Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1888-06-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

IMPORTANT CLUE.  ANOTHER FUTILE ARREST.  The ilentity of the missing man Jackson, as he was known at Strangeways Gaol, with tbe man known as Charles Williamson Firth whale photograph was found at Wakefield Gaol, has now be fully est.thlighed. The photograph of Firth, which was circulated on Wednesday in Medford as being that of Jackson, hag been shown to the warders at Strangewayg Gaol, and they immediately identified the man. Charles Williamson Firth, whose father is said to be a. caretaker at Sirstall; formerly lived with an uncle off Swine-lane, Leeds, and the police have traced to a pawnshop a watch made by "Henry Sydney Smith, Leeds," No. 59,433 which it is believed the m'Eing man pawned before his imprisonment at Manchester. Within the last five years he has been twice to America, and he acted as stoker on hoard a atcamship. He is : suspected of committing several burglaries, and I of robbing houses where he had taken lodgings lin various parts of the country. He had severe, aliases. and hal been convicted fool times of breaking into houses, once , for horse stealing, once fer fraudulent enlistment, once for breaking out of WigkeI field prison, and he is wantrd for stea'ing a baz containing £l5O at Birstall, for forgery at Gomergal, and for housebreaking in eight or ten different pieces. The photograph obtained of IFirtii, at Wakefield, iilll3 now been sent to every police office in the conntry, together with au accurate description of the man. He is said to be 'of quiet habits and good address, but weld= I looks a person in the face with whom he is con. I verging. A man who gave him the coat he wig wearing when last seen was in communication  with the Manchester police yesterday. Thera is no doubt that ho has been seen in several places since his escape, and the police complain that the publication of the details of the search for him by the newspapers has increased the difficulties of his arrest by putting him on his guard, and enabling him to make fresh plans tc evade capture. The Chesterfield police having made enquiries concerning the man named John Ramp, appreI handed on suspicion of being the convict Jackson or Firth, ioniel that his statement is substantially true, that he is a ticket-of-leave man who has failed to report himself. Though he closely answers the description of Jackson, the police have arrived at the conclusion that he is not the I murderer. He will be recommitted to serve out I the remainder M his term.  nspector Tinker, of the Dcrby police, arrestei a man in the streets at four o'clock yesterday morning who bore a strong resemblance to thd man Jackson or Firth. Ile answered closely te the description given, except that he had a lump on the third finger of his left hand, but none on the first finger. After making enquiries Odd police allowed the man to go. Some interesting information has come to light respecting Webb, the murdered warder. It appears that when a boy he wan an inmate of the Calder Farm Reformatory School, and after the usual penod of probation, as hie conduct was good, he was placed out on license with a farmer at Whitby. named George Fawcett, since deceased. A strong attachment grew up between the youth and the entire family. He remained with them until his term was up, and then, as a soldier's life had great charms for him, be enlisted. The regiment he joined was soon afterwards sent to India. and he remained abroad for upwards of twenty years, but during the whole of that time he kept up a correspondence with the Fawcett's, and visited them with his wife and child when he was a warder, the occasions being when he was off on his holidays. Had he been living now he would have been in Whitby, arrangements haviny been made for his visit, along with his claughtel and Mrs Webb.