The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1863-12-22 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

TAUNTON.—FORTON•Te ESCAPE Or MR. BARON Ploore—We are informed by the governor of Taunton pot, Mr. Oakley, that Mr Baron Pigott had a narrow escape of being injured on Tuesday night. Whilst the learned judge was sentencing the batch of ruffians for violating the person of Charlotte Fearer, of Castle Corey, one of them was observed lifting the inkstand in front of the dock, which had been imbedded in the wood. With much secret labour during the trio/ ho had succeeded in " working" the inkstand from the wood in which it was fixed, and there can be ncidoubt of his intention, if the governor had not wrested it from his grasp. Toe ST. Ginn's hicenee.—ln consequence of information that • man named John Markham had been apprehended on Friday at Taunton by Superintendent Goldsmith, of the county constabulary, on suspicion (from • description in the Polite Gazette) that he was the perpetrator of the cruel murder of an unfortunate girl, Emma Jackson, at a hones in Oeorge.street, St. Giles's, some months since, Sergeant Thomson, of the detective department, Scotfand.y&rd, at once proceeded, accompanied by • person nomad Stokes, to Taunton, with the view of establishing the identity of Markham. Whilst Markham was exercising with several other men in the prison grounds, Stokes was introduced, but could not identify any man present as the one he saw in the company of Emma Jackson on the day she was murdered. Markham was thereupon at once permitted to issue forth from the precincts of the county prison. It might be interesting to our readers to know • little of the history of Markham. He is thirty years of age, and of very peculiar appearance. His parents are an honest old couple living at Shoreditch. He went for • soldier, was drafted into the Artillery, and was discharged branded with the letter "D." From that time be has been • thief. His first scene of action was White. chapel, where he committed a burglary, was captured, and sentenced to twelve months' imprison. meat. When liberated he become connected with • gang of ooiners, was apprehended for uttering counterfeit coin, and enneriled to twelve months' imprisonment. When discharged be took to highway rob'iery, but was checked at the outset of this new &Tontine by being arrested for what is known as "putting on the hug" (gunning) on • gentleman, and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. Upon leaving prison he gave information about his companions for allowing him to he captured when he "put on the hug," and they wereallapprebended, tried, and sentenced to ten years for coining. Shortly after he also informed against his brother for coining, and he was tried and sent to penal servitude for ten years. Markham then left the wit end of London, and took a stroll into the country, and has been four years going from London to Somerset, his fortunes baying been very chequered, but be seems to bear his troubles easily, although he has been in every county prison between London and Taunton. When told by Sergeant Thomson that he had better turn up thieving,thd not stick to so terrible a life, he replied; "Bless your heart, I've been a thief all my life, and meth to be so still. Stick to it! Right you are, serge:wt." Sergeant Thomson left for London, Markham for Exeter.