This is invariably the case with burglars and robbers of every description. The receiver has always the best of the bargain.
The property must be got rid of, and this the “fence” knows perfectly well.
Peace, in addition to the two other Israelites already introduced to the reader had a Petticoat-lane confederate, who during his London career bought largely of him. This personage was interviewed by one of the special correspondents of the press. We subjoin a graphic account of his visit.
“That’s my name, and you’re quite right about my keeping a tobacco shop in this lane, and about my buying and selling ’most all kinds of old stores.”
This was the reply given to a comprehensive interrogatory addressed by a Sheffield reporter to a middle-aged keeper of a public-house in Petticoat-lane, whose name indicated that he was “of the order of Melchisedeck,” and who, rumour said, knew something of the manner in which the convict Peace had invested some of the money it is supposed he must have been possessed of shortly before his arrest.
If the police with their finished machinery and well-trained inquisitors have been able to discover nothing, it was hardly to be expected that the astute Hebrew dealer would allow himself to be trapped into any prejudicial admissions by a newspaper emissary, even though he was simply charged with the high and philanthropic duty of affording that dealer opportunity for clearing from his character aspersions which had been unjustly cast upon it.
Having informed the “old stores” man of the charitable nature of his mission, said the “special”:—
“Now, I suppose you never knew or had any dealings with Peace?”
“Me, dealings with Peace! Why, I never heard or seen ’im, except when I was bound over to keep it for six months, ’cause I give a cove a knock in the eye.”
At this sally the rowdy-looking congregation in the bar who had evinced a lively interest in the interview, delivered themselves of a unanimous guffaw. The special smiled blandly, and went on: