Indeed, they had played almost as conspicuous a part in his case as a certain pair of elegant gold-framed spectacles did when their owner was under the searching cross-examination of a gentleman who on Wednesday occupied a seat on the bench.
Precious as the spectacles of Mr. Peace are to him, they have narrowly escaped destruction. After he had been picked up on the line on Wednesday morning, and taken on to Sheffield, two men named George Hewitt and Wm. Turner walked down the metals to see what could be seen.
Peace had fallen at a place called Harrycroft, between Brancliffe siding and the canal siding, near to Kineton Park; and when the men reached the place and were looking round they saw lying on the line Peace’s spectacles. They handed them over to the station-master at Kineton Park.
The warders had evidently been too much occupied with their re-capture of Peace to notice that he had lost his spectacles, or to think about them.
Probably there never was more excitement caused by the expected arrival of an individual who had gained notoriety, through whatever source it might be, than was manifested at the Victoria Station on Wednesday.
Notwithstanding the bitter cold, a concourse of perhaps some thousand persons of all ages and both sexes assembled in the square opposite the court, intent on seeing Peace if possible, and though a large body of police, under the charge of Inspector Bird, did their utmost to keep the crowd from gaining ingress to the platform, the station was crowded.
It was generally believed that Peace would be removed from his cell to Pentonville, and brought down by what is known as the newspaper train, leaving King’s Cross at 5.15, and due in Sheffield at 8.58.
When the train steamed into the station some twelve minutes late the crowd had increased very considerably.
Those outside commenced shouting and yelling in a most excited manner, and the utmost confusion prevailed.
The prisoners’ van, which was awaiting to convey Peace and the warders, was drawn up opposite the large hall door. The train being brought to a standstill, a surprising announcement was made by the guard.