Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1879-02-01 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

REMOVAL OF PEAOE FROM SHEFFIELD.  The greatest excitement prevailed in Sheffield en Saturday afternoon, when the convict Peace was removed from Sheffield to the county prison at Wakefield, where he will remain until his trial at the Leeds Assizes. The prieoner slept well during the night succeeding the examination of Mrs Dyson, and was seen by Mr Hallam, the police surgeon, who certified that Peace was in a condition to undertake the journey. It was at once decided to remove him, but the authorities kept their intention with the utmost secrecy. The appearance of the prison van horses in Castle-green, the thoroughfare leading to the cells, aroused the suspicion, however, that Peace was to be taken from Sheffield, and a large crowd gathered near the police-station. As soon as the horses had been led through the archway to the parade groud the gates were cloi.ed, and a number of police-officers were stationed-in the street to prevent the press of the crowd. The prison van was placed in the parade ground near the passage leading to the cells, and as soon . as the horses had been attached the convict was carricd down from his cell by the two Pentonville warders and a local officer. He appeared utterly helpless, and looked a miserable spectacle, pale and haggard in features, the wanness of which was heightened by the broad white bandage covering the wound he received on his head when he made his desperate attempt to escape from the Loudon express last Wednesday. He wore his convict's dress, and very strange he looked in his peculiar, eomical cap surrounding the white bandage, and apparently he was as feeble as a child. In the van was placed for his convenience the mattre-is upon which he had been lying in his cell, and a number of rags, and these latter were wrapped well round him. The warders and other officers got into the van by his side, and guarded him, without using either manacles or handcuffs. The gates of the prison yard were then opened, and the van, behind which rode several offieers. was driven rapidly to the Midland Station. A large crowd followed the van through the strirts, and at the station a larger crowd was found waiting to receive them. The passenger entrance was completely blocked up, and it would have been almost impossible to take Peace through that way. By an arrangement previously made, however, the van wak driven. past the entrance into the station yard and driven up by the side of a passenger guard's break which was standing in a siding. Vexed at the sell, the people burst through the guard of police in the station, and running up the line forced an entrance into the yard. Here many of them saw the convict lifted from the van, and the mattress and rugs transferred to the break. Peace was then lifted into the break by the two warders and two local officers. The people pressed forward to get a glimpse of the convict, but were pushed back by the police, and the only person who saw him before the van left the station was Sergeant Robinson, the officer wh,, captured him at Blackheath, and who is now visiting in Sheffield. Very shortly a train from London, leaving Sheffield for the North at 242, arrived at the station, the van was attached, and amidst the shouts of the crowd the train left the station, bearing Peace on his way to Wakefield. It is a singular fact that the convict, on leaving Banner Cross on the night of the murder, did not know that he had killed Mr Dyson. In fact, it was not until the following morning, when be read the account of the murder in the newspapers, that he was aware Mr Dyson was dead. . .  Then he felt it needful to be more careful iu his movements, and disguised himself.