The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

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CAPTURE OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER.

Intelligence wee received from Reading on Tuesday evening
that about ax --'clock pm a man had been captured there
at a lodging.house kept l.y Abraham Lock, by Superintendent
Dunham, mud P dice.cotat Ode Toulman, of the Reading
acconmmied by a man named Charles COOlulii, who
had given damaging evidence against him. It appears that
Coombe is a bricklayer, residing at Ux midge, and he states that
the man who has been captured came out of Coldbate.fields
Prison either on Friday or Saturday last Ile only knowshini
by the name of Jack, and the man has thelleed to give any
name at pretext (Ills name Is John Jenkins, and he Is a
boiler rocker The man went to the Ball-yard on Saturday
night and mked Mr Coombs tor lodgings, but gaol that he
ehoul.l not be In until Sunday morning. On Sunday Illorn•
leg he ex.me into the Bell-yard, and he then hat a .litterent
suit of clothes on f. In what he bad on the previous night.
Ile bed altos calpet hag with hint, which Leas lull id food
and other things. Ile went to bed. and did not get no until
about 10 o'dl. ck lie then went t itt and got sortie beer, and
afterwards stopped at the Bell.), aid all Sunday night The
next night be spent in another yard. On Tuesday mummy
he we. t into the Bell-yard early and at kad C. ontir for ion,
breakfast, and Cooudis said he would give lint :ewe if lie
had Oct got ally, nod be accordingly gave lom some bre,,k•
fast. The man then told Coombs that he sh..ula go I.y
the one out. cm train to Readieg, and alter ho en. gone
1'0,00.'8 suspicions were excited, and he d his
employer that he could not rest until he went at en the
man, as he suspected he had committed the mutders.
Ills master accordingly volunteered to pay his expellant.
Coombs communicated his suspicions to the sergeant of
police, Will he was aecordithzly shown the clothes that
were iitrral tinllarshali's house all coversd with blood, and
these he Identified as being the clothes worn by the man
Jack oil S Lumley night. Ile then proceeded to Reading,
Arednltioiliod by Superintendent Dunham of the Slough
police, and with the assistance of Police.constable
Toulmau search. d various bulgieg.houres in the town,
and at last ftoool the Orin ill Lilo hope above-nu n•
tinned. The captured man had on the shirt, trouser+, and
b.nits of the murdered man. When the nt saw the • flic.re
corning into the lotiging.house after bin, he thrust his hand
into his pocket and endeavoured to draw forth a loaded
pistol, tort P.-lice-constable Toutman proved too quick for
him, for lie Panned over the bet cites and seiz.l his
arm in time. Ile then walked quietly to the pollee
station. lie hail the pawn ticket of the merdered titan's
watch mid chain. which he had pawned at ['stables, and
emleavoured to sell the ticket at the Great Western Tap, on
Tuesday niorniiiir lie had sold the murdered metre coat
and waistcoat to Mrs. Lyons, in Union-street, for au
lie was handcuffed, and went qeietly to the police.ststion,
when two men were placed with him In the cell to watch
hint. Chen spoken to about the murders he became eXeited,
and said to the officers, "You would not say you cid it?
Lick here, so help rue God, 1 never murdered man, Woman,
Or child. I never set foot into the house, or theehop. What
do yon think ..f It? There, take it out of that." lie liar ad.
teoni..ed.lookine odaltenance. and apparently speaks with a
Saritch scceht Sit. 71n. high, of callow complexion,
and hasailai k tacit Lila :loot all round ; dark eyes, browrr hair
and nanist..che. Ile wae tittered in a kind of painter's
cap, clean whi-e smook, and dm k striped trouser&
When If became known t hatthe murderer had been capture,l,
and woi Id leave Reading s‘ation by the 8. 10 p.m. train per
the Great Western Railway, over I,too persona Maelialled
to witness his departure. Bet re quitting toe cell the man
was eleiteh irt toe Deputy Governor of Reading Gaol /Mr.
ltoyeei who at once identified him as having Men two or three
times hi Rear, ing Gaol, and as boob g been convicted a short
time since .f steatitic a lamur at Abingdon for which he was
aerate cad to 18 months' hard labour in Reading Gaol lie then
gave the name of John Jones. Ile was also convicted some
eight or ten ya ars ago for stealing a barrow at Ittaillog
Cemettry. . . .

As the Evening drew on, the prisorer became more ix.
cited, though he sill, showed a certain amwint of in-
difference. tie was taken to the railway station in a fly, six-
teen constables being placed on duty. lie wos hoiden and
hissed by the large witiwurse that had assembled. lie was
taken through the goods station, and placed in a accord-class
carriage in educe of Soperintendent Ditithsm, the imperil,
tenderit of the Slough Police, slid Captain Drake, the Chief
Consist:le of South lincks. The carriage was afterwards
shunted on to the 8.10 p.m. train, and. as it passed the
station, the prisoner received the hearty execrations of the
assembled crowd.