The Springfield herald., 1912-01-26
~ II. M. EoBERr

| tiASudus WHERE uo LOOK up plCIuIc'
framing. becoming known at the same
time as an enthusiastic angler. who
preferred to sit upon the wharves ply
ing his rod and line rather than to
work at his trade. When his solitary
figure had become sufficiently well
known, he began a system Of success
full silk robberies from riverside ware
houses. which produced sum cient
plumber to enable him to inaugurate
the role he played SO successfully in
London.
1t was while residing In the Evelina
road at Packham that Peace brought
his system to perfection. Here he
resided for two years with nothing to
disturb his domestic happiness except
his housekeeper's-Mrs Thompson
occasional lapses into inebriety His
days were spent in the leisured calm
of a gentleman of means who had re-
tired from the activities of business
life. Music was his constant solace.
Whatever treasures he might discard
in hurried flight during any of his
nocturnal expeditions, he never left
a violin behind, and SO vast became
his stolen collection that he rented an
empty room In order to house his
store. AS his business continued to
prosper he filled his house to over
flowing with pilfered goods, and, when
space was wanting, he rented other
houses in different quarters OF the
city, which he filed with valuables
and placed in charge Of housekeepers
through whose assistance-given UNI
suspectingly-he was enabled to dis
pose of the proceeds of his enterprise.
He loved to frequent the courts, es-
pecially Bow street, and there he
would sit for hours studying the pro-
ceedings while huge posters outside
offered tho reward for his apprehen-
sion.
The house in Evelina road had been
most admirably selected. The garden
opened upon a railroad embankment,
and along this Peace would creep at
night without being under the necessi-
ty of opening his front door. Once
safe under the cover of this embank-
ment he could visit any part OF the
neighborhood, or go further afield,
without his egress becoming known.
He left no place for accident in his
designs. He worked without accom-
plices and was wholly ignorant of
the professional thief and his haunts.
Stealthy as q cat, Peace would visit
the place of his intended robbery and
watch 1t for hours together, never al
lowing his anxiety to overcome his
prudence until he was thoroughly IA
miliar with the ground plan and the
inhabitants. When at last he obtain
ed entrance, his first act was to pre-
vent surprise by screwfng up the
doors. Then he would thoroughly
rifle the room in which he worked.
afterward, If no alarm was given, NOV.
ing into another room and screwsng
up the doors of this apartment also,
leaving g. safe retreat in case of ne
cessity. When his job was completed
he would creep through the window to
the street with his booty, deposit it in
TIE pony-trap, which was always left
waiting in convenient place, and
drive off quietly in the direction of
the Evelina road.
His peculiar power over watch-dogs
has already been commented upon.
Peace never failed by some mysterious
means to silence even the most fero-
cious animal. Another curious feat
which he could accomplish, like Jack
Sheppard, was to squeeze his body
through the smallest Of spaces.
Once, when living In Nottingham.
Peace was surprised by a pertinacious
detective, who insisted upon learning
his name and occupation.
"I'm hawker of spectacles," re-
sponded Peace, "and my license is up
stairs. Wait here a moment and Ill
show it to you"
He darted from the room, entered
the second story of his house, and
squeezed like a cat through a space
six inches between two window bars.
dropping to the ground. That de-
tective never saw him again.
Added to the reckless Indifference
of the man was sardonic humor, In
stanced in conversation which he
held with detective some time after
his arrest.
"What is the use of telling the
TRUTH" he complained, when the false
ness of his pretended conversion was
made the subject of comment. NO
body will believe you Let me give
you an example.
when 1 was passing as Mr.. Robin
son of Peckham l walked into
chemists shop one morning, smoking
an excellent cigar.
1.-The chemist observed: That is
very good tobacco you are smoking,
Mr.. Robinson. Where do you get your
cigars?
"I steal them,' replied, perfectly
frankly and truthfully. It was the
absolute fact. l had stolen those
cigars. But my friend, the chemist.
thought it an excellent joke. He roar
ed with laughter, and Of course did
not believe me in the least.
"I wish you would steal me a few
Of the same kind he answered, and
very generously promised to do So
"Some weeks afterward l came
across very fine lot of choice Havan-
as in a house l visited rather late at