Michael George Tatum

Michael Tatum murdered Charles Frederick Barrett 85 during a robbery.

Charles Barrett, a Boar War veteran, lived at 11 Belmont Road, Portswood, Southampton along with Mr Finn who rented a room there. For a time Michael Tatum and his wife also lived there as his wife was the cleaner but on 10 January of that year Michael Tatum moved out to 36 Cambridge Road although his wife stayed. On 14 January he returned and let himself in. Mr Finn was out as he worked nights. He entered the house with a key and used a knobkerrie, an African weapon, to beat him, killing him. However, because he was left handed the blows revealed that the assailant was left handed which in turn led police to him as a suspect.