At first he gave out that he was a hawker, and dealt in various little articles such as pedlars invariably travel with—spectacles, cheap finery, and jewellery, and miscellaneous goods of that description.
At last he openly showed himself in his true character—I mean as a most daring burglar. He brought things into the house which it must be evident to anybody were stolen property.
There were articles of silver plate, timepieces, watches, and even quantities of tea, sugar, and other perishable articles.
I do not know at all where he got these from; but I am perfectly satisfied that they were the proceeds of robberies or burglaries.
This knowledge was kept from me at first. I was led to suppose he was what he seemed to be—viz., a hawker, and a quiet, respectable man.
On one occasion he went out of town, saying he had to go and see his mother at Hull. By his mother he meant Hannah Peace.
Peace on that occasion took £5 to Mrs. Ward at Hull, and stayed there three weeks.
During that time he committed several robberies either at Hull or in the neighbourhood.
I know that to be the case, because when I have been in Hull he has shown me the houses at which the burglaries were committed, and he also told me that on one occasion he had to run for it, when he “fired wide” at a policeman by whom he was in imminent danger of being captured.
The property was disposed of in Hull. He returned after a while to Nottingham. I was out at the time of his return, having business in the evening, for I was still at work and getting my own living in an honest way. I was not earning very much, for work was short, but still it was honest.