“Madam,—I am directed by the Chairman of the Commissioners of Prisons to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th inst., requesting to be allowed to see John Ward, alias Charles Peace, a prisoner under sentence of death in Leeds Prison. In reply, I am to acquaint you that by desire of the Secretary of State the Governor of the Prison has been authorised to permit you to have an interview with the prisoner under the usual restrictions, and subject to his wishing to see you, on your presenting this letter at the prison.—I am, madam, your obedient servant,
“C. N. Joseph.
“Mrs. Thompson, Post-office, Leeds.”
The letter, to which the foregoing was a reply, was as follows:—
“February 7th, 1879.
“Gentlemen,—I beg to be allowed to see the condemned man, Charles Peace, Thompson, or Ward, now in Armley Gaol, Leeds. He has been my reputed husband for years, and he has no other legal wife. He has ‘earnestly’ desired to see me, and for reasons that can easily be understood. I deeply hope and pray, gentlemen, that you will furnish me with the authority to see him before the end. I will not disturb his mind, but try to sooth him. Imploring you will speedily grant my prayer,
“I am your obedient servant,
S. Thompson.
“P.S.—Please address to me, ‘Post Office, Leeds, to be left till called for.’”
Governor Keene said to Mr. Warren that since the letter sent by the prison authorities had been received, his (the governor’s) authority to allow the interview had been countermanded by the Home Office, but that if Mrs. Thompson had applied at the gaol immediately the letter reached Leeds he should have allowed her to have seen Peace.