The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-03-22 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

PARTON'S CARI,,ER.  Charles Parton has, for one so young, an eventful history. fie is older by a year than he told the police when arrested. His birthplace was the city of Liverpool, where he was condemned, and where his parents lived when he was born, in 1869. While he was a lad the family removed to Manch-ster, and Charles, after receiving a slenier education, became s messenger at an hotel in the city. Mr. John Fletcher was one of the frequenters of thia establishment, and it scorns probable that the two knew one another. at least by sight. Parton did not keep his situation long, and seems to have followed no regular employment since. His father was at this time keeping a beerbouse in Greeng,ate Salford. The elder Parton was of considerable repine in the pugilistic world. He was known by the name of "Pig Jack," and described as the 9st. 41b. champion of England." His family, who numbered three sons, copied the example of their father. Charles early acquired considerable skill as a boxer, and led a harum-scarum life. Two years ago he hurriedly left England for America under circumstances which reflected little credit on his honesty. His destination was Boston, and in that city he fraternised with boxing men. He made several appearances in public, advertised as the son of an English champion. The reason of his departure from ' the States is unknown, but be did not remain there for more than a few months. On his return to England he continued to lead a loose life. Some time ago, in company with a man older than himself, he travelled to Market Flarborongh, in Lincolnshire, took lodgings in an hotel, and during the night, with the assistauce of his confederate, rifled the place, and decamped with a quantity of jewellery. A few days afterwards he was found attempting to dispose of the stolen property in Northamptou, and was arrested. For this offence he was committed to gaol for sir: weeks. Re was in the clutches of the law again not very long ago, being fined 21s. and costs, with the alternative of a term of imprisonment, at Stockport, for defrauding a railway company. Ou one other occasion the police have had him in custody on a charge which was not austained. Since his return from America Parton seeina to have uegteeted his pugilistic exercises, but in the early part of this year he was trained for a performance at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, arranged for the benefit of Jam Mace. He competed amongst the light weights, and won a second prize. The period during which he has been guilty of the practice of using dregs to render his victims insensible before robbing them seems to have been confined to the last few months. The first charge which has been preferred against him refers to the 28th of December, when, according to the evidence given at the City retie° Court, he dragged and robbed a man named John Parkey, to whom his brother had introduced him. A second offence, similar in character, was, it is alleged, committed upon an elderly man named Samuel Oldfield, on the Bth of January. A poisonous drug was undoubtedly used in both these eases, the last of which occurred before Parton stole the bottle of chloral from Mr. Bromley's shop in Liverpool. His knowledge of the poison raerns to have been gained from its use in the treatment of his father, who has suffered from angina pectoris. The last and greatest of his crimes was committed on Tuesday, 26th of February, when he murdered Mr. Fletcher. On the Tuesday of the following week the coroner's jury returned a veraict of "Wilful murder" against him. Ou a Tuesday -.gain, seven days afterwards, the grand jury at Liverpool assizes returned a true bill against him, and Once more on a Tuesday be was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death. No fewer than 40 witnesses were engaged in the case, which has been perfected with commendable rapidity by Chief Detective Inspector Carninada and the detective staff of the Manchester police force.