The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-11
HANGED IN ARMLEY PRISON.
THE LAST HOURS AND PRATERS or THE
BANNERCROSS MURDERER.
He Confesses that he knled n Police Onhcer
aear Manchester, and saw Another Man
Sentenced TO Suffer Death for the Crime.

Charles Peace, the Banncrcross murderer,
was hanged yesterday morning, Feb rs, within
the precincts Of Armley Jail BY tho arrange
ments made only four reporters were allowed
to be present. Small groups gathered near
Armloy iail in spite Of the dry biting frost.
Among them were n number Of boys who. by
climbing trees on an emincnce in the back
ground. cnd"avored to obtain n view OF the pro-
oeedings within the walls Of the Jail.
At quarter to the prison bell began to toll.
and continued until the black flag was hoisted.
AtthRt time there wero about 400 persons in the
neighborhood Of the prison. Snow, began, to
fall shortly before o'clock. The black flag
cheer from the crowd At TAO those proyided
with passes were admitted within the Jail walls.
and after waiting a short period IN The outer ter
scaffold stood in niche at the end OF the prison
The scafYold was a plain wooden structure
and has been used on previous occasions. The
platform was raised from the level OF the yard
wooden steps. Tho uprghts and beams were
painted black. and tho lower part Of the struc-
ture wns covered with black glazed calico At
tached to an iron asp fastened in the beam were
five or six links OF an iron chain. from which
tho fatal rope hung.
At7:5s the procession started from the corri-
dor. the chaplain. the Row O, Cookson. reading
the burial service in u loud clear voice. Immc-
diateiy behind the chaplain WINS the convict
warder and behind by Nhrwood the execution
or. The culprit walked along pretty steadily,
He WAS very pale. The procession slowly filed
down the gravel walk to the foot Of the scafold.
where the governor and the under sheriff
stepped on one side ana Peace, two warders
the chaplain. and the cxecutionor assembled
fold. reading aloud tic burial service while
Peace aud tn" tive warders took their places on
Ponce trelnbied slightly
The two warders remained. ono on either
side OF him, supporting him. while Marwood
got ready the white cat to place on the conycts
head. Al this point Peace looked round and
words; don't put it on, Iwnnt to hear this
read. The chaplain read: God have mercy
upon us" and Peace responded, " Lord have
After the chaplain had finished reading. Peace.
bracing himself M, said:
the lew arm sS 70 a o TI Know Soa nat to nSGs
has been bad one w,h YOU 20 learu that have been
ss. died in the the 10. SoG w see wh9 SUI;
6 SS LORD mt, And sure can ssw my u. P SspS are
icr am prepared fer The Judgment day Tell them
Earth and wish all my enemies would DO % 70 me !
Heaven a. the last and 70 die IS calmly a, now Die
want YOU to gay 10 them that ssid goohy and Heaven
Heaven las. s.wf me Say hat my best iSoTSRts
and children Dear gentlemen, hope that nothing will
BRING disgrace and di.,res. ON my family my trends
S S SSS then them sy ny cd d a c awe ps dS ri
Amen
Peace having finished speaking the chaplain
MsTWood and the others on IN the the scafrold and
said. am ready II you are" The chaplain's
Midst %s In MsrMcod al h
moment ADJUSTED the white cap. After 1t had
while the executoner was buslly adjusting the
rope. Peace again in spoke POKE 70 Matwocd. Take
said pu o u au II Is
right won't hurt" One OF the .warders said,
bsss YOU You psS rsDs 1 eqS
the lever and removed the string holding II in
position H., The , eh"Rha d cried: Lord Jesus
drop fell and Peace died without a struggle
After the body had hung the usual time lone
where the formal inquest was held before Mr..
Malcolm Borough Coroner. The remains were
side the walls and were there unceremoni ously
Inferred. Rude stones mark the place of burial
and Il is Intended that headstone shall be
others. on which viii Sc cut his Initials and the
on the night before the execution Leeds So
licitor went 20 Armley Jail and drew up the con-
victs last Will and testament by the will Peace
Equally Hannah SP ssce ms eT9S ssf aSS
On Monday night Peace either wrote or die
tated sixteen letters. and Yesterday morning he
all dated Feb IS. and the convict wished them
70 be considered rs sent from the scanold. The
following are his letters TO his wife:
have been hase bad man to thee for many years
oe G" 5o 9sd 9s ny 'dSs G ny, sS S
oTsSene or Know 6a1 oa hast " already i' fSe
me for Al I have dQne TO Thee and my dear DO no!
any " sens Hsan, any y"g Persoa On my gear
s. ,e WI Prois1 fs il all ny d S And ennf
Sope dat You NH mee n me- AZ s s ST. on NV
lass DO not forget that our next meeting place hoc viii
think that this is true view o how stand this
me having been then in penal serviiuac, could not
ave E%, nv ihesI. any more 80 taai should haye TO
hyed two year, or more and have DIED IN prison nj NE
M srs9 gi and d s s,qs af VII ;, s1 ne he. Sg
prayers and ,orsiyr me ny sns agd receive my poor
s2S "S dc ef hi ee 81 ss'rn nv 80 ps S UNI. snd
husband and iather. CHlALEs PKAck.
Yesterday morning Peace wrote the following
To Ny DEAN WIZ AND FAMILY tell you this great
~ That could not ten Eoa eserday-i9r could not
gong To- am going to heaven. or "a the place where
By God ior the sood 10 Vail ual he Te.afrcet'n III,
dad So 90 n,t l9rss' oar meg,1 place I'm he"yen
letter l. wrote twenty ave minutes before l9 DC 80
CHAmrs PACE
The lett ars to the otEer members Of the family
are filed with good advice ms 10 the life they
should lend. He has also sent 10 his wife ant
children the tracts cards letters ard so forth
that have been sent 10 him since he had beer
sentenced lie has also designed and sent then
funeral ceri, upon wnlrh le ma nhl hrinted IN,
was executed in Armlcy Prison. Tuesday. Feb
%. 1873; age A. for that l done. but never
Peacc's copy Of the Duke" violin was OF
Monday sold by anction 10y Mcssrs Hutton a
Sons Of Leeds The instrument was sold by
Mr.. Huryey. AZ the recent salo OF Peaee's hddc'
at Sheffield Tor 500. Mr. Hutton had receives
instructions to sell il without reserve. The bid
ding WIS slow and IL was soon evident tina
there WAS no chance Of the violin realizing III
previous fabulous price. The bids stopped a
twelve gu!neas, and at that price the violin wal
knO'krd down.
On "Wednesday last a formal confession wa
PLACED by the convict in the hands OF the Rev
]. II. LittowoOd. vicar Of Darnall, under tn,
solemn engagement that II should not be mad,
public until after the hanging. In his interview
with the clergyman Peace said:
Il know | shall be banged next Tuesday.
desire to be hanged. | do not want 10 linger on
my life IN penal seryitudc. You see sir hav
nothing to gain. and nothing to lose. in m
present position; but ] de- want TO atone IN SOM
rleasure for the pnst BY telling all know I,
some one in whom ! have confidence, and
have perfect confidence in YOU. ! am exceed
ingly greyed and repentant for all nv past life
II ! could only undo what have done or max
amends for It in any way, | would suife
my body MS | now stand To be cut in piece
inch by inch. Now. Mr.. Ltilewood. about tn
Banner Cross murder. want first 10 say solemn
IV n you n the sight of these and in tn