At the same time it is remarkable that he was never suspected of committing any robbery, nor has it been proved that he gave effect to his thievish prospensity in the neighbourhood.
Ostensibly he earned his livelihood as an acrobat, and was engaged at the Abbey Hey Park in this capacity.
He was considered exceedingly clever, and it is stated that he could throw half-hundred weights about like pounds of sugar.
He likewise performed publicly on the violin, and was regarded by frequenters of the grounds as an able musician.
A Bristol gentleman who was staying with Mr. Plimsoll, M.P., at the time Peace called upon him to submit plans for raising sunken vessels, said that these plans were introduced as a grand scheme for raising the “Vanguard,” “Captain,” and “Eurydice.”
The stranger wished Mr. Plimsoll to introduce him to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and Mr. Samuda and Mr. Reed.
Mr. Plimsoll declined, desiring him, if he wished to communicate further with him, to do so in writing through his visitor from Bristol.
That gentleman afterwards received letters asking to be supplied with the names of the owners of any sunken vessels in the Bristol Channel or on the western coastline.
The writer was informed of the wreck on the Hook Sands of a Greek brig, for which the owner wanted £50. He thereupon asked Mr. Plimsoll’s Bristol friend to pay the £50, assuring him that the money would be refunded; but, as may be supposed, asked in vain.
The Ashton-under-Lyne correspondent of the Central News wrote:—“From inquiries made in Levenshulme it transpires that Peace, about four years ago, came to reside in that place, but stayed only three months.