Charles Peace

Charles Peace murdered Nicholas Cock a policeman in Manchester and Albert Dyson in Banner Cross Terrace, Sheffield. Whilst at Banner Cross Terrace, Sheffield he had an affair with Albert Dyson's wife but after a while she ended the relationship. After the relationship ended Charles Peace shot Nicholas Cock in Manchester. Before Charles Peace was arrested William Habron was convicted of the murder of Nicholas Cock and sentenced to death but respited because of his young age. After the murder of Nicholas Cock, Charles Peace returned to Banner Cross Terrace, Sheffield to see Albert Dyson's wife but he caught him and so Charles Peace him Albert Dyson. He fled to London and changed his name to John Ward but later whilst robbing a house in Blackheath he shot another policeman and was arrested and convicted of attampted murder. However, after starting his life sentence he was identified as the man who had murdered Albert Dyson and was then convicted of Albert Dyson's murder. Before he was executed he confessed to the murder of Nicholas Cock resulting in the pardon of William Habron who was given £500 by parliament. Charles Peace was a notorious cat burglar and murderer who evaded arrest for over twenty years. Peace was a master of disguise due to his almost rubber like features, and often carried his housebreaking tools inside an old violin case, an instrument on which he was very proficient. In 1877, while living at Banner Cross Terrace, Sheffield, he began an affair with a neighbour, Mrs Katherine Dyson. Although she was a willing instigator of the relationship, she soon decided that she wanted no further part of it and tried fruitlessly to be rid of him. Eventually Peace took the hint and left the area. Around this time, Peace shot dead a policeman, PC Nicholas Cock, in Manchester but the crime was attributed to a young Irishman, William Habron, who was convicted and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment on account of his young age. During the summer, Peace returned to Sheffield where he again chased after Mrs Dyson. One night her husband caught him as he pestered her and Peace shot him dead. He fled to London and set up with a new name but was soon in trouble again, and while robbing a house in Blackheath he attempted to shoot a police officer. Peace was arrested and gave his name as John Ward. He was tried for the attempted murder of a police officer and sentenced to life imprisonment but no sooner had he begun his sentence, than he was recognised as being wanted for the murder of Katherine Dyson's husband at Banner Cross, and he was returned to the north to face trial. On the journey, he attempted to escape from the train by throwing himself through a window but was thwarted in his bid. Peace was convicted at Leeds Assizes and sentenced to death, he was hanged by William Marwood after confessing to the murder of PC Cock at Manchester, which resulted in the release from prison and also compensation for William Habron. The sentence of death was carried out in Leeds on the 25 February 1879, Peace was forty six at the time. Peace was one of Britain’s most notorious villains with a career that tormented police for over twenty years. He was born in Sheffield on 14th May 1832, the son of a shoemaker. He was not particularly academic and was apprenticed at a rolling mill where he was badly injured by a piece of red-hot steel that pierced his leg and left him with a limp. Peace had a fair talent for playing the violin and was billed at local concerts as ‘The Modern Paganini.’ When he was about twenty he started on his criminal career and picked up four jail sentences of up to seven years. Peace took to wandering from town to town and in 1859 married Mrs Hannah Ward, a widow with a son, and they returned to Sheffield in 1872. In 1875 he set up shop as a gilder and picture-framer in Britannia Road, Darnall. Charlie was a small man, 5’4” tall, wiry, extremely agile, immensely strong - and ugly. The Dysons were neighbours of Peace in Britannia Road. Arthur Dyson was tall, 6’5” and well-mannered. Quite what Mrs Katherine Dyson, tall, young and buxom, saw in Peace is a mystery but they visited music-halls and pubs together and it seems that they were having an affair. By June 1876 Arthur Dyson had got fed up with Peace calling at any time he felt like it and told him to stay away from his family. Peace responded by leering in through their windows and by threatening Mrs Dyson with a gun. In July the Dysons obtained a magistrate’s warrant for Peace’s arrest and Peace and his family fled to Hull. Charles Frederick Peace Charles Frederick Peace On 1st August Peace was about to burgle a house in Whalley Range, Manchester, when PC Cock disturbed him. Peace shot the policeman in the chest and fled. Two brothers, Irishmen named Habron, were arrested and tried for the murder at Manchester Assizes. On 28th November eighteen-year-old William Habron was found guilty and sentenced to death. On 26th October the Dysons moved house, to Banner Cross Terrace, Eccleshall Road. On 29th November Peace was seen hanging around the area between 7pm and 8pm. At about 8.10pm Mrs Dyson took a lantern and went to visit the closet, which was in a passage at the rear of the terrace. When she came out of the closet Peace confronted her and she screamed. Arthur Dyson charged out of the house and chased Peace along the passage and into the street. Two shots were fired and Arthur Dyson fell dead. Charlie was now on the run, with a £100 reward offered for his capture. He burgled his way around the country and eventually arrived in London. Peace settled in Evelina Road, Peckham, with his girlfriend, Susan Grey, and the couple passed themselves off as Mr and Mrs Thompson. Hannah Ward and her son were installed in the basement and, not unexpectedly, the two women were soon constantly bickering. Peace continued with his housebreaking activities and the house was soon richly furnished. Following the spate of burglaries in the Blackheath area the police were out in strength on the night of Thursday, 10th October. PC Edward Robinson noticed a light in the rear rooms of 2, St John’s Park and summoned assistance. When a sergeant and another PC arrived the three men went to investigate. The sergeant went to the front door and rang the bell while the two PCs watched the rear of the house. Peace jumped out of the drawing-room window and was pursued across the garden by PC Robinson. Peace turned and warned Robinson to stay away or he would shoot. Peace fired three shots at the policeman, missing the man’s head. Robinson charged at Peace and Peace fired a fourth shot that also missed. With a cry of “You bugger, I’ll settle you this time” Peace fired again and the shot entered the policeman’s arm just above the right elbow. By this time the other officers had arrived and they overpowered Peace, who got thumped several times in the process. Property stolen from the house and housebreaking equipment were found on Peace. He appeared at the Old Bailey, under the name of John Ward, on 19th November 1878 on a charge of attempted murder. It took the jury just four minutes to find him guilty and he was sentenced to penal servitude for life. Police brought pressure to bear on ‘Mrs Robinson’ and she revealed to them who ‘John Ward’ really was. Peace was charged with Dyson’s murder. A manacled Charlie Peace was taken on Friday, 17th January, from Pentonville to Sheffield to face the murder charge at the magistrate’s hearing. The hearing was adjourned and he was taken back to London. On the following Wednesday Peace was again taken to Sheffield by train for the resumption of the hearing. On the journey he kept demanding receptacles in which to urinate, which were then thrown out of the window. As the train neared Sheffield, as they were disposing of yet another utensil, Peace threw himself out of the window. A warder managed to grab hold of Peace’s boot and held the man upside-down. Eventually the boot came off and Peace fell, injuring his head. The train was halted and the warders ran a mile back along the track until they came across an insensible Peace lying in the snow. Eventually he was committed for trial for the murder of Arthur Dyson. Peace’s trial opened on 4th February 1879 at Leeds Assizes before Mr Justice Lopes. When the jury retired it took them just twelve minutes to find Peace guilty and he was sentenced to death. Once in Armley Gaol he confessed to the killing of PC Cock and Habron was given a pardon and £800 compensation. Disagreeable to the end, he even complained of his last breakfast “This is bloody rotten bacon.” Peace was hanged by William Marwood, at Armley Gaol, at 8am on 25th February 1879.