there was in Peace’s well-furnished household a young woman who had been misled and wronged.
She had been led to believe that Peace, with whom she had associated in Nottingham, was a steady, hardworking man. Peace had given to her a number of costly goods, he was to her a man of sterling honesty, and then it transpired that he was a burglar.