Edward Ernest Black
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Tregonissey, Cornwall, England , United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1885
- Age at first offence
- 36
- Characteristics
- poisoner, parricide
- Victim profile
- His wife, Annie Blanck, 50
- Method of murder
- Poisoning (arsenic)
- Date(s) of murder
- November 11, 1921
- Years active
- 1921
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Executed
Executed by hanging at Exeter prison on March 24, 1922
Background
Edward Ernest Black was a 36-year-old insurance salesman. He was 14 years younger than his wife, Mrs Annie Black.
The offence
Mrs Annie Black died on 11 November 1921. Her death initially appeared to be gastro-enteritis.
A post mortem was conducted, and the results showed that there were traces of arsenic in her body.
Black was later tried for murder.
Investigation
Although the cause of death appeared to be gastro-enteritis, the doctor was unhappy with that explanation and ordered a post mortem.
The post mortem found traces of arsenic in her body tissues.
Arrest
After his wife died, Black was away from home. He had left home three days before her death.
Black was tracked down to Liverpool. He was found in a Liverpool hotel with a self-inflicted wound in his throat, described as a failed suicide attempt.
Trial
Black was brought back to the West Country to be tried for murder.
His trial opened at Bodmin on 1 February 1922 and lasted two days.
A local chemist testified that Black had purchased two ounces of arsenic and had signed the poison register.
Black tried to claim his innocence, but he had signed his own death certificate by signing the poison register in a chemist in St Austell for two ounces of arsenic.
The jury took 40 minutes to find him guilty.
Sentencing
Black was hung at Exeter prison on 24 March 1922.
Outcome
A coroner's jury returned a verdict of murder naming Black as the culprit.
Aftermath
Black was executed by hanging at Exeter prison on March 24, 1922.
Other details
The sweet-shop in Tregonissey, Cornwall, was run by Mrs Annie Black.
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