CAPTURE OF JACKSON.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 177, 28 July 1888, Page 9 (Supplement)

CAPTURE OF JACKSON.

ADVENTURES OF AN ENTER

I'RISINGI BUHULAR

MURDER AND MUSIC.

(KIU)M OUlt Sl'fiOlAL CoBBKSrOKPKST.)

London, June 13.

THE effort.-! of the provincial police and Scotland Yard combined to catch thu during

convict Jackson, who escaped fivm Strangewoya gaol after murderir.pf a waul or and then committed a series of told burglaries', proved quite ineffectual till Saturday lnsb, when the man himself blundered carelessly | into their hands. Numerous Jacksons luiu been arrested daring tho week, but none of them proved to be tlie man. When nt last he was captured it was at Bradford for another crime (n burglary), and but for the slire\vdne?s of a young dotecliye, he most probably would have escaped identification. Jnckson had obtained lodgings a few days nj;o under tlie name of Tlioams Harrison, a', the hou.-ii of a mason named Marshall Booth, at Thornbury, a suburb of Brad fur I ; «•><•. al'' riving late on Sun-Jay night, «"d imdiiiK tho picmisea lastened up, lie broke hi. Booth was (as we stated yesterday) awakened by the noise, and, rnnniiij! ""t, secured the man, alter a sharp Htruwjlo, with the assistance of Constable l'lootl. The prisoner was conveyed to the police station, but it was not until after ho had been seen by tho detectives thin) that Ins identity with the e.-eapctl murderer was discovered. Hib1 IDENTIFICATION. A Bradford correspondent says:—Be-tectivo-Inspector Dobsou, of Lo.»don, ffiyoi tho following account of the identification of the man : -Detective Talbot came across to mo this mornintt after his run round the colls, and said, " There's a man ill who has got a mark on hia hand just like Jackson, and Tbelievo ho is tho man. 1 told Talbot to bring the prisoner across to mo, and when he came 1 asked him Ins name. He replied, "Thomas Harrison, and when I inquired if ho could bring any one to speak to his identity, he said, * es, two or thr.e," mentioning, among other names, that of Charles Henry Jackson. 1 saw that the handmark was

EXACTLY THE SAME as the pub.islied description of the murderer, and I said to Talbot, " lake this man back and examine him thoroughly. Talbot took him over to tho cells, along with the printed description issued, and, after stripping him, compared him mark for mark, and found them all to correspond, lie then said, " It's no use you denying it.

YOU ARE FIRTH," and the prigonor replied, "I am." They oamo bnek to mn then, and I said to the prisoner, "Do you really say you are Jackson T" and ho again replied, 1 am. Aftor this, to make sure, I took him back myself and examined him thoroughly, and found ovory mark as described—the scar on tho thigh, the molo on the left side, the scar on his eye, and tho lump on the insido of the hand. I was auto by this time that he was the man, but to make doubly mire I got onttho clothing he wasohai-Rod with stealing from Groat Horton a few months ago, and which wo had justgotin. Among the articles «as n black and blue striped liandkcremol, which ho was wearing when apprehended at Manchester. I placed the whole of the articles beforo him, and said, "Have you overseen these beforo?' and ho replied at oneo " Yes." 1 asked him where, and lie answered, "In Bradford," adding uisfc after, "At Croat Horton." I then asked ll ho had over boon ill trouble here, and lie replied, " Yes; but I don't want to be blamed for other people's fault-." I asked, "What havo you done1;" and ho replied, "I got some stuff from a .Salvation Army captain." THE CONSTABLE'S STOItY.

The policeman Flood, who apprehended the prisoner, says :— Tho prisoner bad a cut on tho head when I collared him. It had beendono by his foiling on a stone in the yard, though the prisoner says it was done by Booth kicking him. Ho two mo his mime nnd address as Thomas Harrison, 29, Gametfc-sheet. I havo lived myself in Gnrnotb • Btroot for ten years, and know everyone who lives there. I knew that the address ho hail given mo was n false one. When I put tho hai.dcufls on him, ho said, " I have never had a pair of these things on before ;" Imt ho made no other remark.

JACKSON'S STORY OF HIS ESCAPE

In the course-of further statement, Jackson said that nttcr leaving the room at StrangOV/ayß I'rison, where the murder was commtbtcd, he got o.i tho roof, \vo:it over Chootham Hill and lied Bank to the O.dliam Ko:id. Ue begged a hat and a coat from a publican on tho way, and, on reaching Oldham, lie' broke into a house and loft part of his prison clothing there. He committed a sec nd burglary there, and then went on to Haifax. U hile thero lio got shaved, and succcoded in ridding himself of the remainder of his prison clothes. After staying thero two dnys, lie went to Leeds, whore ho remained (v week, and *moo leaving that town ho has boon living in the outskirts of Bradford, and had only onco vehturod into the town. . Marshall Booth, who eftceted Jackson s capturo, has mado a .statement to tho following oll'cot": — Tho prisoner has been stopping r

A WEEK IN BRADFORD. Ho lias spent all his time in public-houses, nnd has been regarded by all who camo in contact with him as a jolly good follow. Tho prisoner evidently enjoyed tho good company, and.tang songs which evoked considerable pralite. Somo of the men with whom ho associated felt a certain amount of curiosity as to his antecedents, and asked him w'hero ho camo from, to which ho rep'iod, "From Garnctt-strcet, Bradford." Suspicion, however, arose as to liia antecedent being altogether what they might be, and on Sunday night Booth refused to let Kirn sleep with him, although ho had been staying at the house for sovcral days. The prisoner, nevertheless, went to the houso later, and tried to gain admission. Booth said to a friend, " There's something queer about this man."

I'M AFRAID IT S JACKSON. Let's go and collar him." They then ran after Jackson, and overtook him. The prisoner was caught, nrd a constable was sent for, and ovontunlly ho waR overpowered and handcuffed. Tho prisoner remarked, as he hold up his hands, "I'm dono;" and yielded without further show of resistance. In tho course of the struggl", Booth nnd the prisoiior wore braised, particularly thol.itter, who has n wound on Ilia head, caused by a kick from Booth. Tho prisoner was nlso very much hurt about the body. The wound on the head has since been plastered up by Dr. Lodge, the polico surgeon. Booth further states -.—The first time that over we met was at tho White Bear Inn. This was on Monday looming, when I went to seok for some work. There was a man alone with Jackson. Jackson advised the, man not to work, as he would treat him. O:i Tuesday I saw him at half-past six at night, and HE TREATED ME. He gave a- other man half a-crown to sleep with him, bob thix man's "missus" would ■ not allow him. Ho'asked mo at half-ptfb : ton or close upon eleven if I would let him ; ."loop with mo, and I said, " You are a per- i fc;;t strangtr bo me, and I don't know." I asked Mrs Watson, the landlady, if the know him. She Said, "No. lie is a perfect stranger to me." He pulled his money j out of his pocket, and said he would pay 1110 anything over I wanted if I would Jet him go with mo to sleep. ] said, : " I don t want aiiL'hfc. You must leave all | your money here if you stop with me." Ho he did. He left 235, and r ame and sopped with me, and got into bed, and fuli out of bed. My lodger (a friend of mine) said, " Who's that r I said, " It's John Haigh " He said, "Is it a man from Ridley?" I said, " No. It's Jackson.'' It was said in fun.' Jackson never said anything. I went! ! outatabout) half-past iiveon the Wednesday i ; morning, leaving Jackson in bed. I won't | back about six o'clock,and hcwasinbedstill, ' and I called out to him, "Firth," and lie jumped nearly out of bed. "Firth" was again said in fun. I sent Benjamin Beanland upstairs, and Jackson was frightened out of his wits when hesaw Beanland? Beanland isa friend ofmine. Jackson had jumped out of bed. I told Beanland, again keeping up the joke, that it was Jackson. Jackson said to Beanland, "What's up?" and Beanland replied, " Aren't you going to get up?" I always had a suspicion about this man, and have told everyone that there was a

SCREW LOOSE SOMEWHERE, and that ho was a suspicious character. I really thought he was somethingof this sort, but did not think he was like Jackson. He went out drinking a great deal, and made himself £t home among the company. We went to the Waggon and Horse 3on Saturday, and were there at between eight and nine o'olock. On Sunday we drank together as usual, and enjoyed ourselves during; tno , time <ye were J.tbe». I* transpired that.

went home. J io ,■ ijitod 01l hisgoiiifhome to-iiiprht but ;<; - Hoit-J: home,,-Iwoul. net I•; -^' j nto the lie staul l»o kicked the p"«" '"""•jAWSONA" A VOCALIST. murderer promisinjj to pay it back on Monday, i'lik .leniHPMto K "'f l>lnyetl b> ho fSitivo u'a, BUeuded by coWidcrablo danger, hnwevev, lor tli.it day v Sinfclcm "from Hitvtall called t, transact Some busing with Air VutHon, tho lan, - lord of tho inn, and, in the ooarm 0 Jm conversation about the mnitlor, the visitoi said ho know both Jackson and his parent!?, and if he only kvw tho offender he could reowniw him. This m said in the baruarlour and at the time the murderer was in Uio lap-room. Unfoilnnately, however, tho pentlciivm left without visiUng any other" parts of Uio house.

SOMM O!'1 ins BUKOLINO V.X

L'LOITS,

There arc just now being related at Bradford many other incidents which nolp to exhibit tho'almoeb unheard-of coolueis ot the'man. In n house which it is now allcaod lie broke into in Becch-fjrove, at Bradford, tho occupiers bciii^ away, ho went to bed, and slept tiil six o dock in Uio morning, when ho was seen to leave, the neighbours thinking him fco be a new carotukar in tho hniiEe. in a house in Hustler-street, which prisoner entered, lie hud helped himself to a plentiful mealofoold mutton and salad, washed himself, and bnuhec! hia boots before leaving.

HOW HE ESCAPED FROM

STRANGEWAYS.

Jackson himself gave tho police some idea of hia experiences since his release. H" said he escaped from the prison through tliC i-oof of the matron's house, and dropped on" the prison wall into Soutliall-street. When ho got into tho street his first thought was !o return lo prison and give himself up, but he continued his way across one of the side streets leading into Chcetham Hill. Crossing Cheotham Hill Road, a busy thoroughfare, ho got into Red Bank, a populous neighbourhood, whence ho made his way to Oldham. At Oldham he committed two burglaries, and at one of t!iO houses .stole some ordinary wearing attiie, and threw part of his prison clothes in a ditch Next morning he read a newspaper, thoupli not in g, public house, an w;is stated, and from it he first learnt that tho warder was dead. With reference to this he said,

"I HAD NO INTENTION OF KILL

ii, Tc: him.

If I had to answer to my Maker ■at this moment I had no intention of killing that man." From Oldham he went to Halifax. bogging on tho way a coat and liafcfrom the landlord of a public-house. At Halifax he yliAvcd, and got rid of anchor portion of hi* prison dress. After staying there for a eouph) of days ho went on do Leeds, and remained at Leeds for a ,vcok. From Leeds ha came to Bradford, nnd hung about the outskirts in the neighbourhood of Bradford Moor, where ho was captured. At Leeds, he had purchased a i;ow B'.iit of clothe?, ;: pepper-and-salt coat and waistcoat, and a pair of grey trousers, which ho wore when arrested. Among other ptatementa made by Jackson one was to the effect that he did not know whatever had possessed him to do it (meaning the murder). But it would rest on nobody's shoulders but his own. The prisoner had evidently been put to severe Strait*, and throughout yesterday bore a most dejected air, and sighed and groaned constantly.

AN INTERESTING COLLOQUY

It is said that Jackson never produced

an> weapons of any sort during his struggle with his captors. The principal credit in connection with tho identification of Jackson appears to bo due to Detee--1 Live Talbof, a smart young oiliuc;1 in

the Bradford force, who, having assistedtho Clref Con.-tabio in issuing photographs of Jackson about a fortnight ago, had made his features and peculiarities Liv special study. On onto:ing the cells this morning ho saw the prisoner " Harrison " sitting with his head bound up. ]Io said, "Aic you Thomas Harrison J" whereupon the prisoner stood up and replied, " See." Talbot said, " Whero do you belong to?" and tho prisoner answered, "Bradford." To the question, " How long havoyou been in Bradford ?"the man answered, " Three weeks." Talbot said, " Where were you previously?" and he answered, " I was in Amcrieafor live years." Talbot asked, "What part of America?" and tho man said, "Philadelphia nil the time.'' Talbot, who had spent some time in America, asked, "How far is Kensington off Philadelphia?" indicating one of the suburb? of tho city. Prisoner answered, "I don't exactly know." Throughout the conversation Jackson had continuously kept his loft hand in his trousers pocket. Talbot next eaid, "Let me look at your hands." Jackson at onco turned pale, and began to tremble. On seeing the man's hands, Talbot noticed the peculiar mark on tho finger—a fleshy protuberance about the sizo of a hazel nut at tho base of tho index finger of the lelt hand. He next asked to see the man's nose, and found upon it tho scar across the bridge. Talbot said, "1 will tell you who you are—you are Gharleswood Firth, the Strangewnys murderer." The man made no reply. Talbot then said. " 1 will confront you with someone I think knows you—l mean our Chiet Inspector." Jackson said, "What, Mr Dobson '!" to which Talbot replied, "Yes." WHO, WROTE THE LETTER? . Jackson, it is now believed, visited Leeds on May 23rd, and committed a robbery on M«y 24th. Afterwards he made some purchases at Avmley, and thert netually told Hie shopkeeper, whose name, by-the-by, is Firth, that he was a nitive ef Birstal, and wa? fcba man who escaped from Wakeficld Prison some years ago. On the fact coming to the knowledge of the police, a street at ■Al'uilay, in which Jackson and a young woman wove lodging, was watched, and the observations were continued up to yesterday af tcrr.oon. Tho police wore unable to ascertain the precise house where tho man was staying; hence tho reason that no 81 arch was made. Yesterday morning the Chief Constable of Lseds received the following letter, apparently in tho handwriting of a woman :—" Tuesday. Sh'#, —You aro treating my father and mother very bad by sotting*the report about that I am tho Manchester murderer; but I can tell you, and it will relieve the minds of my parents, that lam entirely innoc.nl. of the crime. I shall turn up before long.—-C W. Fijitil'' The envelope bore tho Leeds postmark, and was dated Juno 10.