The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-08

Nearly two years ago the residents of Shelf
field, England, were shocked over the an
nouncement that Mr.. Arthur Dyson, a civil
engineer, we'll known both sides of the At
lsnt1c as having been connected with the
building OF several important railroads, had
been foully murdered. A large reward was
offered for the capture of the murderer, who
was known as OBS of the most noted cracks
men the English police had to deal with
Circulars, giving photograph and full de-
scription of the murderer, were sent to the
police of every part of the world; but, de-
spite every effort, he succeeded in eluding
the vigilance of the detectives until recent
~, when he was arrested for perpetrating a
burglary near London, and afterward
RECOGNIZED As THE MrRDERER
of Mr.. Dyson. Meanwhile. Mrs. Dyson left
England and came to Cleveland Being the
only witness Of the murder, her presence is
needed at the trial of the prisoner, and on
Tuesday evening last Thomas Walsh, SER
geant of the Sheffield detective police ar
rived in this city from England in search OF
the lady. He consulted with the police of
the city, and by their aid succeeded in
finding Mrs. Dyson living with some friends
on the West Side. A Leader reporter called
upon her yesterday, and was told the cir
cumstances of the murder. The lady who
is handsome, and apparently young, dresses
in mourning for her late husband. Though
of a modest aud retiring disposition, prefer
inently In print. Mrs. Dyson briefly recount
ed the facts of the tragedy of which she was
a witness.
About s o'clock one evening in April.
1877, Mr.. Dyson and lady were sitting In the
parlor of their resdence in Sheffield, when
loud rlDg at the doorbell was heard. Mr..
Dyson was reading at the time, and as the
servants were known to be busy. Mrs. Dyson
answered the summons. On opening the
door, she was
CONFRONTED BY A MAN
below the medium stature, with a long,
gray beard, giving him a venerable appear
ance, and the lady judged the stranger to be
in the ne:ghborhooi of so years Of age. He
asked to see Mr.. Dyson, and was requested
to send in his card. He had none, he said,
but insisted on seeing Mr.. Dyson. Suspect
ing that he meant mischief she attempted
to close the door. The stranger probably
thought The door would be opened by a ser
want, and he would be shown inside the resi-
deDce to await the appearance of Mr. Dyson,
and when he found that his plan would not
work, he attempted to thwart the lady's de-
sign, and Immediately attacked her a
scream brought her husband to the scene,
and, upon his attempting TO rescue Mrs. by
son, the robber drew a revolver and fred at
the husband, the bullet taking effect in his
left temple, causing death. The lady was
stunned for the moment, and could scarcely
realize what had transpired. Her first i'm
pulse was to
FOLLOW THE MURDERER,
who Immediately fled, but just as he was
about to scale the wall of the court he
paused as if to consider the propriety of
killing Mrs. Dyson. and thus put out of the
way the only living witness of his crime.
The appearance of a number of people,
who were attracted by the pistol shot and
the lady's screams, soon decided the matter
for him, and he concluded 10 run and thus
escape capture.
The police were notified and every effort
was imme diately made to arrest the perpe-
traitor of the deed. The man was minus
three fingers of the left hand, and from
other points in Mrs. Dyson's description of
HIM he was recognized by the police as
Charles Peace, alias Ward, noted London
burglar, who, for many years had been con-
cerned in some of the boldest robberies in
England, each time escaping detection.
curate description of Peace were sent every
where. A reward of fl00 was offered for his
arrest, and few months later, no clue hav-
ing yet been discovered,
AN ADDITIONAL REWARD
of f100 was offered for the murderer of Sir
John Brown. Mrs. Dyson, fearing that
Peace might murder her to cover up his
was danger travelling too for Peace was un
derstood tc be at the head of large and we'll
orgs nized gang, any one of whom would not
hesitate to kill Mrs. Dyson, and thus aid
their chef. While she remained in England
her house was guarded by the police, and
when she decided to depart for America the
same officer who now comes to accompany
her back escorted her as far as Queenstown
Ireland, the last stopping place OF the steam
er previous to reaching America.
Mrs. Dyson had been in America several
times before, having accompanied her hus-
band whenever his business called HIM away
from bis native land. As considerable of Mr.
Dyson's labors had been IN the
VICINITY OF CLEVELAND,
he made many acquaintance in this city,
and hither his wife decided 10 come. Since
her arrival she has not hesitated to do what
she could to aid the police. who. stimulated
by the large reward offered, used every
means to capture the murderer.
Last month a man was arrested in Lam
beth, just outside OF the city of London, for
being concerned in burglary and attempted
to penal servitude for life. While awaiting
the time for the carrying out of the sentence
it was discovered that the prisoner was none
other than Peace, the murderer of Mr.. Dy-
son. He had shaved off his beard, and
otherwise disguised himself. but for all that
he was recognized as the individual for
whom The police in every quarter of the
world had been looking for months. De-
tective Walsh was immediately sent to
America for Mrs. Dyson, who was found as
above described.
Mr.. Dyson was a man we'll known IN his
profession everywhere, and had travelled
extensively in following his line of busi-
ness. In the United States he was engaged
with
SIR MORTON PEro
in the building of the Atlantic and Great
Western Railway. He also had charge of
the construction of the Vsndalia and Terre
Haute, the Iron Mountain, and other lines,
being also associated for some time with the
late Mr.. Collins on the Lake Shore Road.
The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada was
also constructed under his management. So
great was his reputation as an engineer that
he was rendered an appointment to India,
but declined on account of poor health. In
appearance he is described rs fine-looking
man, well built and standing six feet six
inches in height.
Mr.. Walsh, the English officer. formerly
lfvod In frianda here