The Sun. — 1832-10-11 (London, England)

BOW-STREET.  THE MURDER OF THE POLICEMAN, JOHN LONG. —The murder of a policeman of the E division, named John Long, in Gray's Inn-road, by one of three men who stabbed him to the heart, about two years and four months ago, must still be fresh in the recollection of our readers, one of the three of the name of Smith, a journeyman baker, having been executed at the Old Bailey for the murder. It may also be recollected that the chief witness against Smith was an unfortunate woman named Mary Anne Griffiths, who was then in the habit of walking the streets in the neighbourhood where the crime was committed. She was at the time committed by the Coroner to prison to ensure her forthcoming at the trial, as her life had been threatened by the friends of the accused. After the trial, at the recommendation of the Judge and other persons, a sum of money was raised to enable her to leave London, and once more to resume a reputable course of life, which she expressed great anxiety to do. She was furnished with the means of going into the country, and nothing was seen of her afterwards until Tuesday night, or rather Wednesday morning, about 2 o'clock, when the attention of Lawrence, policeman, No. 72, F division, was called to a disturbance in Wych-street, where a woman was surrounded by four others, and calling loudly for held. Lawrence, on coming to the spot, found the unfortunate Mary Anne Griffiths, whose person he knew very well, almost fainting from the treatment she had received. The four women ran away before he could ascertain the true state of the matter, and Lawrence took her to the station-house, where Mr. Thomas ordered her to have refreshment, and to be placed in a comfortable bed. Yesterday morning she was brought before Sir FREDERICK ROE, when she gave the following account of herself from the time that she left London —She went straight to her relations in Somersetshire, who, upon the assurance that she was disposed to alter her course of life, interested themselves in her behalf, and by the influence of the Lord of the Manor she obtained a situation in the family of a gentleman named Maurice, a retired military officer, residing in Queen•square, Bristol, who had a wife and three children, of whom she had the care. She continued very comfortable in her situation until the riots occurred, when her master and mistress and one of the children were burnt to death in the dreadful conflagration that then took place, and she and the other two children escaped with great difficulty, in doing which, however, she got into the crowd, and was accidentally wounded very severely in the leg by a soldier's bayonet. Mr. Thomas, the superintendent, and Lawrence, here stated that they had seen the wound, which was still an open one, and it was in a dreadful state.  The woman went on to state that she was a long time in the hospital at Bristol, and when she came out she endeavoured to obtain employment, but failed, and had no resource, her friends being very poor, but to come to London, her parish being St. Clement Danes. Some delay had taken place in fixing her settlement, and in the mean time she had been recognized by the friends of the murderer, who hunted her about wherever she went, and swore they would have her - life. The four women who were about her when the constable interfered had followed her a considerable distance, calling her " a life-selling -," and swearing they would murder her. When they came into Wych-street they began to beat her, and she called for assistai ce. " All I claim now," said the poor creature, " is protection against insolence until I can get into the workhouse."  Sir F. Roe assured her she should be protected, and directed that she should at once be taken into St. Clement's workhouse, at the same time olherving that her's was a fit case for the consideration of the Commissioners of Police, to whom Mr. Thomas undertook to represent it. The poor woman seemed very grateful. She has been educated in a very superior manner, and speaks French, Italian, and German fluently.