The following is the letter above alluded to, that Mrs. Thompson received from Peace, the envelope being addressed, “On her Majesty’s service, Thompson—letter box General Post-office, Leeds, to be called for.”
“From Charles Peace, H.M.’s Prison, Leeds, Feb. 9, 1879.
“My poor Sue,—I receive your letter to-day and I have my kind governor’s permission for you to come and see me at once so come up to the prison and bring this letter with you and you will get to see me I do wish particular to see you it is my wish that you will obey me in this one thing for you have obeyed me in many thing but do obey me in this one Do not let this letter fall into the hands of the press Hoping to see you at once I Remane your ever well wisher
“Charles Peace.”
The letter was written on the usual official paper. Mrs. Thompson took the original with her to Armley Gaol, and at Governor Keene’s request, give it to him. One of her friends, who went to the post-office for her, had, however, taken a copy of it. Had Mrs. Thompson gone with this letter at once, she would probably have seen Peace; but she delayed, and the permission to see him was delayed.
LETTERS TO PEACE’S FAMILY.
After the sentence of death had been passed upon Peace his wife and family were astonished at the interest taken in their welfare by people about whom they knew nothing. They received several letters expressing sympathy with them, and other people showed their regard for them by asking that some small article which the convict had used might be sent to them to keep in remembrance of him. It need hardly be stated that none of these modest requests were complied with. The following was one of the latest letters received:—
“Market Place, Middlesbro on Tees,
“Feb. 11, 1879.
“Mrs. Peace,—I Have Taken the Liberty of writing to you under Your Painful Circumstances to ask if any think is beeing done on behalf of Your Husband Charles Peace i mean in the Ways of appealing to the Home Secretary for a Respite for your Husband i have made an Appeal in his Behalf to Mr. Cross the Secretary of State and the Reply is that it Shall have their Carefull attention i hope Some one or at Least a Large number will follow up in the Same line and urge for a Respite of Course i know nothing of your Husband only from the accounts of the Papers which i think as been most erroneous and Must have damaged his case in the Mind of the Public and i fear the Judge and Jury also it is upon this head that i make my appeal for his life to be Spared and i Should like to know if any other Effort is being Putt forth Please write a few lines if You Can or Get Some one else to do it for you and let me Know if you hear of any one that is making any Effort for what is done Should be done quickly and without delay and i hope God in his mercy will uphold You and Yours under Your Most trying Circumstances and i trust by the Mercy of God that Your Husband May not Come to die by the hands of the Exicuitor but i hope his life may be spared that he May depart at Last as is the way of all flesh. i am only a Poor man and a stranger to you all but never the Less i am doing all that i Can in this matter hopeing you Pardon me for intrudeing upon you in the manner i have done by writeing to you but i fell as tho i Should like to know if any think is beeing done in the way of Partitioning about where You live.—“Yours Respeffully