As to Peace having dishonoured his mother, if we mistake not she was largely responsible (far more responsible than the father, who received such short shrift at Dr. Potter’s hands) for his evil start in life. She is credited with having possessed a pretty accurate acquaintance with the details of her illustrious son’s career.
She had a domestic establishment, around which hovered anything but an atmosphere of sanctity; and our readers know how the poor creature was dragged over to Manchester Assizes to swear to an alibi for her son.
She managed to survive the tragedy, which according to Dr. Potter, broke her heart, by something like a twelvemonth.
Did Dr. Potter receive his intelligence “by electric telegraph?” That is the latest form of journalistic enterprise—to have news specially wired from Bank-street to High-street, that it may be reproduced from other columns in a surreptitious second edition, and that it may be claimed as confirming statements which it emphatically contradicts.
The account of Peace’s doings after the murder may be taken as one among the innumerable episodes which the Sheffield papers were the first to publish. They gave the route he took on that fatal night, and the manner in which he made his escape. That account was contradicted by the journal which was so sure Mrs. Dyson could not be found.
Two days afterwards one print ventured to give a route of its own. It told how Peace went down Ecclesall-road, on Sharrow vale, through Frog-walk, and into Cemetary-road. The statement by Peace, which was published afterwards showed that this story was the purest fiction.
AN OFFER TO MRS. THOMPSON.
Notoriety has with some people more merit than business qualifications, as the following indicates:—
“J. Myers, Queen’s Music Hall, 20, Bridge-street,
Manchester, February 10, 1879.
“Mrs. Thompson. Madam,—You will excuse me taking the liberty of writing to you, as I thought I should like you at my house as waitress. If you would like to come to Manchester I could give you 25s. per week, if you think you would like to come. Hoping there is no offence in my proposition.—I remain yours most respectfully.