He again seemed exhausted and stopped speaking, and his relatives could only look at him and weep.
Peace after awhile aroused himself again, and alluding to the men he had murdered and the robberies he had committed, he said: I wish it was in my power to restore them to life, and to replace all the property I have stolen; but, he added, that can never be.
His relatives asked him if he had any wish that they could carry out, or anything that they could do to please him?
Peace replied with more animation than he had shown so far during the interview: Yes, there is one thing you can do, and I wish you would do it.
I want you on the day of my execution to go to the cemetery and plant a flower or a little tree on my mother’s grave and on another grave that he named, and then when you see them think of me, and where I am, and where I am buried.
His relatives promised him that his wish in this respect should be gratified, and he seemed much pleased.
Peace, referring again to his execution, said he did hope he should have strength to walk to the scaffold, but he was afraid he should not be able to do so—he was so very weak.
Dan replied: Yes; I should like thee to be able to walk. Stand it like a man!
Peace answered with much show of feeling—Dan, thee knows I shall do that if I can.
Dan afterwards asked him why he jumped out of the train when coming from London to Sheffield; and he repeated what he had said before, that he wanted to commit suicide.