The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1888-06-16 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FUGITIVE'S AUDACITY.  It seems that Jackson had been living for the last , week in the neighbourhood of Brao+ Moor, under the name of Thomas Harrison, 93:11,/•int? most of hie time drinking with a number ca conipanione he had picked up. They wee drinking together the greater ?art of last week, -and Harrison was frequently :haffed on his resettimtnce to the published description of the murderer-4 buti*,,,Ways turned off the suggestion in a banterine ow, and -xucceeded in allaying all suspicion. Amasit,the -IS with whom tle had stayed was a man naineS Booth, living in Lee-square, Thornbury; but he went to lodge elsewhere a day or two ago. On Monday morning, about one o'clock Booth was awakened by a noise in the lower part of his house, and on looking out of ne window h'!' saw a man in the act of attempting to f ,rce an entrance. He shouted out, and the man ran into the yard of the Waggon and Horses Inn close by, and concealed himself in a closet. Booth rushed out Df the house after him, dragged him from the closet, and they had a desperate fight in the yard, in the course of which Jackson's head was severely cut by coming into contactwith a sharp stone, and he was thus partially stunned. About half-past one Policeconstable Flood had his attention attracted by the noise and after a brief struggle he succeeded in handcuffing the prisoner and taking him to the Town Hall.! At this time there was no suspicion of the important nature of the capture. The prisoner gave his name as Thomas Harrison, and said he was a joiner by trade, and that his residence was at 29, Garnettstreet, Bradford. This name was entered in the charge-book. On being searched the prisoner was found to have only a knife and sd. in his possession. Detective Talbot went into the cells, and on seeing " Harrison " he thought he saw a resemblance in him to the account given of Jackson, the escaped murderet. On examining the prisoner's hands the mark on the thumb, which has been published as one of Jackson's physical deformities, was detected. The prisoner was then stripped, and the scar on the groin, a mule on the side, and a mark on the neck, ( ach of which exactly corresponded to the description of the escaped murderer, were found. Talbot said, "It's no use denying it. You are Jackson." The prisoner replied, "It's time this was finished. I am Jackson, the man you want." A few days ago a robwhere the prisoner was captured, which the po ice ai'a confident was his work, and in which his actions were characterised by his usual consummate coolness; he, after ransacking the lower rooms of the house, having helped himself ito a ihearty breakfast, and smoked for some time on the door step before he left the Place. Since his capture Jackson appears to have collapsed completely. When recognised, the desperate courage which he had shown all through his career appeared to desert him. Smce making his escape from gaol Jackson has shaved off his moustache, and his general appearance very, slightly resembles the portraits and description which have been published. According to his own statement, after he broke out of gaol and provided himself with a suit of clothes at the house he broke into in Oldham he made his prison clothes into a bundle and threw them away. He then took the train to Halifax, and the day after reaching there he had his moustache and side-whiskers shaved off and his hair cut. He went last Saturday to Bradford, having wandered about that district since leaving Halifax, and visiting, amongst other places, his native town, Birstall, where he was recognised by several persons. When asked why he killed the warder he said, he "could not tell, he must have been mad." The prisoner was brought before the magistrate on Monday and remanded.  Jackson, in the dock at the police-court, looked haggar4 an& UtQl ^