Mysteries
In this section I want to address some of the mysteries still surrounding the Parker/Hulme case.For now:
- Did Juliet have a diary?
Did Juliet have a diary?
There have been rumors that Juliet also had a diary. Now that we know she became a prolific writer, I would assume, based on that alone, that it's very likely. But let's see what we can actually find if we take a closer look.
In the fantastic Heavenly Creatures F.A.Q. (from 1995) we find:
"... both girls may have kept diaries, according to persistent rumour. Quotations from both were entered into evidence during their trial (see 7.6) but it turns out that the quotes from Juliet's diary were simply misrepresentations of evidence during the trial. There is no physical evidence, officially, that Juliet ever kept a diary, though in real life Pauline Parker referred to Juliet Hulme's diary in many places in her own. Persistent and published rumour has Juliet's diary and writings being destroyed at Ilam on the night of June 22, 1954."
"Peter Jackson, ever the imp, actually has Juliet writing in a bound journal/exercise book during her stay in the sanatorium, and there is a bound journal on her bedtable in several scenes in the sanatorium and at Ilam. Pauline actually reads silently from the journal, briefly, when she comes to visit Juliet in the sanatorium."
So let's start looking in 1954 and work our way up to today.
"Peter Jackson, ever the imp, actually has Juliet writing in a bound journal/exercise book during her stay in the sanatorium, and there is a bound journal on her bedtable in several scenes in the sanatorium and at Ilam. Pauline actually reads silently from the journal, briefly, when she comes to visit Juliet in the sanatorium."
1954 - August 26/27: trial evidence in the newspapers
The scene described here is: Mr. Allen Brown, the prosecutor, is questioning Dr Reginald Medlicott, psychiatrist expert witness for the defense (who is supported by Mr. Terence Gresson - Juliet's defence lawyer). Let's look at some quotes.
Did Juliet Hulme ever write diary? -Not that I know of.
Did you not ask Juliet? -No. I didn't because I was quite certain she had not. If she had, it would have been brought to my notice.
Are there not references in Parker's diary that "we went home and wrote in our diaries"? —Yes.
Doesn't that indicate Juliet had a diary? -I inquired from Mr Gresson. Mrs Hulme, who told a very straightforward story, made no reference to any diary. She gave me a whole suitbox of Juliet's writings but there was no diary among them. It seemed self-evident that there was no diary written by Juliet Hulme.
Do you agree that if there had been diaries they could have been hidden? -I do.
[Press, 27 august 1954, page 12]
Pointing out that there were references in Parker's diary to writing in "our" diary, Mr Brown asked if Dr Medlicott knew of the existence of a diary written by Juliet Hulme.
He said that he did not.
Mr Brown: Do the entries not Indicate that Juliet Hulme also wrote a diary?
Mr Gresson: That is comment. Mr Brown: It is an inference from Parker's diary that Juliet also wrote a diary. Did you make any inquiry as to whether there was another diary ?-I think I inquired from Mr Gresson. Mrs Hulme gave me a very frank account of the girls, and a suit case full of Juliet's writings.
They did not include a diary? -No.
Did you ask Juliet if she kept a diary ?-No. I asked someone about a diary. It was not in the material given to me. There was no mention of a diary by Mr Perry, Mrs Hulme, or Mr Gresson. I concluded there was none.
Would you agree that her diary or diaries could have been hidden?
Mr Gresson: That is an inference. The doctor can only speak of what he knows.
[the Christchurch Star-Sun, august 26 1954, page 1]
Mr Brown asked whether Juliet had ever written a diary. Dr Medlicott said: "I was quite certain she had not."
Mr Brown mentioned a reference to "our diary," and said: "Do you agree, if there had been a diary (by Juliet), it could have been hidden?"
The witness agreed it could. He said the girls were "both insane and certifiable."
[The Scotsman, 27 August 1954 page 7]
The scene described here is: Mr. Allen Brown, the prosecutor, is questioning Dr Reginald Medlicott, psychiatrist expert witness for the defense (who is supported by Mr. Terence Gresson - Juliet's defence lawyer). Let's look at some quotes.
Did Juliet Hulme ever write diary? -Not that I know of.Did you not ask Juliet? -No. I didn't because I was quite certain she had not. If she had, it would have been brought to my notice.
Are there not references in Parker's diary that "we went home and wrote in our diaries"? —Yes.
Doesn't that indicate Juliet had a diary? -I inquired from Mr Gresson. Mrs Hulme, who told a very straightforward story, made no reference to any diary. She gave me a whole suitbox of Juliet's writings but there was no diary among them. It seemed self-evident that there was no diary written by Juliet Hulme.
Do you agree that if there had been diaries they could have been hidden? -I do.
[Press, 27 august 1954, page 12]
Pointing out that there were references in Parker's diary to writing in "our" diary, Mr Brown asked if Dr Medlicott knew of the existence of a diary written by Juliet Hulme.He said that he did not.
Mr Brown: Do the entries not Indicate that Juliet Hulme also wrote a diary?
Mr Gresson: That is comment. Mr Brown: It is an inference from Parker's diary that Juliet also wrote a diary. Did you make any inquiry as to whether there was another diary ?-I think I inquired from Mr Gresson. Mrs Hulme gave me a very frank account of the girls, and a suit case full of Juliet's writings.
They did not include a diary? -No.
Did you ask Juliet if she kept a diary ?-No. I asked someone about a diary. It was not in the material given to me. There was no mention of a diary by Mr Perry, Mrs Hulme, or Mr Gresson. I concluded there was none.
Would you agree that her diary or diaries could have been hidden?
Mr Gresson: That is an inference. The doctor can only speak of what he knows.
[the Christchurch Star-Sun, august 26 1954, page 1]
Mr Brown asked whether Juliet had ever written a diary. Dr Medlicott said: "I was quite certain she had not."Mr Brown mentioned a reference to "our diary," and said: "Do you agree, if there had been a diary (by Juliet), it could have been hidden?"
The witness agreed it could. He said the girls were "both insane and certifiable."
[The Scotsman, 27 August 1954 page 7]
1954 - December 12: 'recently Juliet said in jail..'
In another interesting newspaper article we find:
_p3p4.png)
Recently Juliet said in jail:
"What I wrote in my diary was true. I can understand mother not wanting to admit it."
"But I can never forgive her for standing up in the witnessbox and saying I had written a lie in my diary. I would not have minded had mother come to me before she gave her evidence and said that to protect her reputation she intended to deny what I had written. But she did not come and tell me."
[Daily Telegraph (Sydney), sunday December 12, 1954, page 3 and 4]
Now we have to conclude that this specific article does contain errors, but in my opinion the above is a sensational quote.
You can read (and/or download) the full two-page article here.
In another interesting newspaper article we find:
_p3p4.png)
Recently Juliet said in jail:"What I wrote in my diary was true. I can understand mother not wanting to admit it."
"But I can never forgive her for standing up in the witnessbox and saying I had written a lie in my diary. I would not have minded had mother come to me before she gave her evidence and said that to protect her reputation she intended to deny what I had written. But she did not come and tell me."
[Daily Telegraph (Sydney), sunday December 12, 1954, page 3 and 4]
You can read (and/or download) the full two-page article here.
1989: Fiona Samuel
Writer Fiona Samuel was among the many who were working on a play or a movie about the Parker/Hulme case. In 1989 she wrote a treatment and several drafts of a screenplay that was to be called 'The Pursuit of Happiness', and it was to be a darker perception of the story than 'Heavenly Creatures'. After Peter Jackson revealed in 1992 that his next project was the Parker-Hulme story, and realising that Jackson’s team were further ahead, and had funding in place, the Samuel-team put their version on hold. Samuel was, in a word, “gutted”. as one can imagine. She did do her research though. She says:
“Both girls had very difficult relationships with their mothers in different ways, and my take was that Juliet was living out a fantasy of killing her own mother.”
“This comes directly from Pauline’s diary. One entry reads ‘Last night Juliet dreamed she killed her mother again…’ and another entry reads ‘We both spent hours writing in our diaries…’”
“Juliet’s diary was never found, but clearly she had one.”
“Pauline’s diary told the police everything they needed to know about the planning of the murder, and that both girls were in on it. When they were questioned after the murder, Pauline took all the blame and said she had acted alone and that Juliet knew nothing, but that wasn’t true – Pauline was trying to protect her friend, who I think she loved in a complex, passionate and sexual way.
[Fiona Samuel]
As we have already seen in the fifties newspapers, here it is again: "We both spent hours writing in our diaries…".
Writer Fiona Samuel was among the many who were working on a play or a movie about the Parker/Hulme case. In 1989 she wrote a treatment and several drafts of a screenplay that was to be called 'The Pursuit of Happiness', and it was to be a darker perception of the story than 'Heavenly Creatures'. After Peter Jackson revealed in 1992 that his next project was the Parker-Hulme story, and realising that Jackson’s team were further ahead, and had funding in place, the Samuel-team put their version on hold. Samuel was, in a word, “gutted”. as one can imagine. She did do her research though. She says:
“Both girls had very difficult relationships with their mothers in different ways, and my take was that Juliet was living out a fantasy of killing her own mother.”“This comes directly from Pauline’s diary. One entry reads ‘Last night Juliet dreamed she killed her mother again…’ and another entry reads ‘We both spent hours writing in our diaries…’”
“Juliet’s diary was never found, but clearly she had one.”
“Pauline’s diary told the police everything they needed to know about the planning of the murder, and that both girls were in on it. When they were questioned after the murder, Pauline took all the blame and said she had acted alone and that Juliet knew nothing, but that wasn’t true – Pauline was trying to protect her friend, who I think she loved in a complex, passionate and sexual way.
[Fiona Samuel]
1991: Michelanne Forster / 'Daughters of Heaven'
The author of "Daughters of Heaven", Michelanne Forster, began research on the "Parker Hulme" case in the relative calm before the publication of the scholarly book "Parker & Hulme" by Glamuzina and Laurie. "Parker & Hulme" had quite an impact in New Zealand when it was published. "Daughters of Heaven" was written, performed and published well in advance of "Heavenly Creatures", and created its own sensation in New Zealand when performed on stage and, later, TV.
Michelanne Forster has consistently claimed that Juliet kept a diary, which was destroyed shortly after Pauline was apprehended. Given the work she has done, it seems likely she has a solid reason to believe this. You can see more below, under 'Reflections of the past'.
The author of "Daughters of Heaven", Michelanne Forster, began research on the "Parker Hulme" case in the relative calm before the publication of the scholarly book "Parker & Hulme" by Glamuzina and Laurie. "Parker & Hulme" had quite an impact in New Zealand when it was published. "Daughters of Heaven" was written, performed and published well in advance of "Heavenly Creatures", and created its own sensation in New Zealand when performed on stage and, later, TV.
"I interviewed a great number of people who remembered the case and knew the families and/or key people involved. I never tried to find Pauline or Juliet. "People I talked to were very cautious about telling what they knew in 1989 when I first began my research. "I was told by the Justice Department and the police that Pauline's diaries no longer existed... A number of the key diary entries were printed in the Press(ChCh) and Christchurch Star-Sun at the time of the trial and I used these as source material. "My primary picture of the murder came from hundreds of 'little stories'--snippets really--told to me by people who were around at the time. School teachers, lawyers, friends, prison employees, innocent and not so innocent bystanders; they all had their say."
"I interviewed a great number of people who remembered the case and knew the families and/or key people involved. I never tried to find Pauline or Juliet.
"People I talked to were very cautious about telling what they knew in 1989 when I first began my research.
"I was told by the Justice Department and the police that Pauline's diaries no longer existed... A number of the key diary entries were printed in the Press(ChCh) and Christchurch Star-Sun at the time of the trial and I used these as source material.
"My primary picture of the murder came from hundreds of 'little stories'--snippets really--told to me by people who were around at the time. School teachers, lawyers, friends, prison employees, innocent and not so innocent bystanders; they all had their say." [Michelanne Forster]
After 18 months, five drafts, one workshop and close collaboration with director Elric Hooper, the play, when it finally opened at Christchurch's Court Theatre in October (1991), was well-crafted and a knockout."I interviewed a great number of people who remembered the case and knew the families and/or key people involved. I never tried to find Pauline or Juliet.
"People I talked to were very cautious about telling what they knew in 1989 when I first began my research.
"I was told by the Justice Department and the police that Pauline's diaries no longer existed... A number of the key diary entries were printed in the Press(ChCh) and Christchurch Star-Sun at the time of the trial and I used these as source material.
"My primary picture of the murder came from hundreds of 'little stories'--snippets really--told to me by people who were around at the time. School teachers, lawyers, friends, prison employees, innocent and not so innocent bystanders; they all had their say." [Michelanne Forster]
Michelanne Forster has consistently claimed that Juliet kept a diary, which was destroyed shortly after Pauline was apprehended. Given the work she has done, it seems likely she has a solid reason to believe this. You can see more below, under 'Reflections of the past'.
1991: Glamuzina and Laurie / 'Parker & Hulme, a lesbian view'
In their book 'Parker & Hulme, a lesbian view', authors Alison Laurie and Julie Glamuzina devote only a few lines to the alleged diary:
Juliet Hulme may also have kept a diary. Comments in Pauline's diaries strongly suggest this. However, after the murder the police were unable to find any diary. There were rumours that her diary had been destroyed prior to her arrest, but these were never substantiated.
[Glamuzina and Laurie]
In their book 'Parker & Hulme, a lesbian view', authors Alison Laurie and Julie Glamuzina devote only a few lines to the alleged diary:
Juliet Hulme may also have kept a diary. Comments in Pauline's diaries strongly suggest this. However, after the murder the police were unable to find any diary. There were rumours that her diary had been destroyed prior to her arrest, but these were never substantiated.[Glamuzina and Laurie]
2010: Alexander Roman / 'Reflections of the past'
In his documentary, Alexander Roman interviews a lot of people, including James Bennett (the grandson of dr. Francis Oswald Bennett), Peter Graham, and Michelanne Forster. They all claim there was a Juliet diary...
Graham quotes from Pauline's diary: "We went home and we did OUR diaries".
Watch the video I'd say.
Graham quotes from Pauline's diary: "We went home and we did OUR diaries".
Watch the video I'd say.
2011: Peter Graham / 'So Brilliantly Clever'
Writer Peter Graham is convinced that Juliet Hulme also kept a diary, and that it was destroyed.
"It was always suspected". "The reason I feel so confident saying it, was because somebody I know was at the homestead and ran into the old guy who had been the gardener. They got into conversation and he said he burnt Juliet's diary and was asked to by the father. He would have been acting under orders from Hilda [Juliet's mother]. Circumstantially, there's a lot to show that Juliet did have a diary. I would imagine that her diary would have been far more over the top than Pauline's."
[Peter Graham]
Peter Graham says in his book that he was also greatly assisted by interview notes loaned by Michelanne Forster, who for her 1991 play 'Daughters of Heaven' had spoken to McClelland (junior counsel for Juliet Hulme), the Hulmes’ housekeeper and other associates of the family who had since died. Juliet’s diary, unfortunately, is long gone. On the night of the murder her mother, Hilda, ordered it be destroyed by the family’s gardener before the police found it, after seeing it contained “dreadfully incriminating” material.
Writer Peter Graham is convinced that Juliet Hulme also kept a diary, and that it was destroyed.
"It was always suspected". "The reason I feel so confident saying it, was because somebody I know was at the homestead and ran into the old guy who had been the gardener. They got into conversation and he said he burnt Juliet's diary and was asked to by the father. He would have been acting under orders from Hilda [Juliet's mother]. Circumstantially, there's a lot to show that Juliet did have a diary. I would imagine that her diary would have been far more over the top than Pauline's."[Peter Graham]
2014: Joanne Drayton / "The search for Anne Perry"
When writing Anne Perry's biography, author Joanne Drayton apparently forgot to ask whether Anne/Juliet had a diary...
That's a missed opportunity I'd say. A question about the diary would have added such an interesting layer to the biography and could have shed light on so much more.
When writing Anne Perry's biography, author Joanne Drayton apparently forgot to ask whether Anne/Juliet had a diary...
That's a missed opportunity I'd say. A question about the diary would have added such an interesting layer to the biography and could have shed light on so much more.
2023: The gardener: Thomas Charles Bolam Smith
Peter Graham mentioned 'the gardener', and after some searching I found mr. Smith, pictured here in 1967. He allegdly burned Juliet's diary together with some other stuff.
There's a little article below, which has some errors, but is readable. Mr Smith is constantly referred to as 'Bolam-Smith', while his surname is actually 'Smith' (see the gravestone picture). And there's a reference to Juliet's diary, which is clearly Pauline's diary. But my main point here is to provide a picture, a name, and a story for 'the gardener'.
You can read (and/or download) the full article here.
Peter Graham mentioned 'the gardener', and after some searching I found mr. Smith, pictured here in 1967. He allegdly burned Juliet's diary together with some other stuff.There's a little article below, which has some errors, but is readable. Mr Smith is constantly referred to as 'Bolam-Smith', while his surname is actually 'Smith' (see the gravestone picture). And there's a reference to Juliet's diary, which is clearly Pauline's diary. But my main point here is to provide a picture, a name, and a story for 'the gardener'.
You can read (and/or download) the full article here.
2025: My thoughts
I've given you all I could find, so you can reach your own conclusion. Based on everything above, I do believe it's highly likely Juliet had a diary, but I don't think we can ever truly prove it anymore.
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I've given you all I could find, so you can reach your own conclusion. Based on everything above, I do believe it's highly likely Juliet had a diary, but I don't think we can ever truly prove it anymore.
[back to top]
More...
More will follow ...