Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1879-02-01 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT.  -.It is understood that Peace has made little secret of his career after the Bannercross murder. To some friends he said : "Do you want to know how I dodged the bobbies ?" and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, he said: 'Well, I will tell you." Then he asked them to turn their backs to him a bit. They did so, and were astounded to find that Peace completely altered the expression of his face, and so protruded his chin and curled his lips that under ordinary circumstances it would have been impossible to recognise him, especially as he had by the peculiar contortion of the features forced the blood into his face until he looked like a mulatto. One of the spectators said, "No wonder you could get clear from Sheffield when you can change your face like that." Where upon Peace laughed and said, "I can do some dodges. I can dodge any detective in existence. I did not change my face much when I left Sheffield, but 11 will tell you about it. After what took I place at Bannercross-terrace, I went across the fields in the direction of the Endcliffehall to Orookes and Sandigate, and then back down to Broomhill, where I took a cab and drove down to the church gates, there got out and went to the house of a relative in Spring-street and changed clothes. I afterwards went to Rotherham, and walking to Masbro' Station took a ticket for Beverley. I left the train at Normanton, and retaining the ticket took another one for York. I stayed in York a night or two, and missing the ticket went on to Beverley, and thence to Hull." There he committed several robberies, and afterwards visited Leeds, Bradford, and Manchester. From the last-named place he journeyed to Nottingham, where be picked up with Mrs. Thompson. He had not been long in Nottingham before he committed a silk robbery, taking goods to the value of about £3OO. He was stopping at a lodging house with Mrs. Thompson, and after they had gone to bed one evening a policeman went into their room. Peace affected to be exceedingly indignant at the man's intrusion, and asked him what he wanted. Continuing his narrative Peace said : The officer wanted to know who I was and where I came from, and I at once replied that I was a hawker. The officer asked for my licence, and what I was carry ing. I told him that my licence and the goods I was carrying were downstairs, and said if he would go down and wait till my wife and I got up I would show them to him. The officer walked out of the room, and no sooner had be gone than I got out of the window and escaped. I took shelter in a house close by, and sent the landlady of that house back to the lodging-house from which I escaped to fetch my boots. When I found that Nottingham was getting too hot for me, I came to Sheffield and did a good bit of "work." One of the places I robbed was a house at the corner of Havelock-square, and I did very well there. I saw the bobby coming though, and I left. At the time the inquest was being held upon Mr. Dyson I was in Sheffield, and on several occasions I went to Hull tones my wife and give her money. Afterwards I went to London, taking Mrs. Thompson with me. On two occasions while I was in London I met Bill Fisher, a man with whom I had worked. The first time I met him was on the Holborn-viaduct, and as I passed him I heard him sap, 'Why, that's Peace,' I lost myself immediately; but not long after then I met him on the steps leading into Farringdon-street. On that occasion our eyes met again, and I was off directly. I  have often met the best London detectives and stared at them right in the faro ; but they can't recognise me." Peace's statement with respect to his meeting with Fisher is confirmed by the fact that Mr. Fisher, on his return to Sheffield, communicated with the police, and told them that he had seen Peace in London, and the London police were apprised of the fact that the now celebrated convict was amongst them.