One of the most infamous Victorian criminals was Charles Peace, who was hanged at Armley Prison, Leeds, by William Marwood on Monday, the 25th of February 1879 — “For that I done but never intended,” as Peace put it.
Early Life and Criminal Career
Peace was a violent career criminal born in Sheffield in May 1832. His first recorded conviction was for house burglary in 1851, for which he served a month in prison. His next conviction for the same offence came in October 1854, when he was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude at Doncaster Sessions.
This was followed by a six-year sentence in 1859 and an eight-year sentence in 1866. He tried to escape during this last sentence but was recaptured and spent the next six years in various prisons until 1872. Upon his release, he returned to Sheffield.
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Affair and Threats
In 1875, Peace moved out of Sheffield into the suburb of Darnall, where he met Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dyson. Peace was a womaniser and began having an affair with Mrs. Dyson—or at least so he claimed, which she denied. She had certainly gone out with him to music halls and pubs, but it seems she had rejected his sexual advances, something he was not happy about.
Peace threatened to kill Mr. Dyson, who in turn took out an injunction against Peace in hopes of making him leave the couple alone. Peace did for a time, moving to Hull and opening a café.
The First Murder: Constable Cock
Peace’s burglaries continued, and one night he went to Manchester, armed as usual with his revolver. Peace was spotted by two policemen in the grounds of a house at Whalley Range around midnight on the 1st of August 1876. Constable Cock tried to arrest him, but Peace took out his revolver and told Cock to stand back, firing a warning shot at the officer.
Cock took out his truncheon and advanced towards Peace, who fired a second time, killing him. Peace escaped and returned to Hull. Two local criminals, brothers John and William Habron, were arrested for the crime. John Habron was convicted and sentenced to death but was fortunately reprieved to life in prison.
The Second Murder: Arthur Dyson
Peace’s second murder was that of Arthur Dyson on the 29th of November 1876, whose wife he still desired. He went to the Dyson home at Bannercross, and during an argument, shot Mr. Dyson through the head, killing him instantly. Once again, Peace escaped back to Hull.
He evaded the police, but they were on the hunt for him as Mrs. Dyson had identified him as her husband’s killer. A reward was offered for his capture. Now the nation’s most wanted man, Peace moved constantly from town to town, eventually ending up in London. He continued to evade capture for over two years.
Life in London and Final Capture
Peace had always loved music and musical instruments, setting up as a dealer in them—partially as a front for his usual house burglaries. He sometimes carried his burglary tools in a violin case when on a job. He was able to live in some style from the proceeds of these activities, with a mistress known as “Mrs. Thompson.” This married lady’s real name was Susan Bailey, who ultimately betrayed him.
His career as a burglar in London lasted from early 1877 until the 10th of October 1878, when he was caught red-handed by three policemen in Blackheath, trying to rob a house. Peace fired several shots at one officer before being overpowered. When questioned, he gave the name John Ward.
Susan Thompson was also arrested for trying to sell stolen property and identified “Ward” as Peace, for whom there was a reward. An officer from Yorkshire positively identified Peace in Newgate Prison.
Trial and Conviction for Burglary and Attempted Murder
Peace stood trial at the Old Bailey in November 1878 on charges of burglary and attempted murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he now had to answer for the murder of Arthur Dyson.
He was moved by train to Sheffield to be charged with Dyson’s murder on the 18th of January 1879. During the journey north, Peace attempted to escape by throwing himself from the train but was quickly recaptured.
Murder Trial at Leeds
Peace’s trial before Mr. Justice Lopes at Leeds began on the 4th of February 1879. Mrs. Dyson was the principal witness for the Crown, describing her husband’s murder to the court. Forensic evidence showed the bullet that killed Dyson was fired from the revolver recovered from Peace at his London arrest.
Late in the afternoon, the jury retired and took just 10 minutes to convict Peace.
Public Reaction and Final Confession
The Times newspaper reported that since Franz Muller murdered Mr. Briggs on the North London Railway and the poisonings by William Palmer, no criminal case had created such public excitement as that of Charles Peace.
Peace was visited in the condemned cell by the vicar of Darnall, the Rev. J. H. Littlewood, to whom he made an oral confession to the murder of PC Cock. As a result, William Habron was pardoned and awarded £800 compensation.
Execution
Peace’s hanging was scheduled for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the 25th of February 1879, attended by four newspaper reporters. A four-foot-deep pit had been excavated beneath the scaffold in one of the prison yards, about 80 yards from the condemned cell.
Peace was pinioned and escorted by two warders from the pinioning room to the gallows. The procession was led by the governor, Mr. Keene, and the Under Sheriff, Mr. Gray, followed by the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Cookson, then Peace and the warders, with Marwood walking behind and several pairs of warders behind him.
Once at the gallows, Peace ascended the steps onto the platform unaided, where Marwood pinioned his legs and placed the noose around his neck. As Marwood attempted to place the white hood over Peace’s head, Peace asked for a glass of water (which was refused) and spoke briefly to the journalists before Marwood pulled the lever.
His last words were reported as:
“My last thoughts are for children and their mother, a wonderful woman; they mustn’t worry about me. I know where I am going. I am going to Heaven.”
Marwood gave Peace a drop of about nine feet, and death was reported to have been “virtually instantaneous,” according to Mr. Price, the gaol surgeon. The black flag was run up to signal to the small crowd outside the prison that the execution had taken place.
Peace’s body was left hanging for one hour before being taken down and prepared for the inquest, which took place at 11 a.m. After the formal verdict was delivered, he was buried within the precincts of the prison.
Legacy
A large tableau of Peace and Marwood soon appeared in Madame Tussauds waxworks, depicting the execution scene. Mrs. Dyson emigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, USA, following the conclusion of the case.
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