The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-09 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

Mr. Inspector Field, of the detective force, attended
before Mr. Norton, and requested his worship's indul-
gence while he offered a few words of explanation in
reference to the discharge of two of the brothers of
the Misses Eicke from the Exhibition.

Mr. Field then proceeded to state that it would be
in his worship's recollection, as the examination had
taken place before him, th,,t tho .unitner of 1850
he had in custody at this court two young men, named
William and Henry Eicke, the former on a charge of
defrauding the South-Western Railway Company
of 2,0001., by means of a forged bond, and the latter
with being an accessary, and enabling his brother to
accomplish the fraud. From this latter offence, how-
ever, after several remands, Henry was discharged, and
William having been tried at the Old Bailey, was
found guilty and transported. From this period,
until some time after the opening of the Exhibition,
he (Mr. Field) had lost sight of Henry Eicke, but
while attending at the Crystal Palace one day he was
questioned by a superintendent of police, and asked if
he knew anything respecting the character of that
person. He replied, as he was bound to do, that he
did, that he had had him in custody for felony in assist-
ing his brother William to obtain 2,0001. on a forged
document, that he had introduced his brother to a
banker in a false name, namely, that of Juhn Wind-
sor, and by his opening an account at the banker's in
that name enabled him to pass and procure cash for
the forged bond. In saying thus much, he had only
done that which his duty imperatively required. Yet
he was sorry to observe some severe strictures on his
conduct in the daily papers, and in one particularly a
letter which charged him with going out of his way to
commit an act of positive cruelty in getting discharged
from their situations two young men whose only crime
was that of having a brother who happened to be in
" trouble."

Miss Ellen Eicke, who with her sister Flora was
present, here said that without wishing in the slightest
degree to justify the conduct of her brother Henry
yet, his situation was one of a mere check-taker,
where he could not have done wrong if so inclined,
and not only was he discharged from his employment,
but her brother Octavius al.o. Their wages of 303,
a week each they regularly carried home to their
mother, and this in fact being the only means of sub-
sistence, she might say, of the family, they felt their
dismissal most keenly.
Mr. Field observed that he knew nothing and said
nothing about the brother Octavius, but what he bad
said of Henry he was bound to state. Had he not
done so, and disclosed the whole truth in reference to
his knowledge of him, he would be liable to a dismissal
from his situation.

Mr. NowroN remarked that no person could doubt
the truth of the inspector's observations, that it was
his duty to inform his superior officer, when ques-
tioned on the subject, of all he knew respecting the
character of the man, and as it was indispensable in
such a place as the Exhibition, where property to an
incalculable amount was deposited, to have persons of
good character employed as servants, he did not won-
der at the discharge of Henry Eicke. He also sup-
posed his brother had been discharged on his (Henry's)
account.

In reply to the questions of the Magistrate,
Mr. Field said that he had been informed by a dis-
tinguished barrister that the father of the Misses
Eicke had at one time held a high position in his pro-
fession as an attorney, but since then had been sub-
jected to various vicissitudes. As respected his daugh-
ters, he (Mr. Field) had not heard the slightest re-
flection, and it was his opinion when he took their
brothers into custody that they were strangers to their
offence. After the conviction of the brother William
a number of workmen who had been previously em-
ployed by him in a chymical factory at Battersea ap-
plied to the Commissioners of Police for some relief,
stating that they had not been paid their wages for
some time, and they thought there was some fund to
pay them.
Mr. NORTON—What became of the produce of the
2 000/ bond—had it all been spent ?
Mr. Field—No, Sir. I understood that there was
about 5001. lodged in a banking-house, but what be-
came of it I don't know. I understand, however, that
the father of William Eicke had applied for it.
Miss Eicke—l don't believe he has, and I am pretty
certain he has not got it, nor has any of the family ;
so that if such a sum had been in the bank it is there
still.
Mr. NORTON—Should this sum of 5001. be found
forthcoming, and the South-Western Railway Com-
pany kindly permitted it to be applied to the necessi-
ties of the younger branches of this unfortunate family,
it would be a great blessing to them. I am very
happy to find that the h quiry, so far as it has
gone, has been most satisfactory as regards the
character of the daughters, and that their conduct
through the most trying circumstances has been un-
exceptionable. The public have come forward most
benevolently on their behalf, and I was anxious to
make the fullest inquiries into the case before dis-
posing of any of their subscriptions. Those inquiries
are not yet completed, but in the interim I shall direct
to be handed to you, Miss Eicke, such a sum as will
be necessary for your present use.
Both the Misses Eicke expressed their gratitude,
and said it was truly distressing to them in coming
before the public under such peculiar circumstances
to have the characters of their father and brothels
reflected on, while many of their acts were the results
of misfortune, and those of their brothers.

Mr, Field lila° thiniedillenagistrate for the op-