The Sun. — 1849-02-08 (London, England)

MURDER NEAR BRIGHTON.  Yesterday morning a little before four o'clock information 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 powerful man, and the probability is that he resisted the attempt 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 inunediately 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. Mannington'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 letter, 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 acquainted 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 commissioners, and an intelligent man. His loss will be lamented by a large circle of friends. He has left two boys, one eight and the other ten years of age.