The tragedy of Blanche and Ernest
JOHN Ravenscroft brought the Bugle’s attention to the body of Ernest Tarbuck having been found in a disused mineshaft at Bloxwich (Your Letters, April 7).
He was wondering whether Blanche Paddock was also found.
This event took place in September 1936. Ernest and Blanche were keeping company, but it was not initially certain that they were together at the time.
Beret
A description of the missing Blanche was issued. She was 20 years old, 5ft 5in tall, fair hair, fresh complexion, wellbuilt, wearing pink tortoise-shell spectacles, red beret, navy pin-striped costume, celanese silk jumper, white silk underskirt, brown silk stockings, low black shoes with flat heels.
The couple had been missing since Tuesday 15th September. The body of Ernest, a 21 year old butcher’s assistant, had been found on the Wednesday, with a handkerchief bound round his mouth and his hands and feet tied together with boot laces. (It was subsequently mentioned that Ernest had made a study of knots and had been known to demonstrate his ability to tie his wrists together with string.)
The body of Blanche was found on Friday in a disused pit shaft at Bentley
Common, Bloxwich, a mile from the disused pit shaft at Dudley Fields, Bloxwich, where Ernest had been found. She was fully clothed, floating face down in the water.
The funeral of Ernest took place the following Tuesday, this day having been originally expected to hold celebrations for Blanche’s 21st birthday. There was a private funeral service at New Street Methodist Church, which Ernest had attended as a member of the adult bible class.
It was estimated that over 1,000 people assembled in the cemetery. The
funeral of Blanche took place the next day, it being reported that hundreds of people attended the service at Bloxwich Parish Church, where Blanche had been a regular worshipper.
Happiness
Inquests were subsequently held. Bereaved parents spoke of the young couple’s happiness together; they had been courting for two years. So far as Blanche’s father knew, his daughter had no trouble or worry. Ernest’s father stated that his son did not appear to have anything preying on his mind, and seemed always in good spirits. About a year ago he passed a police entrance examination, but had been rejected on account of flat feet, which caused bitter disappointment.
A miner gave evidence describing having found a cap with a note inside it on a post at the top of the disused pit shaft in Dudley Fields. The note was addressed to Ernest’s sisters, apparently a suicide note, the reason being his foot defect. He told them that there was some money to help them out.
Medical evidence given at the inquest indicated that Ernest’s death was due to drowning, with no signs of injury or violence. Regarding Blanche, there were found wounds to the left eye, below the right eye, and on the scalp, and the skull was fractured in
at least two places. Medical opinion was that the wounds occurred before death, and that death possibly occurred before immersion in the water.
The possibility of a suicide pact was ruled out because they were not found together but a mile apart.
Peculiar
The coroner commented that what had struck him as somewhat peculiar was the entire absence of reference to Blanche in the note left by Ernest.
The jury returned a verdict that Ernest committed suicide while of unsound mind, and that Blanche died as the result of foul play by some person or persons unknown, and added a rider that disused pit shafts should be covered or filled in.