The scoundrel, as we already signified, resided in the same house with James and a married sister; and a search of the latter’s house, made by the police, brought to light a large quantity of stolen property.
Then the amiable brother and sister tried their hardest each to shift the onus of the crime on each other.
The reports of the magisterial examination and trial of Peace and his two confederates cannot fail to be interesting to the reader.
In the Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, of October 14th, 1854, we find the following:—
STEALING WEARING APPAREL.
Tuesday.—Present—W. Overend, Esq., R. Bayley, Esq., and H. W. Wilkinson, Esq.
Emma James, Mary Ann Nield, and Charles Peace, all residing in Bailey-lane, were charged with stealing wearing apparel, jewellery, and trinkets from Mrs. Platt, Mr. R. Stuart, and Mr. H. E. Hoole.
A large number of articles of wearing apparel, &c., was placed upon the table, and Inspector Sills said he and Policeman Marsland had found most of them at the house at which the three prisoners lived in Bailey-lane. Some few he had found upon the persons of the prisoners, and one dress he had found in a house in West-court, Westbar.
A female named Skinner said she lodged with her sister, Mrs. Platt, and that Mr. Platt’s house was robbed on the evening of the 29th August. Some of the articles produced had been taken away at that time.
Mr. Raynor now asked for a remand, to give time for the case to be got up.