The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-01 00:00:00

fears were won set at rest. The Biped was given, the
warder hauled at the rope, and in another moment the
black signal of death flattered in the clear fresh breeze;
a kind of shudder was observable amongst the
people as the flag ascended, but the feeling soon passed
away, and from a large number of the assembled
rose a fusndish and inhuman shout. The "cry for
blood" was satisfied, the majesty of the law was ap-
peased, a stampede commenced immediately, and the
people streamed back into Leeds.

. . ,
The prison chaplain wae deei;ll affected on returning
from the execution of Peace. Dr. Price, the gaol physi-
cian, escorted him to his official residence. Under-sheriff
Gray, his clerk, Mr. Waite.. and the governor, together
with the representatives of the Press in leaving the fatal
spot passed into the wing of the gaol from which Peace
had so reeently emerged. The cell which the condemned
man had so lately occupied was also passed. The gas
was still burning In it, and the door was open. On
the table was a closed Bible and Prayer-book, and on the
little table were a number of beoks and several sheets of
paper, on which the convict had apparently been scribbling

After the body of the wretched malefactor had hung the
usual time (one hour) it was out down and taken into the
gaol, where the formal inquest was held before Mr.
Malcolm, borough corgner. The jury, having viewed the
body, which had been placed in a coffin, and heard the
evidence, returned a verdict "that the deceased came to
his death by hanging," and signed the inquisition to that
effect. riha remains were subsequently taken to the felen's
graveyard, which is inside the walls, and were there un-
ceremoniously interred. nude stones mark the place of
burial of previous victims of the law's highest penalty, and
it is intended that a headstone shall be placed over
Peace's grave, similar to that of others, on which will be cut
his inititds and tlafi date of his death.

It k stated that on the night before the epcution a Leeds
solicitor proceeded to Armley Gaol, and drew up the conv!ces
last will and testament, which was attested by the chaplain
Of the gaol. It is uuderstepd that by the will Peace equally
divided his property, amounting to cver 4°,6,00, between Mrs.
tranuah Peace, his brother Daniel, his daughter (Mrs.
Bolsover) and Willie Ward.


• For several days previous to his execution Nacos hid-bike
engaged in writing letters to members of hie family•atidt.lol.
his Maud.. On Monday nialit he had either •writteu,AX
dictated sixteen letters, and•on Tuesday morning he hande4
theni to the chaplain to Poet. They are all dated VA--
raw", 25, and the convict wished them to be considered
as sent from the scaffold: The following are his letters PA

his wife :--

"I• have been a bad, bad man to thee for many,yeari.
dear, if I•had taken thy Advice many years ago, this would
not have befallen mo. I need not to ask forlby forgiveness,
for I know that thou haat alreadrforgiven me for WU have
done to them; and, my dear, I do nob-only forgive thee, but
I forgive all penous. for I have not any ill-feeling against
any living person., .oh, my dear wife, I do pray to Almighty
Goa for thee, apil do hole that lie ,itt prosper thee in
afl
thy doings, and bring them to the Kingdom of Heaven at
the last, where I hope that thoh Wilt meet me at the last.
So, oh. my dear lass do not forget that our net meeting-
place, I hope, will be in haven; so do not forget to prepare
thyself to come. •
The convict then wrote a copy of some verses he made in
prison on the death •of one of his children; he then con-
tinued

"I think that this is a true view of how I stand in this
world. In the first place my sentence was We, and with me
having been three in penal servitude, I could not, having
got my freedom aney more, so that I should have to die a
miserable death in prison at the end. I might have lived
two years or more, and have died in prison at last. So, my
dear wife, I do think Oat me and you and my children
bought to think that It will be for the best if my blessed
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will bear my prityprii and for-
give me my sins and receive my poor soul into the king-
dom of Heaven; so think of this and try to meet me there
old you my dear friends. —I am, huabend and father, CHARLES
PEACE. God bless you all."
On Tuesday morning he wrote the following i—
{‘ To my dear wife and family,—l tell you this great Joy
that I could not tell you yesterday, for I could not. No fear
now, for is is all cleared up as to where I am going to. I
am going to heaven, or to the Place where the good go to,
that die in the Lord; or where in the Place appointed by God
for the good to wait until the resurrection of the dead. So
do not forget our meeting Place is in heaven. So do come
at the last and you will find me there. This letter is wrote
25 minits be fore do die, so I must know say good bye to
all; so geod bye, good bye, and God bless you 4U, for I am
going to Heaven. "CHARLES PVACE."
The letters to the other members of the family are filled
with good advice as to the life they should live, lie has also
sent to his wife and children the tracts, cards, letters, and
so forth that have been sent to him since he was sentenced;
he has also designed and sent to them a funeral card, upon
which ho has printed the following;—
•