The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-14
CHARLES PEACE HANGED,
CLAIMING TO TIE LAsTtA MURDER FOR
II: WHICH ANOTHER MAN SUFFERS.

LONDON, Feb. 2G,-Charlcs Peace,
the notorious burglar and murderer,
was executed at Leeds yesterday.
He died in the odorr: of -sanctity, for
giving all his enemies. Some! DAYS
before his execution he confessed that
he was the murderer of Manchester
policeman at Whallegrange in 1876,
for which crime man named Habron
was sentenced to death. The SEN
tence, however, was commuted on
account OF Habron's youth, and he is
now undergoing Imprisonment for
life. Peace said he was surprised b.
the officers while attempting burglary
and fired upon them in sclf.defence.
He was in court when Habron was
sentenced TO death. I he Manchester
newspapers and discrepancies be-
tween the statements Of Peace and
the circumstances of the Wales
grange murder. 1t is believed that
Peace sought to prolong his pending
an investigation Of his statements
concerning the murder of the police
man. But Peace persisted in his
statement TO the last moment. The
Home Office has begun an inquiry
into the case of Habron.
The story Of Peace's career would
fill volume and has already filled a
great many columns of the. English
newspapers. He conducted his pro-
fession as burg lar alone. Settling
down in one town after another, he
led an apparently sober and quiet
life, spending the days playing relig-
ious times OH violin or some other
musical instrument or carving wood
en- saints and giving nn impression
that he was man OF independent
means. At dusk he sailed forth TO
"crab cribs" not hcsitating to shoot
any man or other creature that came
between him and his escape. At
Melton A1owbray, some years ago,
he carried off s25, 900 worth of plate
and jewels. Hc plundercd York
House, Sheffield, Of $4,000 worth OF
lace and skins. After ransacking
one town after another he settled in
Blackheath, and tho newspapers
tcemcd with stories Of robbcrics COM
mitted there. One night, however,
an officer fell upon him while at work
and desperate fight took place.
Peace fired five shots, wounding the
officer i'll the leg, and then stabbing
him with a long knife, but lie could
not get away from him, The burglar
was found TO be an oldish man, only
five feet four inches tall, and Of. slight
but wiry build. He was convicted of
burg larry aud condemned 10 a long
term Of Imprisonment, but before be-
ing conveyed to prison a patient in
ycstigation Of his career was under
taken, and resulted in the discovery
That he was the man for whom the
police had been searching every
quarter Of the world for the murder
of Arthur Dyson, civil engineer, in
November, 1876. Peace had been in
loye with Mrs. Dyson, an, American
woman, and had followed her about
from place TO place. Her husband
forbade him the house, and lie threat
ened in return to take Dyson's life.
He accostcd Mrs. Dyson in the yara
Of their house in Banncrcross. She
screamed ard bar husband came to
the spot and Peace shot him, scaled
the garden wall and escaped.
Dyson was engaged with Sir Nor
ton Peto in the building of the Allan
tic and Great Western Railway. lie
also had charge Of the construction
OF The Vandalla and Ierrc Hautc, tho
Iron Mountain, and had something to
do with the Lake Shore Road. The
Grand Trunk Railway of Canada
was also constructed nnder his man.
agement. Mrs. Dyson was in this
country, whittier she had fed for fear
of Peace, when tha. worthy was cap-
tured and went back 10 England to
attend his trial for murder, being the
principal witness against him. On
his way by rail from prison at Pen
tonvillc TO be tried at Leeds he made
a desperate efforts to escape by max
ing flying leap headforemost out
of the narrow window in tho oairiuge
door, while the train was going at the
rate of fifty miles an hour. One of