Juliet Hulme: born Nov. 28, 1938; 15 y. 7 mo. at time of murder.
Pauline Yvonne Parker: born May
26, 1938; 15 y. 11 mo. at time of murder.
***
FULL TEXT: Wellington. — Amazing
extracts from the alleged diary of a girl, charged with murdering her mother,
were read in Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The diary formed part of a story of
passionately affectionate friendship between two teen-age girls.
The girls are Pauline Yvonne Parker
and Juliet Marion Hulme, both aged 16 [sic].
They were charged with murdering
Pauline’s mother, Honora Mary Parker, in a Christchurch park on June 22 a few
minutes after having afternoon tea with her in the park kiosk.
~ Committed ~
They were committed for trial by the
Supreme Court after a day-long hearing. A man who said he had lived for 23
years with the dead woman told the court their daughter had formed an intense
friendship for the other girl, who, with her father, was to have sailed for
England a few weeks after the alleged murder.
Detective MacDonald Brown told the
court that after Pauline Parker was arrested at Dr. Hulme’s residence, he went
to the Parker residence and took possession of a diary in her bedroom.
Detective Brown read extracts from a
diary entry dated 13/2/1954: — “Why could not mother die? Dozens, thousands of
people are dying, why could not mother and father, too.”
Entry dated 28/6, read: — “Anger
against mother boiling inside me, as she is the main obstacle in my path.”
Entry dated 30/4 read:— I did not
tell Deborah my plans for removing mother. The last fate I should wish to meet
is years in Borstal — I wish to make it appear accidental.”
Entry dated 19/6 referred to a plan
“to murder mother” and added, “naturally we are a trifle nervous, but elation
is great.”
Entry 20/6 was: — “Afterward we
discussed our plans for murdering mother and made them clear, but peculiarly
enough I have no qualms of conscience — or is it peculiar.”
The last entry, dated 21/6 was: —
“Deborah rang and we discussed a brick in a stocking, instead of a sandbag.
Mother has fallen in with the plans beautifully. Feel quite keyed up.”
Entry 22/6 (date of alleged murder)
was: — “I felt very excited last night and sort of nightbeforeChristmassy, but
I did not have pleasant dreams.”
~ “Happy Event” ~
Detective Brown said the diary of
that day was headed “The happy event.” In earlier evidence, Mrs. Hilda Hulme
said her daughter was known to Pauline as “Deborah” and Pauline became “Gina.”
Police gave evidence that Juliet Hulme made two statements when inter viewed
after the death of Mrs. Parker. In the first statement Juliet detailed events
lead ing to the visit to the park. “Pauline and I had been writing novels for
some time,” Juliet said.
“In our plots we often discussed
murders and might well have done so at Pauline”s place before we left home.”
~ “Suitable Place” ~
In her second statement Juliet Hulme
said she had wanted Pauline to go to South Africa with her. They both decided
to go with Mrs. Parker to the park as it would be a suitable place to discuss
the matter and “have it out.” She gave a brick to Pauline, who put it in a
stocking.
Juliet said that in the park she had
been walking ahead, expecting Mrs. Parker to be attacked. According to her
state ment she saw Pauline hit Mrs. Parker with the brick in the stocking. “I
took the stocking and hit her too — I was terrified,” she said in the
statement. “After the first blow I knew it would be necessary for us to kill
her.
~ “Could Not Stop” ~
Senior Detective Mac Donald Brown
said Pauline Parker in a statement, had said that she hit her mother with a
half -brick inside the foot of a stocking. “I took them with me for that
purpose,” the girl said. “As soon as I had started to strike my mother, I
regretted it, but I could not stop then.”
Herbert Reiper, company manager told
the court that he had lived with the dead woman for 23 years. She had been
known as Mrs. Reiper. Three children had been born to them. The accused,
Pauline, was the second child. She became intensely friendly with Juliet Hulme
at Christchurch Girls’ High School. He had discussed with Juliet’s father. Dr.
Hulme, the girls’ intense affection for each other, and as a result Pauline
had been taken to a doctor by her mother.
~ Girls’ “Plan” ~
Mrs. Hilda Marion Hulme said her
daughter Juliet and Pauline had planned to go to America together to have their
books published. When the girls’ plan was discovered, it was decided to take
Juliet to South Africa. Dr. Colin Thomas Busby Pearson, pathologist, said he
had examined the body of Mrs. Parker and found 45 injuries, some minor, but many serious.
Showing no sign of emotion, both
girls left the dock smiling and chatting. Neither was asked to make a plea.
[“Amazing Diary At Murder Charge
Against Two Girls,” The Chronicle (Adelaide, Australia), Jul. 22, 1954, p. 2]
***
[1935-2/27/22]
***
No comments:
Post a Comment