Rob Forsyth
The images and Banbury Advertiser article about Arthur's tragic death in 1900 are published courtesy of Peter Garrett, also a photographer and whose family ran the Post Office for many years. Click on all images for larger ones
Arthur was the son of John Whetton the village postmaster. He does not appear in the 1881 Census but is in the 1891 Census living at home aged 29 with his father, wife and two small children. His employment is Stationer and Photographer
It is quite likely that this is a self portrait taken at about the time of the census.
The reverse side of the card is an advertisement for his business as an Artistic Photographer.
He claimed to be right up to date with his 'instantaneous process' for taking children's portraits and enlarging to any size. Bearing in mind that photography was still a relatively new skill in 1890 he was obviously both a technically competent and ambitious man.
But sadly his career was cut short as this article in the Bicester Advertiser tells at some length
SHOCKING CYCLING ACCIDENT AT DEDDINGTON.
DEATH OF MR. ARTHUR WHETTON. 17th May 1900
[Transposition of article in newspaper]
It is with much regret we have to chronicle the death, from injuries sustained by being thrown from his bicycle, of Mr. Arthur Whetton, only son of Mr. J. Whetton, Postmaster, Deddington.
The deceased, who was thirty-nine years of age, a married man with two young children, carried on the business of a stationer at the Post Office, Deddington, and was agent for the Prudential Assurance Company. He also assisted his father in the postal work, and was in the habit every morning of taking letters to North Aston on his bicycle, carrying the letter bags in his pockets.
To the handle-bar of his bicycle was strapped a small tin bottle or can, in which it was his custom to bring milk from North Aston for the use of his family. It is believed that on Wednesday morning last, near the brickyard outside Deddington, the can by some means caused Mr. Whetton to be thrown from his bicycle, for very soon afterwards he was found in the road near the centre of the hill, within a few feet of his machine, bleeding from a wound on the head and suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull.
The roadway at the spot where the sad mishap occurred was stated to be comparatively dry, there being trees on either side. There was no sign of the bicycle having skidded, nor was any obstacle observed in the roadway likely to impede the machine. The fact that the bicycle was lying within a couple of yards of the injured man, and that it was undamaged, points to the conclusion that he was not riding at a fast pace.
Mr. Whetton when first seen appeared to be crawling on his hands and knees in a dazed condition, but almost immediately he lapsed into unconsciousness. With all speed he was removed home, and attended by Dr. Jones, but medical skill was of no avail. The case was hopeless from the first, and death took place, without the slightest return to sensibility, just twenty-four hours after the accident happened.
THE INQUEST
Mr. G. Coggins, Coroner for North Oxon, held an enquiry into the circumstances attending the melancholy occurrence, at the Unicorn, on Friday morning. Supt. Sutton and Inspector Hope were present, and the following were sworn on the jury:—Messrs. Jos. Hopcraft (foreman), W. H. French, W. A. Hawkes, F. E. Cowley, H. C. Mason, S. French, W. Page, W. J. French, J. Baines, B. W. Hicks, J. T. Higham, and F. Finch.
The Coroner, in opening the enquiry, spoke in feeling terms of the sad nature of the occurrence, and said the deceased was well known and very highly respected in Deddington and the neighbourhood. He was sure they all sympathised deeply with the father and wife and family of the deceased, whom they had looked upon as succeeding his father in the duties of Postmaster at that place, an office which Mr. John Whetton had so ably filled for very many years.
The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was taken:—
WITNESS DEPOSITIONS
John Whetton deposed: I have been Postmaster at Deddington since October, 1869. The deceased, Arthur Whetton, was my son, and was thirty-nine years of age. He was a stationer, and also agent for the Prudential Assurance Company, and lived with me, carrying on his business at my house... On Wednesday morning last he left the Post Office for North Aston... a distance of between two and three miles, to deliver letters. On Wednesday morning he left the Post Office on his bicycle a little after six o'clock. It was raining a little at the time... My son leaves a widow and two infant children.
Joseph Callow deposed: I am carter for Mr. W. Hawkes, the Earl's Farm, and live in New Street, Deddington. On Wednesday morning, about eighteen minutes to seven, I was returning from breakfast, and saw Mr. Arthur Whetton on his bicycle coming from the direction of the back of his father's house, down the lane into New Street. He said "Good morning, Joseph," and I said "Good morning, Mr. Whetton." There was a tin can either in his hand or fixed to the handle-bar of the bicycle...
John Austin, Deddington, labourer in the employ of Mr. Dodwell of the Downs... deposed: I was riding horseback, and going down the hill, near the gate leading into Mr. Hopcraft's field ground, I passed a young man named Arthur Wilkins or Gibbs... On going round the bend of the road, looking up the hill for Deddington, I saw a man lying in the centre of the roadway about half-way up the hill. I went along about twenty or thirty yards, and then saw the man go on his hands and knees to the left-hand side of the road... He was on his hands and knees on the grass, on the side of the road, two or three yards from where the bicycle was lying... By a Juror: I heard the deceased say two or three times "Oh, dear; oh, dear."
George Horatio Jones, medical practitioner, Deddington, deposed: Between seven and eight o'clock I saw his father in the New Street and accompanied him and the deceased, who was in a cart, to the Post Office. Deceased, who was thoroughly unconscious, was removed into the house... There were radiating fractures, commencing from the base of the skull, involving the ear of the right side, and the back of the socket of the right side, and the back of the head. There was a smaller fracture running up the back of the head, and one on the left side running up to but not involving the left ear. It was impossible to do anything, and deceased never recovered consciousness, but died about twenty minutes to seven on the following morning. There was haemorrhage from the nose and ear, and also an escape of brain fluid. The injury was quite consistent with being thrown from a bicycle on the highway.
This was all the evidence, and the jury at once returned a verdict of "Accidental death," several of the jurors expressing the opinion that the tin can attached to the front part of the bicycle was the cause of the accident, catching by the deceased's knee coming in contact with it. The Coroner said he thought the jury would agree with him in expressing their deepest sympathy with Mr. Whetton, and Mrs. Whetton and family in the great loss they had sustained.
The Jury unanimously endorsed the Coroner's expression. The Foreman said the jury wished to ask the Coroner to write to the Cyclists' Touring Club, requesting that a notice board to ride with caution be placed at the top of the hill on which the accident happened.
The Coroner said he should be pleased to comply with the wish of the jury in that respect.
The Foreman added that he did not know whether that was the proper time and place to mention the matter, but the speed at which motor cars travelled in the neighbourhood was a source of great danger to the public. He had seen one going at a rate of quite thirty miles an hour.
The Coroner said the jury could not go into that subject. The Foreman said action ought to be taken by somebody. The proceedings then terminated.
THE FUNERAL
Deceased was Noble Grand of "Ye Olde Castle" Lodge of Oddfellows, and had taken great interest in the Lodge since its formation. He would in all probability, had he lived, attended the annual Movable Assembly to be held at Portsmouth this year, to which he worked. He was also a trustee of the Lodge, and a most successful brother in introducing new members.
Between eighty and ninety brethren attended the funeral on Saturday, including representatives from the Cherwell Valley Lodge, Aynhoe; Walton Lodge; Prince of Wales Lodge, Oxford; Grenville Lodge, Buckingham; Britons' Lodge, Market Harborough; St. George's Lodge, West London; and Court Robin Hood Foresters was represented by Bro. H. C. Mason, C.R.
Some beautiful floral wreaths were sent, amongst them being one from the officers and members of Ye Olde Castle Lodge, No. 7,474, "with affectionate regard and deepest sympathy." Other wreaths were from Mrs. Whetton, Frank and Harry, Mrs. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. F. Watson, Messrs. E. and P. Street, Mr. and Mrs. Barnaby Churchill, Mr. C. Bennett and family, Flo and Charlie and little Queenie, Mrs. W. Churchill and Misses Churchill, and several others, including relatives.
The funeral service was choral, with the 39th Psalm, the hymns being "O God, our help in ages past," and "Days and moments quickly flying." The Vicar (Rev. T. Boniface) conducted the service. The brethren of the different Lodges wore sprigs of thyme in their button-holes, and, according to custom as they filed past the grave, they deposited the sprigs upon the coffin. The funeral arrangements were under the direction of Bro. T. Smith, the secretary.
The Vicar, in his sermon on Sunday evening, made a touching reference to Bro. Whetton's sad death, and paid a tribute to his memory. At a meeting of the members of "Ye Olde Castle" Lodge on Monday night, a resolution was passed conveying the Lodge's heartfelt sympathy with Mrs. Whetton and her family in their great bereavement.