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Charles Peace (14 May 1832 – 25 February 1879) was an English burglar and murderer, who embarked on a life of crime after being injured in an industrial accident in a steelworks when he was 14 years old, when a hot steel rod entered his leg. He had a lifelong limp after the accident.

Key Information

After killing a policeman in Manchester, he fled to his native Sheffield, where he became obsessed with his neighbour's wife, eventually fatally shooting her husband. Settling in London, he carried out multiple burglaries before being caught in the prosperous suburb of Blackheath, wounding the policeman who arrested him. He was linked to the Sheffield murder, and tried at Leeds Assizes. Found guilty, he was hanged at Armley Gaol. His story has inspired many authors and film makers.

Early life and crimes

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Charles Peace was born on 14 May 1832, in Darnall, Sheffield. He was the youngest son of shoemaker John Peace and his wife Jane, a naval surgeon's daughter. Peace attended schools in Pitsmoor,[1] Dinnington[2] and Paradise Square, before becoming an apprentice at Millsands in Sheffield.[1] At age fourteen, Charles was permanently crippled in an accident at a steel-rolling mill.

In 1854, he was found guilty of multiple burglaries and sentenced to four years' penal servitude. In 1859 he married a widow named Hannah Ward. Soon afterwards he committed a major burglary in Manchester, nearly killing a police officer who came to arrest him, and was sentenced to six years' penal servitude.

For a while after this, Peace seems to have concentrated on his picture-framing business. He then began working on the North Eastern Railway, from which he was sacked for absenteeism. After moving back to the Sheffield suburb of Darnall, Peace made the acquaintance of a civil engineer named Arthur Dyson.[3][4]

First murder

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At Whalley Range, Manchester, Peace was seen by two policemen entering the grounds of a house on 1 August 1876, about midnight.[5] One, PC Nicholas Cock, intercepted him as he was trying to escape. Peace took out his revolver and warned Cock to stand back. The policeman came on. Peace fired, but deliberately wide of him. Cock drew his truncheon, and Peace fired again, this time seriously wounding Cock, who died on 2 August.[6]

In the dark, Peace escaped; two brothers living nearby, John and William Habron, were arrested and charged with the killing of Constable Cock. At Manchester Assizes, John Habron was acquitted for lack of evidence, but William Habron was sentenced to death, later commuted to penal servitude for life. Peace made a point of attending the trial to confirm that he was not a suspect before returning to Darnall.[4]

Dyson's murder

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In the meantime, Peace had developed an obsessive interest in Dyson's wife Katherine, though it was never established how far she may have returned his feelings. In June 1876, Dyson threw a card into the garden of Peace's house, reading: "Charles Peace is requested not to interfere with my family."[3]

On 1 July, Peace approached Katherine and allegedly threatened to 'blow out her brains and those of her husband'[relevant? – discuss]. Dyson took out a summons against Peace, and moved to a different suburb, Banner Cross. On their first day in the new house, 29 November, Katherine was accosted by Peace, who said "You see, I am here to annoy you, and I'll annoy you wherever you go."[3][4]

That evening, a little after eight o'clock, Peace observed Katherine coming out from her back door and entering the outside toilet. When she duly emerged, he confronted her with a revolver, shouting "Speak or I'll fire." In terror, she retreated to the outhouse, and her husband came out to investigate. Peace fled down the passage, where Dyson followed him. Peace fired twice at Dyson, the second shot passing fatally through his temple. As Katherine cried "Murder!", Peace escaped and made his way by train to Hull, where his wife kept an eating-house.[3]

On the run

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There was an immediate hue and cry, with a price of £100 on his head. The police issued an inaccurate description that had to be altered. Peace was changing his appearance, concealing his missing finger with a prosthetic arm, and moving around the country to try to avoid detection. In Nottingham, he met Mrs Sue Thompson, who became his mistress. (Sue Thompson ultimately betrayed Peace's whereabouts to the police, who however denied her the £100 reward on the grounds that her evidence did not lead directly to Peace's conviction). In early 1877, they moved to London, where Peace felt safer from arrest. He sent for his wife and son, Willie, to join him in Peckham.[4]

Among his favourite hunting-grounds was the affluent suburb of Blackheath, where a rash of burglaries was noted with alarm. It was here that Peace was finally caught. On 10 October 1878, at about 2 am, Constable Edward Robinson saw a light appear suddenly in a window at the back of a house in St John's Park.[7] He and his colleague Constable William Girling waited at the back window while their colleague Sergeant Charles Brown rang the bell and knocked on the front door.[7] Peace tried to escape through the garden, and fired four shots at Robinson, who closed on him and managed to hold him, even though a fifth shot had passed through his arm.[3][7]

Prosecution

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Peace was remanded for a week, in which he refused to give his name. However, while in captivity he wrote a letter to a business colleague who decided to co-operate with police. The colleague revealed its author as Peace, writing under his pseudonym John Ward. Under that name, he was tried at the Old Bailey for burglary and the attempted murder of PC Robinson. The evidence against the prisoner was clear, and he was sentenced by Justice Henry Hawkins to penal servitude for life.[3][7]

From Pentonville prison, where he was serving his sentence, Peace was taken to Sheffield, where he appeared before the stipendiary magistrate at the Town Hall and was charged with the murder of Dyson. As Mrs Dyson's cross-examination was adjourned to the next hearing, Peace was taken back to London to await the second hearing. However, the hearing had to be adjourned for a further eight days: on the journey back to Sheffield, Peace jumped from the train near Kiveton Park and was found unconscious beside the track.[3] According to another account, Peace only attempted to jump and was restrained by a warden.[8]

Declared fit to stand trial, Peace appeared for his second examination before the magistrate. His solicitor, William Clegg, tried to prove that Mrs Dyson had been on more intimate terms with Peace than she was ready to admit, and that Dyson had been the aggressor in a struggle in which Peace had reacted in self-defence.[3][4] A number of pencilled notes had been found near the scene, which appeared to have been written by Mrs Dyson, indicating a close relationship with Peace, though she denied having written them. (At the Coroner's inquest after the murder, she said her husband had seen them and declared them to be forgeries, possibly by Peace himself.) After the hearing, Peace was committed for trial at the Leeds Assizes, to begin on 4 February 1879.[4][3]

Trial

[edit]

Mr Thomas Campbell Foster Q.C. led for the prosecution; future Solicitor-General Frank Lockwood led for the defence. Both men protested to the jury at the sensational rumours being peddled by the press, which appeared to prejudice a fair trial—a sentiment heartily endorsed by Peace, who called out "Hear, Hear!"[4][3]

Again, Mrs Dyson denied her husband had attacked Peace, and as she was the only witness to the shooting, there was no one to contradict her statement. However, she admitted that she and Peace had been seen together on various occasions and that her husband had objected to the friendship.[4][3]

Several other witnesses claimed to have seen Peace in the neighbourhood on the night of the murder, and a labourer named Brassington testified that Peace had accosted him in the street, vowing to shoot "those strange folks before morning" and walking off towards Dyson's house. Brassington was a stranger to Peace, but he had seen him at close quarters under a gas-lamp and a full moon; thus, he was able to swear to his identity. The revolver taken from Peace at his arrest was produced, and it was shown that the rifling of the bullet extracted from Dyson's head was the same as that of the bullet fired from the revolver.[4]

Mr Justice Lopes, summing up, said it had been clearly proved that no struggle had taken place before the murder and emphasised that the jury must do their duty to the community by the oath they had sworn. Ten minutes after they retired, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. Asked if he had anything to say, Peace reportedly replied, "It is no use my saying anything." The judge passed sentence of death, to be carried out in Armley Gaol (later HMP Leeds) on 25 February.[4][3]

Execution

[edit]
Execution of Peace by William Marwood – 1879 waxwork in the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussauds London

Having nothing more to lose, Peace made a full confession to the murder of Constable Cock in order to exonerate William Habron, who was later given a free pardon and £800 compensation.

Peace re-asserted that Mrs Dyson had been his mistress, but she strenuously denied this, calling him a demon "beyond the power of even a Shakespeare to paint" who persecuted her with his attentions and, when he found them rejected, devoted all his malignant energies to making the lives of her husband and herself unbearable. According to Peace's story, he was a slighted lover who had been treated by Mrs Dyson with ingratitude.

On the day before his execution Peace was visited for the last time by his family; out of deference to their feelings, he did not ask to see Mrs Thompson, though he had very much wished to. He seemed in good spirits, and knelt with them and prayed for half an hour. He then blessed each one singly, and gave way to tears as they left his presence.

On the morning of his execution, Peace ate a hearty breakfast of eggs and salty bacon and calmly awaited the coming of the public executioner, William Marwood, inventor of the "long drop". He was escorted on the death-walk by the prison chaplain, who was reading aloud from The Consolations of Religion about the fires of hell. Peace burst out "Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!"[4] Peace was buried in Armley Gaol. He was 46 years old.[4]

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Theatre

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  • The Life and Adventures of Charles Peace (1927) A play in which John Ellis appeared in the role of hangman after his own retirement from that profession.[9]

Films and TV

[edit]
  • The Life of Charles Peace, "IMDB". IMDb. (Sep' 1905, UK, b & w, silent, 14 '), by William Haggar, starred many members of Haggar's family.
  • The Life of Charles Peace "IMDB". IMDb. (Nov 1905, UK, b & w, silent) by Frank Mottershaw
  • The Case of Charles Peace "IMDB". IMDb. (1949, UK, b & w) by Norman Lee
  • In the Beatles film, A Hard Day's Night, Paul's grandfather (Wilfrid Brambell) reports the arrest of Ringo to the studio by saying "The police have the poor lad in the Bridewell – he'll be pulp by now!" shortly after the police have referred to the cheeky Ringo as "Charlie Peace" suggesting that this usage refers to the Leeds Bridewell, allegedly haunted by the ghost of Charlie Peace.
  • Peace is mentioned and features at Madame Tussauds museum in the 1969 Special Branch episode, 'You Don't Exist'.

Literature

[edit]

Music

[edit]
  • In 2018 Leeds pop group Steve Woods and the Hoods released the 'Sh*t Pub Sessions' EP featuring the song 'Charles Peace'.

References

[edit]

Sources

[edit]
  • Original text from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H.B. Irving, published in 1918 (public domain), which in turn cites:
    • Charles Peace, or the Adventures of a Notorious Burglar – A large volume published at the time of his death; gives a full and accurate account of the career of Peace side by side with a story of the Family Herald type, of which he is made the hero.
    • The Life and Trial of Charles Peace (Sheffield, 1879)
    • The Romantic Career of a Great Criminal (by N. Kynaston Gaskell, London 1906)
    • The Master Criminal (London, 1917/18? ["recently" as of 1918])
    • A Book of Scoundrels (by Charles Whibley)
  • Charles Peace, or The Adventures of a Notorious Burglar (an ebook)
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Charles Peace

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Charles Peace (14 May 1832 – 25 February 1879) was an English burglar and murderer who became one of the most notorious criminals of the , infamous for his ingenious techniques, use of disguises, and the cold-blooded killings of a police constable and a rival in love, leading to his capture, trials, and execution by hanging. Born in to a working-class family, Peace suffered severe disabilities from an industrial accident in 1846 that crippled his right leg and the loss of fingers on his left hand, which hindered his ability to find legitimate work and propelled him into a life of crime. His began in 1851 with a for house , resulting in a one-month sentence; subsequent offenses led to increasingly longer terms of penal servitude, including an eight-year sentence in 1866 from which he briefly escaped before recapture and release in 1872. Peace's notoriety escalated with two murders in 1876. On 1 August, while committing a in , he shot and killed Police Constable Nicholas Cock, who had confronted him; an innocent man, John Habron, was initially convicted and sentenced to death for the crime but later reprieved after Peace's confession. Later that year, on 29 November, driven by jealousy over an affair with his neighbor's wife, Peace fatally shot Arthur Dyson at his home in Banner Cross near , wounding Dyson's wife in the process. After the murders, Peace evaded capture by fleeing to under the alias John Ward, continuing his with remarkable skill, often scaling walls and entering homes undetected despite his . His downfall came on 10 October 1878 during a in Blackheath, where he shot and wounded Police Constable Edward Robinson in an attempt to escape; Robinson bravely subdued him after a fierce struggle. Tried at the on 19 November 1878 under the name John Ward for and the of Robinson, Peace was convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life. Extradited to , he faced trial for Dyson's at Assizes on 4 February 1879, where the jury returned a guilty verdict after just ten minutes of deliberation, sealing his fate. Peace was executed by hangman on 25 February 1879 at Armley Prison in , maintaining his composure to the end and confessing his guilt while expressing remorse for the murders. His life and crimes captivated the public, inspiring numerous broadsides, books, and even theatrical adaptations, cementing his legacy as a archetypal Victorian master criminal.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family

Charles Peace was born on 14 May 1832 in Darnall, a district of , , . He was the youngest of four children born to , a shoemaker who had previously worked as a collier and lion-tamer with Wombwell's after losing a leg in a , and his wife Jane Wright, the daughter of a . The family endured significant , exacerbated by John Peace's physical limitations and the harsh economic conditions of early 19th-century industrial , where steady employment for unskilled laborers was scarce. Peace received a limited , attending two local schools in where he showed little academic aptitude but excelled in practical skills such as crafting intricate paper models and taming stray animals. At around age 13, he began working as an apprentice in a local steel rolling mill, reflecting the common path for working-class boys in Sheffield's burgeoning and metal industries during this era. Following his father's death in the early , the family's financial struggles intensified, fostering in the young Peace a deep resentment toward his impoverished circumstances. In 1859, Peace married Hannah Ward, a with a young son named Willie from her previous marriage. The couple had two children together—a daughter named Jane Ann and a son, , who died in infancy—forming a family of five that Peace supported through various odd jobs. They initially resided in modest accommodations in central before relocating to Darnall in the 1870s, where Peace pursued respectable pursuits such as playing the in local bands, inventing small gadgets, and framing pictures for sale. Outwardly, Peace maintained a of a hardworking, community-oriented , masking his growing inner bitterness over economic hardship and social limitations.

Industrial Accident and Initial Crimes

At the age of 14, in 1846, Charles Peace suffered a severe industrial accident while employed at rolling mills in , where a piece of red-hot steel pierced his leg just below the knee, causing extensive damage. He spent 18 months undergoing treatment at the Sheffield Infirmary, including surgical interventions that failed to fully restore his mobility, leaving him with a permanent limp, , and a reliance on a for support. Some accounts also note a separate workplace mishap that resulted in the loss of three fingers on his right hand, further impairing his physical capabilities and contributing to his aversion to manual labor. The accident marked a turning point, exacerbating financial strains on his family and pushing Peace toward petty crime as a means of survival. His first recorded conviction came in 1851 for in , earning him a one-month prison sentence. By 1854, Peace's criminal activities had escalated to , specifically breaking into a shop, for which he received a four-year sentence of penal servitude at the Sessions. Another conviction in in 1859 led to a six-year sentence, from which he was released early on a ticket-of-leave in 1862, only to commit subsequent minor thefts and further burglaries that resulted in an eight-year sentence in 1866. These early imprisonments exposed Peace to the rigors of Victorian penal servitude, including grueling labor at facilities like and Chatham, as well as an attempted escape from Wakefield Prison in 1861 using a makeshift and saw, which ended in his recapture. The harsh conditions—marked by isolation, physical punishment, and loss of autonomy—fostered a deep resentment toward authority figures and the justice system, fueling his determination to evade capture in future endeavors.

Criminal Career

Burglaries and Imprisonments

In the early , following his release from in 1872, Charles evolved into a professional burglar, targeting middle-class homes in and with calculated precision despite his physical limitations from an earlier industrial accident. 's prior convictions included sentences in 1851 (1 month), 1854 (4 years), 1859 (6 years), and 1866 (8 years' penal servitude, from which he escaped briefly before full release in 1872). He and his associates broke into residences to steal silverware, jewelry, and other valuables, often using skeleton keys and pick-locks to gain entry silently. These thefts amassed goods estimated to total several thousand pounds in value over his career, though typically realized only about one-fourth of that amount through operations. After his release in , Peace briefly attempted legitimate work as a picture framer in but soon resumed his criminal pursuits. He operated in the same regions and employed disguises such as wigs, dyed hair, and spectacles to alter his appearance, while crafting alibis like posing as a respectable salesman or claiming first-time offenses to mislead authorities. The strain on Peace's family intensified during this period, as his wife, Hannah Ward—whom he had married in 1859—tolerated his extramarital affairs and occasionally assisted in stolen goods. Later, in , Hannah herself faced trial for receiving stolen items linked to her husband's crimes, though she was acquitted.

Techniques and Escapes

Charles Peace was renowned for his innovative techniques, which compensated for his physical disabilities and allowed him to target affluent homes with minimal detection. Despite the partial paralysis and limp in his right leg from an industrial accident, he developed methods emphasizing agility, stealth, and specialized tools, often operating under the cover of night in urban and suburban areas. His approach relied on to identify vulnerable entry points, such as porticos and upper-story windows, avoiding noisy confrontations where possible. Peace's toolkit included custom modifications that enhanced efficiency and concealment. He frequently employed a modified "jemmy" for prying open doors and windows, paired with skeleton keys and pick-locks to bypass standard locks without excessive force. A standout tool was his portable fold-up , which allowed access to elevated windows and balconies. He concealed these implements in cases or specially tailored trouser pockets, leveraging his reputation as an amateur musician to move undetected. His climbing prowess was particularly notable, as he scaled sheer walls and roofs using iron spikes inserted into crevices for hand- and footholds, demonstrating exceptional balance despite his impairments. The violin case served dual purposes here, not only for tool storage but also as a prop to steady himself during ascents or to feign legitimacy if spotted. These methods enabled silent entries into multi-story residences, minimizing traces like footprints or broken glass. Peace's escapes highlighted his resourcefulness under pressure. In 1866, while imprisoned at , he used a smuggled file to saw through his cell bars and a fashioned from strips to escape over the wall, but was recaptured after three days. Such tactics relied on his knowledge of local geography and quick improvisation. To further thwart identification, Peace mastered disguises that altered his distinctive features. He donned wigs, false beards, and even women's boots to change his silhouette, while applying substances like brown powder mixed with beer to darken his complexion—once impersonating a laborer. He also deliberately altered his , hobbling differently or feigning greater disability to mislead witnesses. These transformations allowed him to operate in the same regions repeatedly without arousing suspicion. Peace's professed religious fanaticism played a role in his evasion strategy, providing psychological cover and alibis. He claimed divine protection during interrogations, asserting that shielded him from harm and forgave his actions, as in statements like "I feel assured that my sins are forgiven me, that I am going to the Kingdom of Heaven." This , cultivated through public displays of , deflected accusations by portraying him as a reformed or protected figure, complicating efforts to link him to crimes.

Murders

Killing of PC Nicholas Cock

On the night of 1–2 August 1876, around midnight, Charles Peace attempted a at a residence in , entering the grounds of a house in the area. As he tried to escape, he was intercepted by Police Constable Nicholas Cock, a 21-year-old officer on patrol. Peace drew his and fired a into the ground, but when Cock advanced with his truncheon, Peace shot him a second time in the right breast, the bullet passing through the lung and breaking a before lodging in the spine. Cock collapsed and died shortly thereafter from the , at approximately 1:10 a.m. on 2 August. Peace fled the scene immediately, scaling walls and crossing fields to evade capture, eventually using a railway tunnel to reach safety. He later altered his appearance further by shaving his beard, dyeing his hair, and distorting his features to avoid recognition as he made his way south. In the immediate aftermath, suspicion fell on local Irish laborers Habron, aged 19, and his brother John, aged 24, who lived nearby and had a of minor disputes with police. The brothers were arrested on 2 after boot prints at the scene were claimed to match nails in William's new boots, and percussion caps and bullets were found at their home—items consistent with the crime but common in the area. At their trial on 27–28 1876 at Manchester Assizes before Mr. Justice Lindley, the prosecution relied on this , including witness testimony linking the prints and the brothers' prior threats against . John was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, but William was convicted of wilful and sentenced to ; the jury recommended mercy due to his youth. Public outcry and doubts about the led to William's death sentence being respited on 19 December 1876 and commuted to penal servitude for life in February 1877, just days before his scheduled execution. He served nearly three years in before being released. Following Peace's and in late 1878, William received a free pardon on 19 February 1879 and was awarded £800 in compensation by , though no formal apology was issued. Ballistic examination later confirmed Peace's guilt: the bullet extracted from Cock's body was a .442-caliber conical from an Eley No. 9 , matching those fired from Peace's —the same weapon used in his later of Arthur Dyson—and expert showed identical marks. A second bullet, embedded in a garden where Cock had stood, further corroborated the revolver's use.

Murder of Arthur Dyson

Charles Peace developed an obsessive infatuation with his neighbor Dyson in 1875 while living in Darnall, near . He claimed that she had been his mistress, citing as a of them together, a ring he had given her, and instances of them being seen on outings, though , an attractive dark-haired woman in her mid-twenties, firmly denied any romantic involvement. Peace pursued her relentlessly, offering lavish gifts such as a jacket, fabric, and a gold watch in a bid to convince her to abandon her husband, Arthur Dyson, a , and relocate with him to ; consistently rejected these entreaties. This unrequited obsession soon escalated into harassment and explicit against the Dysons. By June 1876, Dyson had grown so alarmed that he distributed a printed card throughout the neighborhood requesting that cease all interference with his family. In July 1876, responded with a direct to kill both and Katherine, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest on charges of intimidation. Undeterred, tracked the Dysons after they relocated to a new home at Banner Cross Terrace in to evade him, continuing his unwanted attentions and confiding to the of Ecclesall that he would follow them anywhere, resentful of Dyson's role in forcing him from the neighborhood. The underlying motive stemmed from Peace's possessive jealousy over Katherine and repeated confrontations with Dyson, who had actively opposed the illicit advances. The deadly confrontation occurred on the evening of 29 November 1876, around 8 p.m., in the backyard of the Dysons' Banner Cross home, as emerged from the . Armed with a akin to the one used in his earlier fatal encounter with PC Nicholas Cock, Peace accosted , demanding that she speak to him or face being shot. Arthur Dyson rushed to intervene upon hearing the commotion, sparking a violent struggle during which Peace fired twice at close range; one bullet struck Dyson through the temple, inflicting a fatal from which he died approximately two hours later. Katherine, who had witnessed the shooting firsthand, cried out "Murder! You villain!" as she rushed to her husband's side, but she initially withheld identifying Peace to out of terror, citing his history of threats, , and prior brandishing of weapons. In the aftermath, Peace intensified his menacing rhetoric toward her, vowing to disfigure her face so severely that "neither man nor woman should look at her," underscoring his desire for exclusive control over her affections. Peace fled the scene immediately, first heading back toward central before boarding a train from Attercliffe station to Normanton and onward to Hull, where he adopted disguises to begin his evasion of capture.

Flight and Capture

Immediate Aftermath of Dyson's Murder

Following the murder of Arthur Dyson on 29 November 1876, driven by his obsessive infatuation with Dyson's wife , Charles Peace immediately sought to evade capture by fleeing . He escaped through Endcliffe Wood to Crookes, procured a cab to , and boarded a train via , Normanton, and , arriving in Hull on 30 November 1876. Upon reaching Hull, Peace adopted the alias "John Ward" to conceal his identity and burned evidence connected to the crime, including potentially incriminating items from the shooting, as part of his efforts to eliminate traces of his involvement. In Hull, Peace established a temporary base near the docks. He supplemented his income through continued minor burglaries in the Hull area, targeting small residences and shops for items like blankets and jewelry, which allowed him to sustain his alias without drawing immediate suspicion. Meanwhile, the investigation into Dyson's death faced significant obstacles. Katherine Dyson, the sole eyewitness, initially suppressed her identification of Peace as the shooter due to his prior threats of violence against her and her family, which had intimidated her into silence and delayed police progress. Authorities circulated police sketches and descriptions of the based on available accounts, but these proved ineffective, as Peace had altered his appearance by shaving his beard and dyeing his hair, rendering the images unrecognizable.

Life in Hiding and Arrest

Following the murder of Arthur Dyson in late 1876, Charles Peace fled northward before turning south to in early 1877, seeking refuge where he believed detection was less likely. Accompanied by his mistress, (known as ), he initially lodged at No. 25 Stangate Street in before relocating to No. 5 East Terrace, Evelina Road in nearby by May of that year. There, under the alias "Mr. Thompson," Peace posed as a respectable gentleman of independent means, occasionally dealing in musical instruments to maintain appearances; he and Sue entertained neighbors with performances and accompaniments, fostering an image of domestic normalcy. Despite this veneer, resumed his criminal activities almost immediately, conducting a series of burglaries in affluent suburbs such as , , and Blackheath. He operated nocturnally, often alone, transporting his tools— including jemmies and skeleton keys—in a case or using a and trap for escapes, targeting houses for silverware, jewelry, and cash while avoiding confrontation. These thefts, spanning from spring 1877 to autumn 1878, netted him substantial hauls but heightened local alarm, prompting increased police patrols in the area. Peace's evasion ended abruptly on the night of 10 October 1878 during an attempted at No. 2 St. John's Park in Blackheath. Around 2 a.m., Edward Robinson spotted a light in the rear and, with two colleagues, confronted the intruder; Peace, disguised with contorted features and spectacles to alter his appearance, fired five shots in rapid succession, wounding Robinson in the right arm above the elbow before being overpowered and arrested. Despite his initial claim to be "John Ward," a 60-year-old , police quickly linked him to national wanted posters circulated since 1876 offering a £100 reward for information on Dyson's killer, with one officer recognizing his distinctive features beneath the disguise. Transferred to Greenwich Police Station and later , Peace vehemently denied his true identity as Charles Peace, insisting the shooting was merely to facilitate escape, though mounting evidence from his possessions and Sue Thompson's eventual testimony soon confirmed otherwise.

London Burglary Trial

Following his arrest on 10 October 1878 during a attempt in Blackheath, Charles Peace, using the alias John Ward, faced trial at the in . The trial took place on 19 November 1878 before Mr. Justice Hawkins. Peace was charged with at 2 St. John's Park and feloniously shooting at Police Constable Edward Robinson (202 R) with intent to , along with additional counts of intent to cause and resisting lawful apprehension. The prosecution's case relied heavily on eyewitness testimony and physical evidence recovered at the scene. Constable Robinson recounted how he and two colleagues confronted Peace emerging from the property's basement with a bag of tools; Peace then fired five shots from a revolver, one striking Robinson in the left arm and causing severe injury. Housebreaking implements, including a small crowbar, an auger, a centre-bit, and a life-preserver, were found in Peace's possession, confirming his intent to commit burglary. The revolver—a six-chamber Webley model strapped to his wrist with all chambers discharged—was matched to the shooting, further linking him to the crime. Additional witnesses, including local residents, corroborated the disturbance and gunfire heard that night. In his defense, Peace maintained that he had no intent to harm, stating, "I only did it to frighten him, so as I could get away," in an attempt to frame as a desperate act of rather than . This claim failed to sway the , who returned a guilty verdict on the primary count of intent to murder after deliberating briefly. On 19 1878, Peace was sentenced to penal servitude for life, a punishment reflecting the severity of the armed resistance against police.

Sheffield Murder Trial

Following his arrest in Blackheath, London, on October 10, 1878, for burglary and the shooting of a police constable, Charles Peace's true identity as the suspect in the Banner Cross murder was soon revealed, leading to his to for trial. The trial for the of Arthur Dyson commenced on February 4, 1879, at the Leeds Assizes, presided over by Mr. Justice Lopes. Peace, aged 46 and described as a maker, was charged with willfully murdering Dyson on November 29, 1876; the prosecution was led by Mr. Thomas Campbell Foster, while the defense was handled by Mr. Frank Lockwood, Q.C. The prosecution's case centered on eyewitness testimony from Katherine Dyson, Arthur's widow, who recounted the events of November 29, 1876, at their home in Banner Cross, . She described Peace, whom she knew as "John Ward," arriving uninvited around 8 p.m., armed with a , and engaging in a confrontation with her husband over their illicit affair; she testified that Peace threatened her, fired a , and then deliberately shot Dyson in the during a struggle at the front gate, after which Peace fled while warning her not to raise . Supporting this, ballistic was presented by James Woodward, a , who confirmed that the bullet extracted from Dyson's brain matched the seized from Peace during his October 1878 arrest, with the rifling marks aligning precisely. Further prosecution evidence debunked Peace's potential alibis through timeline corroboration from multiple witnesses, including neighbors Charles Brassington and others who placed Peace near the Dyson residence around 8:10 p.m. on the night of the , consistent with the shooting's reported time and contradicting any claim of his absence from the scene. Additional from police and medical examiners detailed the fatal wound and the immediate pursuit of the , while Katherine Dyson's prior statements to authorities were read to affirm her consistent account despite initial fear of reprisal. The defense argued , asserting that the dim lighting and Dyson's emotional state led to confusion with another man, and suggested the shooting may have been accidental amid a scuffle; however, no witnesses were called for the defense, relying instead on to question the reliability of identifications. Peace himself remained silent throughout, offering no personal statement. After hearing the summations, the retired and deliberated for just 10 minutes before returning a unanimous guilty verdict. Mr. Justice Lopes immediately pronounced the death sentence, with Peace to be hanged, and the judge donned as per custom. This capital trial followed Peace's recent life sentence for from the , but the charge took precedence.

Execution and Legacy

Sentencing and Final Days

Following his conviction for the murder of Arthur Dyson, Charles Peace was sentenced to death on 4 February 1879 at Assizes. He was immediately transferred to Gaol in to await execution. Efforts to appeal the verdict or seek clemency failed, with petitions to the rejected despite pleas highlighting his lack of intent to kill. During his imprisonment, Peace engaged deeply with the prison chaplain, Reverend Littlewood, the of Darnall, confessing his crimes and expressing in extended sessions lasting up to 20 minutes. This period marked a sudden religious fervor for Peace, who had shown little prior piety; he played hymns on the prison organ, attended chapel services, and composed verses reflecting spiritual reflection, including a self-written on his funeral card: "In Memory of Charles Peace Who was executed in Prison Tuesday February 25th, 1879 Aged 47. For that I done but never Intended." Peace received several visits from family members in his final weeks. His wife, Hannah Peace, along with their daughter, stepson, and son-in-law, visited on 24 February 1879, during which they prayed together and he distributed mementos, including the funeral card to Hannah. His mistress, , was denied access despite Peace's repeated requests to see her, in accordance with his family's wishes. Physically, Peace's longstanding from his leg injury exacerbated his decline in gaol, leaving him feeble, haggard, and weakened by the anticipation of death, though he remained mobile enough to hope for walking to the scaffold unaided. He repeatedly requested mercy on grounds of his crippled condition and age, pleading during sentencing and in subsequent letters that his physical infirmity warranted commutation, but these appeals were unsuccessful. In his writings from gaol, Peace expressed remorse primarily for his burglaries and lesser crimes, attributing them to "drunken madness" and seeking for disgracing his , while offering self-justifications for the murders without admitting guilt in those acts. He penned repentant letters to relatives and acquaintances, such as one to his wife urging her to live righteously and another to a friend exhorting religious devotion, alongside religious exhortations hoping for . On the morning of 25 February 1879, Peace consumed a hearty before his preparations concluded.

Execution and Confessions

Charles Peace was hanged on 25 February 1879 at Gaol in by , who utilized the long drop method designed to break the neck for an instantaneous death. Peace approached the scaffold with composure, ascending unaided despite his lifelong limp, and declined the offered support of prison officials. His final words to the assembled witnesses were, "My last thoughts are for children and their mother, a wonderful ; they mustn’t worry about me. I know where I am going. I am going to ," after which the was released. The drop measured approximately nine feet, and the gaol surgeon, Mr. Price, confirmed death occurred virtually instantaneously with no signs of suffering. An inquest followed at 11 a.m. the same day, after which Peace's body was interred in an unmarked grave within the prison grounds, in line with standard practice for executed criminals. The execution drew considerable public attention, with The Times reporting widespread excitement in Leeds akin to that surrounding other notorious Victorian cases, as crowds gathered outside the gaol awaiting the black flag signal. In the days leading to his execution, Peace dictated confessions that cleared innocent parties and revealed further details of his crimes. He fully admitted to the 1876 of PC Cock during a in Manchester's Whalley Range, describing how he shot the officer after being surprised, thereby exonerating the Habron brothers who had been implicated on flawed footprint evidence. William Habron, convicted and sentenced to death before receiving a life term of penal servitude, was pardoned following this revelation and awarded £800 in compensation, while his brother John, previously acquitted, was fully vindicated. Peace also confessed to the premeditated aspects of Arthur Dyson's shooting in November 1876 at Banner Cross, , explaining that he had armed himself with a in advance due to escalating personal animosity and Dyson's pursuit of legal action against him. These admissions underscored flaws in the era's system, particularly the risks of wrongful convictions based on such as unreliable footprint analysis and flawed identifications, prompting greater scrutiny of police procedures and contributing to broader reforms in handling during investigations.

Depictions in Culture

Theatre and Film

Charles Peace's life has been dramatized in several theatrical productions and films, often emphasizing his duality as a skilled burglar and family man alongside his violent crimes, portraying him as both a romanticized rogue and a ruthless villain in the tradition of Victorian melodramas. These depictions frequently highlight the tension between his public respectability and nocturnal exploits, reflecting broader themes in 19th-century popular entertainment where criminals were sensationalized to captivate audiences. One of the earliest cinematic portrayals is the 1905 silent The Life of Charles , directed by pioneering Welsh showman William Haggar. Produced by Haggar and Sons, the film reconstructs key events from Peace's criminal career, including his daring escape while en route to for the of Arthur Dyson, and his expertise in cat burglary. Starring Haggar's family members, including Walter Haggar as Peace, the production focuses on his duality, blending thrilling action sequences with moral undertones typical of early 20th-century dramas. This work, one of the few surviving examples of Haggar's output, underscores Peace's notoriety as a folk anti-hero in Edwardian . In 1949, the British crime film The Case of Charles Peace, directed by Norman Lee, offered a more narrative-driven adaptation of his story. Starring Michael Martin Harvey as Peace, with Chili Bouchier and in supporting roles, the film depicts his double life as a respected picture by day and a prolific thief and murderer by night, culminating in his capture and execution. Produced at Merton Park Studios for the British Film Institute's crime series, it emphasizes the dramatic irony of his deceptions and the pursuit by authorities, portraying Peace as a cunning whose charm masks his brutality. Theatrical interpretations have continued to explore Peace's complex legacy, notably in Michael Eaton's 2013 musical Charlie Peace: His Amazing Life and Astounding Legend. Premiering at Playhouse and later transferring to Coventry's , the play presents Peace as a celebrity villain of , blending songs, elements, and audience interaction to romanticize his exploits while confronting his murders. Directed by Martin Berry with music by , it delves into themes of duality, depicting Peace as a loveable rogue who redistributes stolen goods like a modern , yet ultimately as a tragic figure undone by his passions. The production received praise for its energetic revival of conventions, highlighting how Peace's story captivated 19th-century theatregoers through broad strokes of heroism and villainy. In contemporary media, Peace's enduring cultural presence was revisited in a 2022 feature on ' Chamber of Horrors, which showcased the museum's historic wax figure of the murderer. Created shortly after his 1879 execution, the figure—depicting Peace in his final moments—serves as a cultural exhibit illustrating Victorian fascination with criminal notoriety, with the article noting its role among "forgotten " in the wax collection. This coverage underscores how Peace's image persists as a in visual media, bridging historical spectacle and modern reflection on crime's theatrical allure.

Literature and Music

Charles Peace's criminal exploits inspired numerous broadside ballads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which sensationalized his life, trials, and execution as cautionary tales for the public. One prominent example, "Copy of Verses Giving an Account of the Trial and Sentence of Charles Peace," detailed his conviction for the murder of Arthur Dyson and portrayed Peace as a cunning yet doomed figure evading until his inevitable downfall. These inexpensive printed sheets, often sold by street vendors, blended factual accounts with moralistic verse to captivate working-class audiences, emphasizing themes of retribution and the perils of a life of . Similar ballads, such as those titled "The Life and Trial of Charles Peace," circulated in the , reinforcing his notoriety through rhythmic narratives that highlighted his burglaries and disguises. Non-fiction accounts from the 1920s, including trial reconstructions and memoirs drawing on investigative records, provided more analytical perspectives on Peace's capture. The 1926 volume Trials of Charles Frederick Peace, edited by W. Teignmouth Shore as part of the Notable British Trials series, compiled court transcripts and detective testimonies, offering insights into the police methods that led to his arrest after the Dyson murder. These works, informed by officers involved in the case such as those from the Sheffield and London forces, debunked some popular myths while underscoring Peace's technical prowess in burglary, often attributing his skills to self-taught ingenuity born of necessity. Peace's story has also influenced music, particularly in folk traditions that retell his tale through song. The 2018 track "Charles Peace" by Steve Woods and the Hoods, from their EP Shit Pub Sessions, presents a narrative ballad in a raw, acoustic style, capturing his daring escapes and violent end as a commentary on 19th-century underclass struggles. Across these literary and musical depictions, recurring themes of social commentary on industrial poverty emerge, portraying Peace as a product of Sheffield's harsh working conditions and economic despair. Early accounts, such as the anonymous 1879 biography Charles Peace, or the Adventures of a Notorious Burglar, link his criminal path directly to childhood injury in a mill and subsequent unemployment, critiquing the era's lack of support for the disabled poor. Later works build on this, using Peace's life to illustrate broader societal failures in addressing urban deprivation and inequality during Britain's industrial boom.

References

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  18. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/oct/13/roots-light-princess-charlie-peace
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  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0000520/
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  22. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63965035
  23. https://www.lawbookexchange.com/pages/books/72426/broadside-execution-charles-peace/copy-of-verses-giving-an-account-of-the-trial-and-sentence-of-charles
  24. https://archive.org/details/bwb_KU-773-331
  25. https://ia804501.us.archive.org/6/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.173167/2015.173167.Trail-Of-Charles-Rederick-Peace.pdf
  26. https://open.spotify.com/track/6OZ0euTAEHvtdvLFZ5dwiU
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