That’s just what I said, and it will show how willing I was to give evidence.
Of course, at the time I didn’t know what I should have to pass through, but if it were to come all over again I would do the same. My friends didn’t want me to come, and did all they could to dissuade me. I also received a threatening letter from Sheffield. But I was determined to come. My desire was that Peace should receive the justice he so richly deserved.
I didn’t really know that Peace was a burglar until after the murder. If I had he would never have entered our doors. But what I know now explains a good deal.
For instance, when we were out walking together, if I happened to look into a shop window, he would say to me, “Is there anything there you would like? If there is I will get it for you before morning.” He would say that if I looked into a jeweller’s or a draper’s shop. I did not know what he meant then, but I do now.
My suspicions were aroused, for I used to see him leave his house at Darnall in the evenings with a little satchel under his arm, and he would come back early in the morning carrying a large bundle. The satchel, I suppose, contained his housebreaking implements. He often used to go to Manchester with this satchel.
He came to my door one morning just as he was going to Manchester. He then had his satchel with him. Looking into the room where I was, he said, “I’ll have you alive or dead. I’ll have you, or else I’ll torment you till the end of your life.”
On another occasion, when I had defied him, he said, “I’ll make you so that neither man nor woman shall look at you, and then I’ll have you to myself.”
I answered, “Never. What can you do? What are you capable of?”
“No matter,” he replied “I’ll do it.”
He was always wanting to get my photograph, and as I wouldn’t give him it, he or some member of his family stole one out of a locket which I had. It was afterwards copied by a photographer in Sheffield, and I have fancied since that he wanted to get my features transferred in some way or other to one of his obscene pictures and so disgrace me.