“He had been forgotten, but several of the inhabitants, on seeing a portrait of the convict a day or two ago, recognised in him their neighbour, Mr. Thompson, who resided in a small detached house called Olive-cottage, in Rushford-road Park.
“He lived with a woman who is supposed to have been Mrs. Peace, and, being always affable and obliging, was a great favourite until he decamped without paying his accounts.
“He was never suspected of robbery, but in consequence of fancied apparations the people of the neighbourhood were afraid to use the thoroughfare close to his house after dark. He ostensibly earned his livelihood as an acrobat, and was considered extremely clever in this direction.”
Peace’s will was drawn by Deputy-Sheriff Ford, member of a local firm of solicitors.
It extended to but four or five lines, and bequeathe property to Hannah Ward, or Peace, his wife.
The text was not to be published until the day of his execution. In regard to the former will he made bequeathing everything to Mrs. Thompson, the latter’s sister, it is said, burnt the document.
CHAPTER CLXXII.
THE EXECUTION OF CHARLES PEACE.
On Tuesday, Feb. 25th, 1879, Peace was executed within the walls of Armley Gaol, Leeds, at eight o’clock in the morning. The convict had a short sleep just after eleven o’clock the night before. At half-past eleven the Governor of the Gaol (Mr. Keene) visited him and remained with him until twenty minutes past one. Immediately after the Governor left, the chaplain, the Rev. O. Cookson, came.
As Peace seemed drowsy and inclined for sleep, the chaplain retired. At two o’clock Peace slept calmly and soundly until a quarter to six next morning, when the chaplain again joined him.