Marked man as he was, Peace felt it dangerous to stay longer in
Hull than he could help. During the closing days of the year
1876 and the beginning of 1877, Peace was perpetually on the
move. He left Hull for Doncaster, and from there travelled to
London. On arriving at King's Cross he took the underground
railway to Paddington, and from there a train to Bristol. At the
beginning of January he left Bristol for Bath, and from Bath, in
the company of a sergeant of police, travelled by way of Didcot
to Oxford. The officer had in his custody a young woman charged
with stealing L40. Peace and the sergeant discussed the case
during the journey. "He seemed a smart chap," said Peace in re-

lating the circumstances, "but not smart enough to know me."
From Oxford he went to Birmingham, where he stayed four or five
days, then a week in Derby, and on January 9th he arrived in
Nottingham.

Here Peace found a convenient lodging at the house of one, Mrs.
Adamson, a lady who received stolen goods and on occasion
indicated or organised suitable opportunities for acquiring them.

She lived in a low part of the town known as the Marsh. It was
at her house that Peace met the woman who was to become his
mistress and subsequently betray his identity to the police.
Her maiden name was Susan Gray.

She was at this time about thirty-five years of age, described as
"taking" in appearance, of a fair complexion, and rather well
educated. She had led a somewhat chequered married life with a
gentleman named Bailey, from whom she continued in receipt of a