A few days after this Emma James became an inmate of the establishment.
She lived with Peace for a short period, during which he made her useful in disposing of property the proceeds of his various robberies.
It was not possible for him to remain long without having recourse to his dishonest practices. To this propensity he joined a great love of playing the fiddle and a fancy for birds and animals.
He committed several burglaries at Sheffield about this time, and in most cases he patronised the west end of the town.
His favourite plan was to pick out good substantial-looking houses with a portico.
Taking advantage of a favourable opportunity he would climb up the columns and enter the house by the window over the doorway.
He was partial to the hour when the family were at dinner downstairs, and he went about his business with such celerity that he usually had a good booty out of the house before the diners had got to the length of the kickshaws and trifles with which they finished their feast.
No doubt while he lifted valuables upstairs he did so to the clinking of glasses and the play of the knife and fork downstairs; the merry jest and animated conversation, no doubt, doing him good service in drowning any little noise he might accidentally make in the course of his operations.
Cunning and clever as our hero was he might have escaped “trouble” for a long time, but for his passion for the society of the softer sex.
Emma James was taken into custody for offering for sale a pair of boots acquired in their way of trade, and Peace coming to her rescue was lodged in durance vile.