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

EXECUTION OF PEACE.

The following account of the execution of this notorious
criminal is from the Evening Standard of Tuesday :
For the Banner-cross murder, committed nearly two
years and a half ago, Charles Peace was executed this
morning within the precincts of Armley asol. The
condemned man was visited by the chaplain up to a
quarter to eleven o'clock last night, when he left him
in order that Peace could haye a little rest, of which
be seemed to be much in need. He did not, however,
sleep long, and on his waking, he was joined by Mr.
Keene, erovernorof the prison, to whom he chatted very
-cheerfully, and who remained with him until twenty
minutes to one o'clock. The chaplain then once more
entered the condemned cell and remained with Peace
for an hour sr more. He was then in a most repentant
frame of mind, and looked forward to his death with
no great uneasiness or alarm. At two *IAA.* Peace
was left for the remainder of the night, and he slept
soundly and calmly until about a quarter to six.
•He appeared much refreshed by his few hours
of undisturbed repose, and partook of breakfast
with evident relish. This consisted of some toast,
a slice of bacon, and eggs, and milk. The
chaplain again visited him as soon as he was
awake, andremainedwithhim, except during breakfast,
until the execution. Peace, as he has done ever since
his coeviction, listened with much earnestness to the
reverend gentleman's exhortations, and exhibited
much religious fervour and penitence. The gallows
was erected at the west aide of the prison, and close
to the hospital. It was faced by a high wall, which
shut out al view of proceedings within, but that there The Daily Telegraph of Tuesday (in a second editioe)
was a crowd outside was evident by the bum of gives an account of Peace's confession, from which we
voices and the occasional laughter which the morning make the following extracts :
air wafted across the prison yard. The scaffeld was
draped with bleak, and beneath the earth was ex "Last Wednesday a formal confession was placed by the
- convict inuntidierhris of the Rev. J. H. Littlewood, Vicar of
cavated three or four feet, in order to allow of Et solemn
after
ttitohuat
alt should not
greater drop than the scaffold would otherwise have be made '
publice until
ycaauslirsocFohwe
permitted. The execution was conducted with the whith, even at that time, the convict had execution,
of hope that he could avert. He seems, however, to have
utmost privacy, and only four representatives of the
press were permitted to be present. One of these at- clung.to the last to the idea that he might possibly obtain
some little delay, which the authorities might think
tended on behalf of the Leeds newspapers, another ot
eus murder.
among N'sSrhiethmaanu apparento
rreeqaurisltLiiiiheorligialloe test the truth of the .assertions in
the Sheffield press, and the two News Associations were
to Zito% ntfrert
represented by their agents. Precisely at eight o'clock a:. susceptibility which isyproaemt:
procession was seen issuing from a portion of the prison, dictioaa in his character Peace appears
about a ,hundred yards away from the scaold. annoyed that the Rev. Mr. iittlewood, wiel• knew the secret
, ff
First came the Governor of the Gaol (Mr. Keene), of his former life as a convict, but who tindertook •to main-
next the Under elheriff (Mr. .W. 'Gray), and the tam n ahaolute secrecy about this at Darnall.. should have sue-
t this request
requested Mr. Little-
chaplain westing his surplice. Then came the con- aliiiaghaboe°lll.lTekgfrree,th' DP
red alLschool room, and
demned man. He wore the same convict dress in wood. to visit hint, and with
which he appeared at Sheffield and the trial in - gentleman complied last Wednesday.q,WhenhAirr.errel
Leeds. Though Pinioned—this being done, by- Mae . wood entered the cell he saluted the convict, accord.-
to the custom he followed when he was chaplain
wood before he left his cell—he seemed not to need thie . lug
.geje.
~,at Wakefield prison, 'Well, my old friend Peace, how
, assistance which a couple of • powerful warders
holding hive, Irie
' you to-day r Peace looksierd,uatu)tt him with wistful glance,
itlfrteuretveorting hls
him, each of whom supported hire' by
you.'
and
underneath the arms. The way in which lie: Walked face as iam latiT hide tFier ermyOttoz; upon tilrills
indeed surprised everyone. His tread was . e *u4 added 'But lam exceedingly pleased to see
bold, .and though he bowed his head,, 4 . ."no, ' tlewood said, • I should have been much more gratified,
'lrene, to have visited you under different circumstances
apparent fear or nervousness, walkieg straight on. circumstances-
This iesha very sad errand for
assure you,'
coounrctidsehdook his bead and
me to have to attend upon you
Peace did not see the gallows watilthe procession took a '
sharp turn to the left, then for the first time the sliglly"moaawna.p?sitlettrl a'
scaffold came into view, and Peace, raising his head; 'that there is at least one person iss'ti:'e world who Et has redp'
saw it istreight before him. For an instant his face, sympathy- with you ' Peace seemed a little surprised at
which was pale and haggard, changed colour, there this, and after some hesitation he asked, as Mr Little.
was a startled look in his eyes, and his tread became wood paused, 'Who is that? Mr. Littlewood looked in-
less buoyant and firm; but the pensation of fear passed In-
tently at
.111 m , i and as
iiheir eyes met for a moment, he
away almost as quickly as it came, and Peace, now muttered the tho wsordmsr:l'de r eagau
thank you,'
overpowered,
Yf or a considerable yetl a burst
e into
s
arrived at the foot of the scaffold, walked firmly up the tears. He remained sobbing
steps and stood beneath the beam from which the rope buy quivering, his lips meting, as if he was muttering
something, and, altogether, he appeared remarkably moved-.
Visa already dangling. Up the step?, too, went
That remark Mr. Littlewood s4s made the criminal as
Marwood, and proceeded in a very business-like kind of humble
rabioemaes at child. '11; wanted to see you,' said Peace alter
trankyentrionmdto you. I know lam
a-
way to strap the coudeweed man's legs and to fasten
the noose round his neck; this enished, he was about to about to die, moments, 'to
liwn want to take
put the cap over his face when Peace turned to him things which weigh heavily upon it, ii.`)Zt ebnenfaoereer beginsome
somewhat sharply and said " Don't ; I want to look." want to ask you, no you believe that I am anxious to speak
Then as the Chaplain came to a portion of the service, the truth and nothing but the truth?' Peace after being re-
Peace said with much fervency, "God have mercy rained of his hearer's belief in his speaking truly,proceeded,
upon me. May the Lord have mercy upon me. May mart ell= hidmself shortly after to ask the same question.
Christ have mercy upon me. Amen." Thinking le any humanTein
answered, er
youred , 'I
fearfulcannpoo t
scic:inocue tovoeuil it possibledeii deliberately
r
had finished, Marwood again endeavoured to put on lle and confirm these lies, knowing that your Creator and
the cap, but Peace protested, " Don't ! Stop a bit, if Juesze is conscious of all you say, and that you will have to
you please, "he said, end then, turning to the repre. render an account of it all.' Peace replied, 'I know I shall
sentatives f the Press, he said— be hanged next Tuesday. I desire to be banged; Ido notwant to linger out my life in penal servitude. You see, Sir,
"You reporters, I wish you to notice the few words I have nothing to gain, and nothing to lose in my present
position: but I do want to atone in some measure for the
lam going to say to you. I know that my life has past, by telling all I know to some one in whom I have
been base and bad, but I wish yeti to notice, for confidence, and I have perfect confidence in. you. I
am
the sake of others, how a man can die, as I exceedingly grieved and repentant for all my past
life. If I could only undo what I have done or make
am about to die, in the fear of the Lord, amends for it in any way I would suffer my body 88 I DOW
Gentlemen, my heart says that I feel assured stand to be cut in pieces, inch by inch.' He proiaed again,
that my sins are forgiven me ; that I am going into Ld.tttitykewxge/tignalgrs.
iteitnleThaeodetoonetreagsaoimheasrtsepdollsie.
the Kingdom of Heaven, or else to the place pre- sharply, 'Do you really believe that I am speaking the
pared for those who rest until the great judgment day. truth.' lair.
iilmr.sLeltsloewweico
''
Lagtahialltrgeasronerim, and Peace said
Ido not think I have any enemies, but if there are one to believe him, and that was whyclireeelleseglettoaial
any who would be so, I nish them well. Gentlemen, , assured over and over again. He called God to witness that
about to say would be the truth, the whole truth,
all and all, I wish them to come to the Kingdom of tandhneowtil g l but the truth."
Heaven when they die as lam going to die." Then' '
, ' Peace then made born
eerobservationsd in connection with his
turning to the officials he said, 'Good bye, good. trial for the Banner-
bye. May Heaven's blessing rest upon you, and changing the subject to th3BBWtarleyeritauangedratuhrednersusadry
may you come to the Kingdom of Heaven at the "I was in Manchester in 1876. I was there t ' k
last. Amen." Then once more addressing the houses. I went to a place called Whalley Ra
%VT!
ISO,
bad
!,13
reporters, he said, "My last wishes and my last spotted a house there which I thought I could L. I was
respects are to my dear children and their dear mother. respectably dressed, because I mede a point of dressing
respectably, as the police never think of suspecting anyone
I hope none will disgrace them by taunting or jeering
them upon my account, but to have mercy upon them. NtVhheOp:ljgeettorf;llgOOdarepaithaensir a Illimtehis jiusiyml have throttle
God bless you my dear children. Good bye, Heaven house that night I passed two policemen on the Yrowaly.. tilitere
bless you all. Good bye. Oh, my Lord God, have were some grounds about the house, aud my object was to
mercy upon me." ' get into these grounds in the dusk and wait a chance of
, getting Into the house. I walked into the grounds through a
Then Marwood placed the cap over - his 'face, and, i gate and, before I was able to begin work, I heard a step
as he was-doing it, Pes,ce, in. quite a different voice behind Looking back, I 't was one of the po‘ice-
;me. saw i
from that in which he had previously been speaking " men I bad passed on the road. I doubled to -elude him,
—it-seemed, indeed, as if he was speaking very , for the moment I succeeded, arid takings favourable ch ince
sharply—said, "I should like" a drink. Have you-got ' I jumped on the wall, and es I was dropping !town I all but
fell into the arms of a second policeman, who must have
a drink to give me?" The chaplain, taking no notice
of the request, 'continued his reeding; but Peace again , bueenepmlaanredeforar
grab at
me-,
illiolileoomr ;jets
udo,
ilapoetukhnoesiesildt;
interrupted, and said, "Can I have a drink; can I that I bed been disturbeed, so I told him, 'You stand baok,
have a drink?" No notice was ,paid to this. The or I'll shoot you. He did not step _back-; and I stepped
service was nearly closed, and just as the chaplain back a few yards, and fired wide at him purposely te frighten
came to the words, "Lord Jesus, receive his spirit,. him, that I might get away. brolv,_.ifir,. I want to tell you,
Marwood pulled the bolt, and Peace disappeared from it a rule,an,futtuu tosii23eeliehvelmeorhmen liayi that I alwoayskme made
y career, never t t We
if I could avoidgit, wi:vegeer you believe me or not, and never
view. a
The drop was from sit to eight feet, and death was wanted to murder anybody, and only wanted' to do what I
care to do and to get ay' aw and it does seem odd, alter all,
instantaneous. It is true the body jumped up that in the end I should
slightly, but that was simply with the recoil of the life, the very thing I washarweaytos-sboe
anxious
having taken
rope, and then all was still j there was not even any never willingly or knowingly hurt a livinan 'to avoid. I have t
twitching of the muscles. Drawing near au the .9.4- is why I tan ynu T tired wias ee btssi • 'but tii Doticem'an was
fold after the execution the body was seen dangling as determined a man as my.self, and after I ad fired wide at
beneath the gallows ; the head was thrown on one cshim—anderved I.tlnw was
iazlel thehis work ork ;little
was in
Sir,—l
side, an indication that the neck was broken, and was rushing at and about to 7trikein mhets preset,
and that death must have been as sudden I had no time to lose if I wanted to get away at s'illiv.
as was his disappearance from view. The I then fired the second time; but all I wanted to
body remained suspended for an hour or so, do then was to disable the man that carried the
and was then cut down by Marwood, and removed staff, in order that I might get away. I had no intention of
killing him. We had a scale together. I couldtot take as
to another part of the yard. There it was subse- careful an aim as I would have done, and the ball, missing
quently viewed by a coroner's jury. 'Peace made no
the arm struck him in the breast, and he fell. I know no
formal confession. He has already confessed to the more. I got away, which was all I wanted. Some time after
Whalley Range murder, and he made no secret of the I saw in the papers that certain men had been taken into
fact that he murdered Mr. Dyson at Bannercross. custody for the murder of this policemen. That lute'
There was,' therefore nothing more for him to confess rested me. I liked to attend trials and I determined
to, unless other murders have been committed by him, to be present. I left home for Manchester, not telling
my family where I had gone. I attended the Man•
If so, the secret has died with him, chester assizes for two days, and heard the youngest
The air was bitterly cold, and until at least a of the brothers, as I was told they were, sentenced
quarter to eight there was not the slightest sign of any to death. The sentence was afterwards reduced to
penal servitude for life. Now, sir, some people
crowd gathering round the gaol. The bell, a light,
tinkling metal, tolled at long intervals, and this was ig an v will say that I was a hardened wretch for allow-
the signal for the assembling of the public. From the man would innocent
lhave
man
edonetootherwise, knowing as I did that
houses and streets round absut, people poured in large I should certainly be hanged for the crime? But now that 1
numbers. Several hundred people had quickly taken up am going to forfeit my own life, and feel that I have nothing
their positions, and they formed almost a cordon round to gain by further secrecy, I think it right, in the sight of
God and man
the grey stone building, Some of the people went round , to clear this young man, woo is innocent of
, the crime. That man was sentenced to death the day before
to the back of the prison, where the hoopital is situated
it being stated that at that point the withdrawal tottl the Dacen'malndi, 11 ritootuilntetnod,ds reallyhididtnot intend,
gr.:
ehe bolt eould be distinctly beard; others pre- myself; and I call God to witless that his lifem
waso get away
d the front of the building, and they were not me unintentionally. I came to Sheffield the morning after
allowed to pass the outer gates. Here they were the trial, and I went to Banner-cross in the evening.' •
marshalled, each one standing where he could get a Peace then proceeded to speak of his visit to the Dysons'
' to house at Banner-cross on the night of Mr. Dyson's murder—
vies
moil of the flag-pole which surmounted the
battlement of the castellated prison. The
e his object being, he said, to persuade Mrs. Dyson to get her
minutes flew quickly, and shortly before eight a ifrasisld lie' withdraw the out against
warder appeared on the high battlement, and made said that Mrs. Dyson becoming nasy and usilirthreat's
preparations for announcing to the public that against him, he got angry— .
the sentence of the law had been carried out. "' I pulled out any revolver, and held it in her face, and
Here he stood, with the flag in one hand and said, now you be careful what you are saying to me.
the rope in the other, awaiting the signal. You
an C bmeet:lfketlioan
It know what. . I
She
en al;ori
nrorhneoct
Eight o'clock chimed from various clocks, and what I said, but continued her shit' se and threats and
at length the prison clock slowly struck the four while this was going on air. Dyson hastily made his ap-
quarters. Expectation 119 W reached its highest pearance. As soon as I saw him I immediately started
limit. The delay was annoying. The crowd was im- down the passage which leads to the street, but before I
. could do so Mr. Dyson seized me. I struggled to get past him.
patient, and the most inhuman and ribald observation'
I said, • Stand back, and let me go ; ' but he did riot, and I
were passed from lip to lip, n and enjoyed by the then fired one barrel of my revolver wide at him to
bled
assemthrong. Two minutes elapsed, and still the frighten him. I assure you I purposely fired wide.
warder stood at the foot.of the flag-pole, giving no sign. I could have shot him dead at the first shot had I
Therpeoele became more impatient. 'A
firm belief was cared toido 80. I WAS °so near to him. Mr. Dyson kept his
expressed as the delay increased that he had cheated hold of me, and we struggled together, and he seemed likely
the better of 'me. fie lastd got u hold of the arm ee
the executioner. Escape was looked upon as ine t'''' Pt
poseible ; .hut many thought it quite probable that. not
Imboamdeltiptpoada'pinaryznoloivular,
ea d
d a denespiiina:s7 eiffhorl
by Altus_ of his inordinately. large tongue, he had wrenched the arm from bidl, and fired again. It was a life
bqu *Flelis,eLV aril' hbv we. These deubts P- d , and a • death struggle, Sir. But even then L did cot intend to
.• ... .e: are, Awes.'laci eocei
~/ fund ea", ~ DI fiIiDOIL.: t., Will E.d.or, , , Lao - . ...t..iti.:(,. ',„14,.1•,, 4,4101 *Le I-

"In memory qf Charles reaCC, who was executed in
Armley Prison, Tuesday, February 25, 3.570, agi 47.
For that I done but never intended.'

aim and