The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-22 00:00:00

THE MURDERER'S CONFESSION.

Yesterday morning the young man, Eli Sykes, who is
in custody for murdering two women at Batley, was taken
before the local magistrates. He appeared in plain clothes,
some of his comrades having waited upon him on Sunday
and induced him to exchange the uniform he wore at the
time of the murders—and which was blood-stained—for
the ordinary dress of a civilian. He was formally charged
with the wilful murder of Sarah Brook and Hannah Brook
at Batley, on the 19th instant. Mr. Atkinson, solicitor, of
Dewsbury, was present to watch the case on behalf of the
relatives of the murdered women. The first witness called

was
William Fawcett, who said—About five minutes past
eleven o'clock I was in Huhne-street, when I heard a cry
of " Murder." I ran out, met Joseph Peace, and we ran
into Brook's house together. The prisoner was there, and
had his bayonet in this way—(showing the manner in
which he was probing at his throat). As we went to him
he struck at Peace, and the weapon passed through his
coat. I seized him behind, and got it from him. Then
we threw him down, got his belt off, and placed him on a
chair till Sergeant English came. Mrs. Brook was at the
door bleeding when I went in, and the younger woman
was standing by the bedside bleeding from the mouth.
The prisoner was standing before her. I never saw him
strike at the two women who are murdered. The old
woman was shouting " Murder ; oh, he is murdering our
Hannah." The young woman asked for a drink of water
when they laid her on the bed. She lived, I believe, about
five minutes after I entered the house. She was stabbed
through her clothes in the breast, and she was also bleed-
ing from the mouth and from a stab on the cheek. The
older woman was placed on the bed shortly afterwards,
and it was said that she was dead.
Police-constable Murray said—On Saturday night, be-
tween 11 and 12 o'clock, I went to Hulme-street, Batley,
to the house of Sarah Brook. I saw Sarah Brook and her
daughter, Hannah Brook, laid dead in bed. The prisoner
was laid on the floor. Ho did not speak until after his
wounds were dressed by Mr. Bayldon. When the wounds
were dressed we put him in a cart and took him to the
Dewsbury lockup. He was sensible enough, but did not
speak. Mr. Bayldon, when he examined the wounds, said
there was nothing dangerous about them. At the lockup,
Superintendent Martin cautioned the prisoner not to
speak. About ten minutes after Mr. Martin left the pri-
soner made a statement, after I had cautioned him that
what he said would be given in evidence before the magis-
trates. He said, "I feel easier and better satisfied in my own
mind now that I have done than I did before I had done
it. I was with this young woman on Monday night at
Batley, and we were on good terms. I went on Saturday
night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, to her mother's
house. Her mother and her began calling me, and told
me to go away, as they did not want me there. Hannah
sat down on a chair and began singing, and it aggravated
me. I struck her with the butt-end of my gun, and she
cried, Oh, Eli, let mo alone and I will go with you.' I
pulled my bayonet out of my sheath and ran it into her.
Her mother got up out of bed and tried to prevent me,
and I ran my bayonet into her. I have told her many a
time I would have my revenge, and I have got it now,
that is all."—Mr. Greenwood (to the prisoner) : Do you
wish to ask the policeman anything as to that statement?
The Prisoner : Yes ; he says that was all I said to him. I
told him when I got into the house they began calling
me, and I asked her if she would ever go with me again.
She said "No," and I asked her if she was going with
another young man, and she said she was.—lnspector Leo
said : A friend of the prisoner's, named Sales, came to see
him yesterday. The prisoner had his rifle uniform on,
and Sales went to fetch him a suit of clothes to put on in
place of his rifle clothes, which were covered with blood.
After the conversation about the clothing, the friend said
to him, "Eli, this is a very bad job."—Witness (Murray):
I heard him say that. The prisoner said, " I could not
help it. lam easier and better satisfied in my mind than
before 1 had done it ;" and he went on talking,
and said
what had happened inside. He said, "When I
was
in the
house, the mother and daughter began calling me, and said
they would not have mo there." He asked her was she not
going with another "chap." Superintendent Martin—A
Wakefield "chap," I understood. Witness—He said " I
asked her if she was going with another chap, and if it was
a man from Wakefield ; and she said Yes.' She told me
she would go with any man she liked, and if I would not
go away she would make me. She then sat down on a
chair and began singing."
Inspector Lee said that the young woman had received
seven stabs, and there were eight on the old one.—
Murray continued—His friend asked him if he was drunk
when he did it, and he said, " No, I had had nothing to
drink."
The prisoner, who; it was stated, was out of danger, was
remanded to Saturday.
The inquest was opened at eleven o'clock yesterday
forenoon, at the White Hart Inn, before Mr. C. Jewison.
Several witnesses were examined ; and it was proved that
the prisoner had a short time ago threatened he would
either have Hannah Brook or no one else should have her.
He had also told one of his sweetheart's brothers that he
could scarcely bear the idea of Hannah rejecting his offer.
The brother attempted to console him, saying he would be
sure to find some female who would accept him. The ac-
cused was not present at the inquest, which was adjourned
to Monday.

Six SETS OF CHILDREN.—There is a family in
Detroit of quite unusual composition. Tho father and
mother have each been married three times, and have had
children by each marriage ; and all are now living happily
together under one roof—six sets of children.--American
Paper.