Peace arrived in the village under the name of David Ward in 1872. He stayed at the White Lion, and sat in the window of the bar discussing the way the police were baffled and remarked "I hope they catch the rascal soon." On renting the cottage he pulled out a roll of notes saying he'd like to pay cash and 3 years in advance. He was generous to everyone, though Henry Bunch who was repairing the house never got paid at all. When the Bunches found stolen goods in a tree trunk, the rumour grew that David Ward was Charles Peace, and the burglar, disguised as a carpenter, rushed to the White Lion, mounted his horse that was stabled there and vanished from Yateley.