The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-08 00:00:00

MURDER NEAR BRIGHTON.

Yesterday morning a little before four o'clock infor-
mation was given at the Brighton Town Hall by Mr.
Hodson and Mr. Kirton, that Mr. Griffith, the brewer,
had been murdered. These townsmen had been out on
a shooting excursion, and on their way homewards at a
very late hour they discovered a body lying on the road
between Dale gate and the Plough at Piecombe, which,
on investigation, turned out to be that of Mr. Griffith.
It was resting on the back, and life was extinct. The
hat of the deceased was picked up a few yards off, his
pockets were turned inside out and rifled, and a wound
was discovered in the chest, showing that he had been
shot through the body by his assailant. A gig whip
and part of a rein, cut, were also picked up on the spot,
leaving no doubt that the deceased had been waylaid
by highwaymen. He was a high-couraged and power-
ful man, and the probability is that he resisted the at-
tempt at robbery, and paid the penalty with his life.—
Mr. Griffith had been out on a short country journey to
collect cash and take orders from publicans whom he
supplied.
The spot where the murder was committed is inune-
diately under the South Down-hill, and there is only one
dwelling near the place, namely, a farm-house in the
occupation of Mr. Mannington, and one of Mr. Man-
nington's servants heard the report of a pistol between
nine and ten o'clock in the evening, supposed to have
been the time the murder was committed. Mr. Griffith
had been in the country collecting cash, and he arrived
at Henfield soon after eight o'clock, and having baited
his horse, he left Henfield at ten minutes before nine
o'clock, and the spot where he was murdered was about
four miles from Henfield, so that he must have reached
the place where he lost his life at about half-past rune.
The horse and gig were found at Poyning, the reins
were cut nearly close up to the hand, and it is evident
that they had both been cut asunder by a sharp knife.
Footsteps were traced on some rising ground leading to
the Downs, but whether they were the footsteps of the
assassins cannot yet be known.

In January last deceased received an anonymous let-
ter, warning him of an attack from robbers. The letter
was as follows:—" Sir—Some parties intends to xob you
the next time you goes to Horsham, so bee on your
guard." The letter bears the superscription of " Mr.
Martin, Grill's brewery, Brighton;" and it was posted
in Tratelgar-street, Brighton. There is no doubt that
the writer of the letter knows the guilty parties, and
every exertion is being used on the part of the police to
discover the murderers. It is the general impression
that the crime was perpetrated by persons well ac-
quainted with the business habits of the firm, and that
the assassins expected to obtain a very large booty. But
we understand that the cash deceased had with him did
net probably amount to more than about 201.
Mr. Griffith took two pistols with him, and when his
body was discovered one of the pistols was found lying
by his side discharged, whilst the other pistol was found
in his pocket loaded. Mr. Griffith settled in Brighton
in November, 1845, and entered into partnership with
Mr. Sewell, the manager of the Branch County Bank,
at Brighton. He was an active member of the commis-
sioners, and an intelligent man. His loss will be la-
mented by a large circle of friends. He has left two
boys, one eight and the other ten years of age.
THE INQUEST.
Yesterday afternoon the coroner proceeded with the
inquest. The jury having viewed the body and the
spot where it was found,
Mr. H. M. Blakes, surgeon, Brighton, who had made
a post-mortem examination of deceased, stated that he
found a bullet wound in the centre of the breast ; it had
passed through the heart and lodged in the back part.
It would cause iustant death. Deceased might utter
one shriek, not more. The pistol or gun must have been
discharged close to him, as the clothes were singed.
Mr. Jame Hodson, hatter, Brighton, deposed to find-
ing the body as above stated, and also that near it were
a discharged pistol, an iron spectacle frame covered with
crape so as to disguise the face, a glove, a whip, an
empty purse, and a rein. He and his companion at once
recognised Mr. Griffith.
W. S. Martin stated that he is a manager of the Rock
Brewery, at Brighton, of which deceased was the pro-
prietor. Witness had been in the habit of going the
Horsham round himself during the last twelve months
to collect money. This time Mr. Griffith took the jour-
ney himself in consequence of having some business at
Horsham which witness could not do. Witness then
produced the anonymous letter above referred to. The
deceased, he stated was lying on his back when they
found him. The legs were rather in a crevaped position
and ono of them was rather raised. They placed the
body in the cart and brought it to the Plough. They did
not discover the wound until they brought him to the
house; they then saw the wound in the breast. The de-
ceased generally wore a gold watch and chain. The
knife produced was not deceased's property.—The in-
quest was proceeding when our report left.

Letters have been received from Maynard and
.
Garrett, containing some valuable information relating
to their operations. Mr. Nash,
exer-
tions in the investigations and defeat
of
etehatogaaccngept of
their attempts at intimidation, has deolinw..ch
was
the testimonial from private individuals, hl
whose unceasing
and
and expenses in the
pub-
licly announced, for his exertions.
affair, considering that the companies
ropriated a sum
ought to ac-
knowledge them. He has recently
(wnh interest) made
of money to liquidate the advances
by
companies, though he had
from those claims. i
his friends in his defenLceisret.o_thionse
aalcituiosTnioshnebrtoougthby
been in cire
RIGS
against him and the railway
Noble
been presented releasewith_tiGn
paragraph
cbtlairiionngs, Lase
CRIM. CON. IN
the defendant is in the 52d
thhe above title, which has latel
Britannia says "
and has of late 6 red in regard to
age, the large gu
year Duke 0
fw who figure
and
liabilities, anddemands made upon
him, in A manner which has created a painful
feeling .in his behalf in the public mind, from
the princely and royal associations connected with
the defendant becoming the property of the highest
bidder. The aggrieved party is a
gentleman well
from known to the public by name,
m his filling a
high and important office in the House of Lords,
the office being one of great responsibility, and in
cases of precedency and all matters that affect the
peerage he has to be applied to to furnish the necessary
information. The alleged offence on the part of the
Noble Duke is of some standing, but has only within
the last month or two come to the knowledge of the
injured husband. It is but justice to state, on the
part of the Noble Duke, that he has indignantly denied
the charge, declaring that the alleged offence never took
place; and to enable a plea to that effect being put on the
record, application was made to Mr. Justice Erle; but tho
Learned Judge being fortified by the decision of the full
Court in the case of " Cook v. Wetherell,' considered
that he had not the power to comply, by making
an order for the plaintiff to give dates and occasions
when the alleged criminal intercourse took place;
and, as the application was not entertained, the case in
its present form, stands for trial. In the legal circles it
was rumoured there (listed a doubt as to whether the
matter would proceed further; if it did it would be en-
tered for trial at the mxt sitting of Nisi Prius in the
Queen's Bench, the damages being laid, it is said, at the
enormous sum of 50,0001."
WRECKED PROPERTY.—An immense quantity of
white boiling peas have, during the past week, been
picked up on the coast at Blackpool,which has proved a
great boon to the poor people in that locality. Prunes,
figs, &c., have also been washed up, and form part, no
doubt, of the cargo of some ill-fated vessel which has
been lost during the late gales.—Liverpool Mail.
MOTTO Fox HES MAJESTY'S DOCKYARDS.—
Vivant Wrecks et Regina.—Punch.