Well-known local author, Julian Bean returned to tell us all about Charlie Peace. Born in Sheffield in 1832 he was notorious for his activities as a prolific and clever burglar whilst being wanted for murder in Sheffield despite his appearance as a well-dressed, violin-playing, respectable man. After being caught by PC Edward Robinson on his beat at Blackheath in London, Peace was sentenced to death – and then confessed to a second murder – of a police officer – in Manchester 2 years earlier. An intriguing tale Julian claimed him to be a forerunner of the “professional” criminal of modern times and kept us fascinated and amused by his knowledge of this notorious criminal.
