The articles give a reasonably sober, representative and complete (in terms of timeline) view of the world-wide publicity given to the case--this is how the world learned of the murder and followed the case. The case was sensational in British Australasia, was followed intently in the United Kingdom, and made a small impact in North America.
Articles have not been edited for length or content, so there is some repetition and there are inconsistencies &/or inaccuracies. These have generally not been noted except in the case of important typographical errors or ambiguities.
This set of articles tells a compelling story, and it illustrates how evidence often has to be filtered and collected piecemeal from many secondary sources. It is interesting to compare these straightforward press reports with the sometimes-sensational (and often inaccurate) book chapters in the next section.
Articles are arranged in order of their filing date. [jp]
SECOND GIRL ARRESTED
Juliet Marion Hulme, a schollgirl, aged 15, was arrested by Chief-Detective
Macdonald Brown and Detective-Sergeant A.B. Tate at her home in
Ilam road yesterday afternoon.
She will appear in the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge
of murdering Honora Mary Parker at Christchurch on June 22.
INQUEST OPENED
An inquest into the death of Honora Mary Parker was opened before
the Coroner (Mr E.B.E. Taylor) at 9 a.m. yesterday. Detective-Sergeant
A.B. Tate represented the police.
The inquest was adjourned sine die after evidence of identification
had been given by Herbert Rieper, a company manager, of 31 Gloucester
street.
"Blood on Clothes"
The story of how Mrs Parker died was told by two witnesses.
The first was Mrs Agnes Ritchie, owner of a tearoom in the park.
She told how she served Mrs Parker and the two girls with tea,
and then how all three set off along one of the park's winding
paths. An hour later, she said, the girls rushed back, agitated
and breathless. Pauline told her: "Mummy--she's terribly hurt.
She slipped. I think she is dead."
Both girls had blood on their clothes and also on their hands,
and after they had washed this off, Pauline told her: "We were
returning and somehow she slipped on a plank." She said that her
mother hit her head on a plank and that her head kept bumping
and banging as she fell. Both girls told her that it seemed like
a dream and that they would wake up soon.
The other story of how Mrs Parker died was told, according to
the police, by Juliet Hulme herself in a statement which she made
to the police. This went, in part:
"I left home with the brick wrapped in newspaper. I arrived at
the Riepers' (Parkers') house with the brick and gave it to Pauline.
... Pauline wanted to come to South Africa with me. I wanted her
to come, too. We both thought Mrs Rieper (Mrs Parker) might object
and we decided to go with her to Victoria Park to discuss the
matter and have it out. I knew it was proposed that we should
take a brick in a stocking to the park with us."
"Expecting Attack"
In the park, the alleged statement said, she was expecting Mrs
Parker to be attacked. It went on:
"I heard noises behind me. It was a loud conversation and an
angry one. I went back and saw Pauline hit Mrs Rieper with a brick
in the stocking. I took the stocking and hit her too. I was terrified.
"I thought one of them had to die. I wanted to help Pauline.
It was terrible. Mrs Rieper moved convulsively. We both held her.
She was still when we left her. The brick had come out of the
stocking with the force of the blows."
Mrs Hilda Marion Hulme, Juliet's mother, said that her daughter
suffered bomb shock at the age of two. She and Dr Hulme had discovered
"a very distressing plan" this year. Both girls intended to go
to America together "to have their books published."
The two girls seemed unconcerned as they were committed for
trial. They left the dock chatting together at the end of the
hearing. Neither was asked to plead.--British United Press and
Reuter.
SUICIDE THOUGHT
However I felt thoroughly depressed afterwards--and even quite
seriously considered committing suicide. Life seemed so much not
worth living and death such an easy way out.
"Anger against mother boiled up inside me, as it is she who
is one of the main obstacles in my path.
"Suddenly a means of ridding myself of this obstacle occurred
to me. If she were to die..."
April 29: "I did not tell Deborah of my plans for removing mother.
"I have made no ----- (stet) yet and the last fate I wish to
meet is one in a Borstal.
"I am trying to think of some way.
"I do not ----- (stet) to go to too much trouble, but I want
it to appear either a natural or an accidental death."
June 19: "We practically finished our books to-day and our main
'Ike' (stet) for the day was to moider mother.
"This notion is not a new one, but this time it is a definite
plan which we intend to carry out.
THRILLED
We have worked it out carefully and are both thrilled by the idea.
"Naturally, we feel a trifle nervous, but the pleasure of anticipation
is great.
"I shall not write the plan down here as I shall write it up
when we carry it out (I hope).
June 20: "Afterwards we discussed our plans for moidering mother
and made them a little clearer.
"Peculiarly enough, I have no qualms of conscience (or is it
peculiar, we are so mad?)"
June 21: "I rose late and helped mother vigorously this morning.
"Deborah rang and we decided to use a rock in a stocking rather
than a sandbag.
"We discussed the moider fully.
"I feel very keyed up as though I were planning a surprise party.
"Mother has fallen in with everything beautifully and the happy
event is to take place to-morrow afternoon.
"So next time I write in this diary mother will be dead.
"How odd, yet pleasing: I have discussed various saints with
her to-day as I thought it would be interesting to have her opinion."
June 22: "The Day of the Happy Event: I am writing a little
of this up in the morning before the death.
"I felt very excited and the 'Night before Christmassy.'
"Last night, I didn't have pleasant dreams though. I am about
to rise."
Detective-Sergeant A.B. Tate said accused Pauline Parker after
being taken to the police station wrote something on a piece of
paper, something she probably intended to put in her diary the
next day.
She threw it in the fireplace but a police matron retrieved
it.
The only decipherable part was: "They have questioned Deborah,
but I have taken the blame."
WROTE NOVELS
In one of the strangest stories heard in a New Zealand courtroom,
evidence was given of the intense affection of the girls for each
other, the concern of the parents for this intensity, and how
the girls faced a separation because Juliet Hulme was going to
South Africa.
Evidence was given that the girls had written novels and an
opera, in some of which the murder was mentioned.
They were planning to save up to go to the United States together
to publish their books.
Reading of the diary brought gasps from the crowded court.
The date for the Supreme Court hearing has not yet been fixed.
--From a Special Correspondent.
ONE OF THEM HAD TO DIE
At the end of the day's hearing, the magistrate, Mr. R. Ferner,
committed the two girls, Pauline Yvonne Parker, 16, and Juliet
Marion Hulme, 15, for trial in the Supreme Court.
The girls are alleged to have killed Pauline's mother, Honora
Mary Parker, also known as Rieper, in Victoria Park, Christchurch,
on June 22, a few minutes after having afternoon tea with her
in the park kiosk.
BRICK IN BAG
Senior Detective Macdonald Brown told the magistrate that Pauline
Parker, in her statement, said she had made up her mind to kill
her mother a few days previously. She had not told anyone and
Juliet Hulme took no part in the killing.
He quoted from her alleged statement that she had used a half-brick
inside the foot of a stocking.
The alleged statement continued: "I took them with me for that
purpose. I had a brick in my shoulder bag. I wish to state that
Juliet did not know my intentions, and she did not see me strike
my mother. I took the chance to strike her when Juliet was away.
I still do not wish to say why I killed my mother.
"As soon as I had started to strike my mother, I regretted it,
but I could not stop then."
Christchurch police gave evidence that Juliet Hulme had made two
statements when interviewed.
In the first she said that on the visit to Victoria Park she went
ahead at one stage and was separated from Pauline and her mother.
She heard one of them call out. She returned and found Mrs. Rieper
lying on the ground with blood all around her head. Pauline, who
seemed hysterical, had told her that her mother had slipped and
banged her head against a stone.
This alleged statement added: "Pauline and I have been engaged
in writing novels for some time. In the plots of these books the
question of murder has arisen. We often discuss murders in this
connection and might well have done so at Pauline's place to-day
before we left home."
AFRICAN VISIT
Police said the next day Juliet made her second statement in which
she said the girls had decided to take Mrs. Rieper to Victoria
Park to discuss taking Pauline to South Africa.
The girls wanted Pauline to accompany Juliet and her parents to
South Africa, but the parents had said it was out of the question.
In this alleged statement Juliet said she knew it was proposed
they should take a brick in a stocking. She had taken a brick
from near her garage, wrapped it in newspaper, and carried it
the Riepers' for lunch. She gave the brick to Pauline and she
knew it was put in a stocking.
HIT HER TOO
This alleged statement detailing the incidents at Victoria Park,
continued:--
"I heard noises behind me. It was loud conversation and anger...
"I went back. I saw Pauline hit Mrs. Rieper with the brick in
the stocking.
"I took the stocking and hit her too.
"I was terrified. I thought that one of them had to die.
"I wanted to help Pauline.
"It was terrible. Mrs. Rieper moved convulsively.
"We both held her. She was still when we left her.
"The brick had come out of the stocking with the force of the
blows...
"I was not quite sure what was going to happen when we went to
Victoria Park.
"I thought we may have been able to frighten Mrs. Rieper with
the brick and she would have given her consent then for Pauline
and I to stay together.
"After the first blow I knew it would be necessary for us to kill
her. I was terrified and hysterical."
WORRIED BY FRIENDSHIP
Herbert Rieper, company manager, gave evidence that he had lived
with the dead woman for 23 years and she was known as Mrs. Rieper.
Three (stet) children had been born to them and the accused, Pauline
Yvonne, was the second (stet).
She was an average child, but she had osteomyelitis at the age
of five, spent several months in hospital and took more than three
years to recover.
INTENSE AFFECTION
Rieper said Pauline became friendly with Juliet Hulme at Christchurch
Girls' High School. They were in the same form.
The friendship became very intense and their affection for each
other increased.
He said Dr. Hulme, Juliet's father, had called at his house and
discussed with Mrs. Parker the question of the girls' friendship.
[Dr. H.R. Hulme was formerly rector (sic) of Canterbury University
College, Christchurch.]
As a result Mrs. Parker had Pauline to a doctor.
Mr. Rieper said that in the last year Pauline had bought a horse
without telling him. When he found out about it some months later
he agreed she should keep the horse. He believed it would make
her friendship with Juliet less intense.
Pauline was always anxious to go to the Hulme home "Ilam," so
she could be with Juliet.
WRITING OPERA
Lately Pauline had been doing a "terrible lot" of writing--books,
novels. It was interfering with her school work this year.
One night sitting in front of the fire, she said she was writing
an opera.
As far as he knew Pauline and her mother had agreed she should
leave school and go to another school, and this had been done.
Dr. Hulme again saw Mrs. Parker and told her he was leaving New
Zealand in about three weeks and taking Juliet with him. This
meant that the friendship between the two girls would be broken.
Rieper said he was very pleased at this. He allowed Pauline to
see Juliet pending her departure. He could not remember if Mrs.
Parker ever refused Pauline permission to see Juliet.
HAPPY LUNCH
Mrs. Parker sometimes remonstrated with Pauline. One cause was
the way Pauline just ignored her parents.
On June 22 Juliet came to their house for lunch before the Victoria
Park trip. Lunch was a very bright and happy affair.
REMOVED FROM TRAGEDY
Mrs. Hilda Marion Hulme in evidence said her daughter, Juliet,
was born in England in October, 1938.
She suffered bomb shock at the age of two. Later, while Dr. Hulme
was in America during the war, Juliet became ill and spent two
years away from school.
Mrs. Hulme said she and her husband came to New Zealand about
six years ago.
DEMANDING CHILD
Last year Juliet spent three and a half months in Cashmere Hills
Sanatorium with TB. (Cashmere Hills is a suburb of Christchurch.)
Juliet's rating in an intelligence test was very high. She was
always a demanding child. "I and my husband were always very fond
of her and gave her every attention," Mrs. Hulme said.
She said that at first the friendship between Pauline and Juliet
seemed a normal, happy one.
The friendship increased considerably after Juliet was discharged
from the sanitorium.
Mrs. Hulme said that when her husband decided to leave New Zealand
it was first agreed that she and Juliet should stay to avoid the
English winter.
This was altered because of a "very distressing plan" she discovered.
The plan was that both girls should go to America together to
have their books published.
When this was discovered, Dr. Hulme decided to take Juliet as
far as South Africa. Juliet pressed her parents to let Pauline
go with her.
TWO NOVELS
Mr. (sic) Hulme said she knew Juliet had written two novels.
The girls lately had not used their Christian names in addressing
each other. Juliet became "Deborah" and Pauline became "Gina."
Questioned by Mr. T.A. Gresson (for Juliet), Mrs. Hulme said that
Juliet was always a difficult girl to bring up.
After her return from the sanatorium, the friendship with Pauline
seemed to dominate Juliet's thoughts.
Mrs. Hulme said Juliet's writings struck her as grandiose and
unreal. Parts of her second book appeared unpleasant and unbalanced.
The night after the tragedy she slept with Juliet in her arms.
Mrs. Hulme said: "One repeated sentence of Juliet's was she didn't
wish to talk about it. She wanted to go to sleep and forget it.
"She seemed elated and removed from the tragedy.
"Before she went to sleep and the next morning she recited poetry."
Mr. Gresson: Does she appear to you over recent weeks to have
realised her position?
Mrs. Hulme: She seems quite removed from the seriousness or the
reality of the situation altogether.
Walter Andrew Bowman Perry, industrial consultant, said he went
to live in a separate flat in the Hulme's home at Christmas. He
was aware of the girls' writing and would describe it as voluminous.
Their first novel was innocuous, something like "The Prisoner
of Zenda." However, in the plots of later books there was a certain
amount of amorality.
The girls play-acted among themselves.
THINK SHE'S DEAD
Mrs. Agnes Ritchie, proprietress of the tea rooms at Victoria
Park, said the woman and two girls appeared perfectly normal and
quite at ease at afternoon tea.
Half an hour later the girls burst into the tea room.
They were very agitated, breathless, gasping, and speaking almost
incoherently.
One girl said: "Mummy, she's terribly hurt. I think she's dead."
One, whom she later found was Juliet, was almost hysterical. The
other, Pauline was very white.
Both girls had a lot of blood on their clothes and particularly
on their hands. Pauline had a blood splash on her face. They were
worried about the blood, which they washed off in the servery
right away.
She asked the girls how it happened. Pauline said: "Somehow she
slipped on a plank. Her head kept bumping as she fell."
Juliet then told her she would always remember the woman's head
banging. Both girls said it seemed like a dream. They would wake
up soon.
45 WOUNDS
Dr. Colin Thomas Busby Pearson, pathologist, said he examined
the body of Mrs. Parker on the path, and later carried out a post-
mortem.
Cause of death was shock associated with multiple wounds to the
head, and a fractured skull.
Dr. Pearson listed 45 injuries, some minor, but many serious.
There were 24 lacerated wounds to the face and scalp, some of
which penetrated to the bone.--A.A.P-Reuter