Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1888-09-01 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

BOULANGER'S UNCLE. General Boulanger a short time ago recalled to ,an Interviewer the fact that he wa,s a Brighton schoolboy. "I have cousihs in England," he said. "They are the sons of my Mother's brother, who was murdered and robbed in 1848 or 1849 on the cliffs near Brighton. A reward of £2,000 was offered by the Government for tlo discovery of the guilty persons, but without success. I went to a boardingschool at Brighton, and I remember the town very well." As General Boulanger was quite young when the murder took place, it is not surprising; says- the SUMCX Daily Nom that he is not thoroughly acquainted with the facts. General Boulanger was born at Rennes, in Brittany, on April 29th 1837, but his mother, who is still living, was MI Englishwoman, her maiden name being Griffith, and she was sister to Mr. George Stonehouse Griffith, proprietor of the Rock Brewery, Brighton, who at the time of his tragic murder was a fine, good-looking, athletic man in the prime of life. For some time it was the practice of Mr. Griffith to visit the country customers of the brewery In the north-west of Sussex, on the first Tuesday of each month, but for 12 months before February, 1849, he had discontinued this journey, his place being taken by Mr. Martin, his chief clerk. Early in January, 149, an anonymous letter was received directed to "Mr. Mertens, Griffis Bruery."—" Sir,—" Some parties intend to rob you next time you goes to Horsham, so bee on your gard.'' Mr. Griffith thereupon resolved to make the Journey himself, and armed with a pair of pocket pistols he started on February 6th in a light gig, declining the offer of the chief of the Brightok. police to accompany him. The °upward journey was made safely, Horsham, West Grinstead, and Henfield being visited successively, and accounts collected. At the former place the landlady spoke of recent robberies in the neighbourhood, and Mr. Griffith produced and loaded one of his pistols. Between 1 and 2 in the morning a party of gentlemen returning home late from a shooting party found his body on the high road, about nine miles from Brighton, shot through the chest. The reins were cut, and Vie gig turned towards Henfield. A struggle evidently took place, but by some fatal mistake Mr. Griffith drew out the unloaded pistol, and the fact that so powertul a man was dragged out of the gig, and a pistol fired so close to his chest as to burn his clothes, supports the view that more than one person was concerned in the murder. The only booty secured was about L'2o in cash and the victim's watch, but the latter was soon thrown away, for seven years after it was found in a pond at Nutknowl, near the scene of the murder. A reward of %was offered —£l.oo by the Government, and by private subscription—for the apprehension of the murderers, but no clue was ever obtained. From this it will be seen that General Boulanger's account of the murder is far from accurate. The reward was 000 instead of £2,000, and the crime was committed, not on the coast, but some miles inland. But the discrepancies are excusable, seeing that Boulanger warn a boy of 12-when his uncle was murdered.  Fo further progress in the action brought by Mies Brbughton; the actress, &gaunt Viscount Dangan for 'breach of promise of marriage has been made since the lady's statement of claim was delivered some time since ; the defence not having been .put in in consequence of the Long Vacation aupervening before it was ready. As no pleadings can be delivered during the Long Vacation, Viscount Dangan's defence cannot be presented before the 24th of October, and consequently there is not much likelihood of the case being ready for trial 7 before the beginning of next year. Sir Charles Russell, Q.C.