‘The Times’ Archives is a very useful source of family history material. Searches do not, however, always bring up material which one knows is there. Luckily I have a copy of  ‘Palmers’s Index’ which relates to the Whatmore entries and I used this to locate the details of a murder which took place in 1898.

James Whatmore, murdered in 1898 would appear to be the James Whatmore whose death was registered in March Quarter 1899 in the Fareham Registration District. This gives his age at death as 33. Using this as a guide to his birth and baptism, I identified James almost certainly as the son of Charles and Hannah Whatmore, baptised on 24 February 1867 at Mitcheldever (birth registered March Quarter 1867 Winchester Registration District).

In the 1881 cesus, James Whatmore aged 15 was at home with his parents at Mitcheldever and is described as a Cow Boy. In the 1891 census he is shown as a crew member in the Royal Navy, at Brompton , Kent. He is aged 24, single and  a private. His birthplace is hard to read - it looks like Parken, Hampshire, - but may in any case be inaccurate.

The issue of ‘The Times’ dated 28 December 1898 reports an inquest at Browndown, near Gosport, held on 27 December, into the death of James Whatmore, a private in the Royal Marines who died from a stab  on Christmas Eve. (The later inquest states he died on Christmas Day).  Lance-corporal  Spurrier, (referred to in the later inquest as Private Spurrier) who was in custody on a charge of murder, was seized with an epileptic fit just as the inquest was about to commence, and had to be removed. He was medically examined and certified unfit to attend the inquiry. In opening the inquest, the Coroner said that he had received a letter from the Governor of Winchester Gaol in  which the Governor stated that the prisoner wished to give evidence, but that the man was evidently too ill to be called. The body having being identified, the inquest was adjourned to 5 January.

385312_0168e681.jpg

 Browndown Barracks, Gosport  Copyright: Margaret Sutton

Photograph from www.geograph.org.uk and reproduced in accordance with the licence which can be viewed at this link: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geograph.org.uk/photos/38/53/385312_0168e681.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/385312&h=480&w=640&sz=63&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=yy4KN_Z_XmBoBM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrowndown%2Bgosport%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

A latter issue of ‘The Times’ reoprts on the inquest on 5 January which was held at Lee-on-the -Solent.  Private John Coomes, a witness who slept in the same hut as Private Spurrier, said that he was aroused early on Christmas morning by two men named Morgan and Wright, who told him that Whatmore had been stabbed. Private Coomes went to Forton-barracks to give information and on his return he questioned Spurrier who said, ‘I only meant to prick him to buck him up.’ Private Coomes said that he knew of no ill feeling between the two men. Another witness, Colour Sergeant Ryland, said that for three weeks Spurrier had been dull in his manner and seemed to be depressed. After the occurence, Ryland had questioned Spurrier who had replied, ‘I can’t help it: I’ve done it’, and he added that he had thrown the knife into the moat. When Spurrier had been told that Whatmore was dead, he had said that he was sorry. Surgeon Jackson told the inquest that death was caused by a stab between the second and third ribs half an inch long. On the morning of Christmas Day when the surgeon saw Spurrier  in the guardroom, the accused was strange and excited and when called to attention he stood with his hands in his belt. Superintendant Hack of the County Police,  who took Spurrier into custody, said the accused did not appear to realise what was said to him. On being removed from the barracks, Spurrier shouted to the Commandant, wishing him a merry Christmas. Spurrier had slept on the way to Fareham  and then inquired what he was in custody for. On being told what the charge was, Spurrier had replied, ‘Then I am a murderer’. The accused declined to make a statement at the inquest  and the jury returned a verdict of ‘Wilful murder’.

I have been unable to ascertain what happened to Private Spurrier. One hopes that his sentence took into account that he was clearly not in his right mind when he stabbed his colleague. As the graves in Mitcheldever churchyard have all been stacked against the walls it is not possible to locate where James Whatmore is buried.