It will be seen, from the official notice which we append, that if Peace fell into the hands of the police, there were marks on him which would make him somewhat easy of identification. For his apprehension a reward of £100 was offered by Government. The police notice was as follows:—
“Murder.—£100 Reward. Whereas on the 29th ult. Mr. Arthur Dyson, C.E., was murdered at Bannercross, Sheffield, having been shot in the head, in the presence of his wife, by Charles Peace, who escaped in the darkness of the night, and is still at large; and whereas at the coroner’s inquest held on the 8th inst., upon the body of the said Arthur Dyson, a verdict of ‘wilful murder’ was found against the said Charles Peace.
“Notice is hereby given that a reward of £100 will be paid by her Majesty’s Government to any person other than a person employed in a police force in the United Kingdom who shall give such information and evidence as shall lead to the discovery and conviction of the said Charles Peace.
“Peace is a thin and slightly-built man, about forty-six years of age, but looks ten years older, five feet four or five inches high, grey (nearly white) hair, beard and whiskers (the whiskers were long when he committed the murder, but may now be cut or shaved off), has lost one or more fingers off left hand, cut mark on back of each hand, and one on forehead, walks with his legs rather wide apart, speaks somewhat peculiarly, as though his tongue was too large for his mouth, and is a great boaster.
“He is a joiner or picture-frame maker, but occasionally cleans and repairs clocks and watches, and sometimes deals in oleographs, engravings, pictures, &c., associates with loose women, and has been twice in penal servitude for burglaries near Manchester.”
Besides that Peace was known to be a “good shot,” and a quick one.
He had been a daring poacher when a young man, and always carried a revolver on him.
As a “cracksman” he stood in the foremost ranks of the thieving fraternity; he was a capital hand at opening a “safe,” and was utterly reckless as to consequences, and notoriously cruel.
Such was the man whom the police desired to apprehend, and it was well known that if he had a chance he would resist his capture, and not hesitate to resort again to the use of firearms. There is now almost every reason to believe that Peace has at length fallen into the hands of the police.
THE IDENTIFICATION.