Robert Hampton

Robert Hampton was a miner in Redan, <1900.

History
Hampton died in January 1900 after a fight in the Family Hotel in Darling Street, Redan: "A dispute over the South African war at Redan, Ballarat, on Monday, between Richard Watson, wood carter, and Robert Hampton, 38, a miner, ended fatally. They were in a hotel bar. Hampton took the Boer side. During the absence of the landlady something occurred. When she returned she found that Hampton had gone to his home near by complaining of a sore head. Not much was thought of the matter by Hampton's wife or himself. Next day he was removed to the hospital, where he died. His skull was found to have been severely fractured. A violent blow or thrust would have been necessary to produce the fracture. He may have fallen against the spindle of an iron wheel used for playing rope quoits. Watson denied striking any blow. When the landlady entered Watson was sitting on the floor wiping his neck, under the impression that there was blood on it. The only person present when the accident or disaster occurred was a man named Tudor, who said he had been drinking too much to notice anything. An open verdict was returned by the coroner's jury. The police have Watson in custody."