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Warner became famous in Aston Villa regards when he left everything behind, and disappeared without a trace. Rumor had it he had left with some mistress of his, presumably for the USA. The following is a newspaper article on the subject from Sports Argus sometime in the late 1890's.

The Disappearance of Warner

The Argus yesterday announced that James Warner, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, had disappeared from his home, and that there were circumstances connected with this disappearance of a character to cause comment.

He went away from home on Monday, saying he would return in a few minutes. Since then his wife has not seen him, and knows nothing of his whereabouts.

He was a manager at the Old College Inn, Spring Hill (Birmingham), for the Holt Brewery Company. His wife believed, when he left the house on Monday that he did so with the object of paying over to the brewery company the takings for the week.

His disappearance led the brewery company this morning to apply to the Stipendiary for a warrant for his arrest. A representative of the firm informed Mr Colmore that he called at the inn on Friday, and asked Warner what his takings were, and he produced his book, showing a total of 36 pounds.

The Stipendiary: Where has he gone to?
The Applicant: Well, I cannot tell you. The rumour is that he has gone away with a girl.
The Stipendiary: What has become of the book, have you got it?
The Applicant: No. His taking are usually 50 ponds per week and I assume, last week being Easter week, there would be another 10 pounds. His wife has not seen him since.
The Stipendiary: You are entitled to your warrant.

Warner had only been in the employ of the Holt Company some three or four months. For a time his accounts were all right, but recently there has been a serious discrepancy between his stock and takings.

Last week this was pointed out to him, and a threat was made that unless things improved in this respect he would be ordered to leave without notice. This, the manager of the brewery company belives, frightened him.

The Aston Villa Committee had also, it is said, called on him to resign. Warner is currently reported to have lost a large sum, for him, over the Overton v Abbott fight, and he was accused of having, to recoup himself, "sold" the English Cup Final at the Oval. This, however, was indignantly denied by Warner.

Warner is a married man with one child (still in arms) and yet he was carrying on a desperate flirtation with a young lady from Stratford.

On Monday, apparently by arrangement, she arrived in Birmingham to meet him, having brought her luggage with her. Her story is that he passed himself off as single, and she came up to marry him. It is supposed, however, that he had not the courage to wait for her, and made off by himself. She was thus left stranded, and has not so far, it is believed, gone back to her friends.

She is a well-dressed girl of about 22 years of age. Her parents are in a very respectable position in Stratford, where they are greatly respected.

Warner, it is believed, would try to make for America. Whether he has succeeded in leaving the country or not, is not yet certain. Much sympathy is expressed for his wife.

Thanks to Bernard Gallagher, September 5, 1996