The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-16 00:00:00

FULL POLICE IDENTIFICATION.

John Jackson, known also under the names of
Charles Wood Firth, Thomas Harrison, Edward
Graham, Charles Wood, and Charles Kitson, was
again brought up at the Bradford Police-court on
Tuesday morning. He was described as a plumber,
of Garnet-street, in that town, and was charged with
breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Marshall
Booth, being also wanted for the wilful murder of
Assistant-Warder Webb, at Strangeways, on May 22
last. The Mayor of Bradford occupied the chair. The
court was crowded in every part, and there was an
immense crowd in the precincts, and the police had
to close the doors, a number of constables being ap-
pointed to keep back the crowd. The prisoner's
name was called first, and he was assisted into
the dock by a couple of dock warders.
He was accommodated with a chair. He
looked much better than on the previous day,
but leaned his arms and bowed his head upon
them, and never looked up during the whole of the
proceedings. The Chief Constable, Mr. J. Withers,
said: This prisoner was apprehended, under the name
of Thomas Harrison, for burglary at Bradford Moor,
on Sunday evening. As I told your worships yester-
day (Monday), we had a strong suspicion that he was
the man Charles Wood Firth, who goes by the names
of Jackson and Graham, and is " wanted " for the
murder of Assistant-Warder Webb, at Strangeways
Gaol. Our suspicions have been confirmed, and not
only confirmed, but the man has been properly idsn-4
by Sergeant Girdham, of the Mancheste2l)e-
-). Department, and also by two wardefi,--
-Ley I.llSlaggins—from'Strande,ways Gaol. In ad-
dition to that I sent over to BiAtall- for
ptlle relatives
()Übe man, in order that no mistake - should be
Before I said he was the man I wanted corro-
boration to be forthcoming; and I now ask your
wcjaips that he may be handed over to the Man-
cliester police. The detective officer, in going round
to see the prisoners, noticed that Harrison was very
much like the man Jackson. Detective Talbot called
to his assistance Detective Butterworth, and the man
was examined, and brought over to the detective
offices. There Inspector Dobson was called, and my
own attention was directed to him. The doctor, too,
was sent for, in order that he should be properly ex-
amined, and then it was found that—as far as mortal
man could say—he was the man. I now ask your
worships—not wishing to put any obstruction in the
way of the Manchester police—that this man should be
handed over to them at once. Theirs is a more serious
charge than ours, and it would be better for all pur-
poses he should be handed over. Superintendent Hicks,
chief of the Detective Department of Manchester, is
here waiting to take him back, and he also has the
assistance of Sergeant Girdham and some other
officers whom I cannot name. The Mayor: Do you
call witnesses as to identity ? The Chief Constable :
Yes, sir. George Girdham, sergeant in the detective
force of Manchester, said he had had the prisoner in
custody under the name of Charles Kitson. He had
examined the prisoner, and he was Charles Kitson, or
Firth. He was the man who escaped from Strange.
ways Gaol, and was " wanted " for the Murder of
Assistant-warder Webb. He was known by the names
of Jackson and Graham. The Chief Constable:
There is no doubt about it ? No doubt at all. The
Mayor: After this evidence he will be handed over to
the Manchester police on the more serious charge.
The prisoner was then removed in custody.