We had such an amazing response to the last blog post about Peter's search to track down information about his biological parents. People reached out with kindness and support. Two people sent advice about reading coroner's reports. It will be confronting, clinical, upsetting. Perhaps we should get someone else to read it for us, or scan it and read the details safely at home. Give Peter a safe space to work through the information. In reality, we didn't know what to expect. Peter had been given a handful of newspaper clippings when he met Iris's brother Keith back in the 1990s. We knew the gruesome story, but were unsure what the coroner's and police files would hold. We had mentally prepared ourselves for a scant manilla folder with a couple of pieces of paper. We also had thought through the possibility of crime scene photos. We booked a date to visit PROV, took a deep breath and walked in.
In a large quiet room, with a few people consulting documents for their research we approached the counter. Peter told the archivist on duty what we were there to view. The young guy returned with an odd look on his face as he gently placed the large files on the counter. They were stored in plastic bags. One had a sign on the front stating it contained information that could be confronting. He spoke quietly, highlighting the warning and we asked if we could use one of the private rooms, away from the other researchers. He escorted us, placing the files on the table and said to ask at any time if we needed anything, closing the door behind him.
Peter and I looked at each other nervously, and then at the files. There was so much more information than we expected. We sat down and opening the coroner's report first as it was smaller (and didn't have the warning). We sat either side around the corner of the table with the file between us and started reading. What we discovered was completely unexpected. Yes, there was official formal documents relating to Iris's death and the direction for the person who killed her to stand trial. What we hadn't expected to find were small details about Iris. She was 5 feet tall and 151 pounds (68.5 kilos). There were interviews with local shop keepers who saw her on the day she died. There are verbatim conversations, which paint a picture. Show Iris's relationship with the local community. Everyone knew her as Sissie. The local female milk bar owner who joked as Iris bought a chocolate milkshake, teasing Iris she'd get fat like her. Iris responded laughing saying she didn't care. The shop owners 16 year old son recounts a conversation, asking how Iris's three children are. 'I sent them back to boarding school on sunday'. Enquiring how she is she paying or this, Iris states 'my husband is supposed to be paying maintenance but he won't pay and has been to goal for it'. The sum was $20 a week. Peter had tried to track Terry through the electoral roll but there were gaps. We'd theorised why this might be, including time in goal. We know she regularly bought the kids fish and chips from a local shop, and she might have been there on the evening she died.
We discovered the 'boarding school' was the Lady Dugan children's home, where the three kids were in care. Iris was hoping to have them home for Christmas. She shared a house with another boarder (a man who was divorced). Although their relationship was platonic, he helped collect the kids in his car as the children's home was many suburbs away. He was also the person who discovered her body when he arrived home after midnight. We read that Iris's dad identified her body.
There's also a police interview with the suspect. He was 17 and worked at the same shoe factory. He visited the house in North Fitzroy regularly to talk to Iris about his troubles. They were previously also neighbours. There's a transcript of the killers conversation with his Mum as she visits him at the police station. So much crying. So much disbelief that her young son could kill her ex-neighbour and obviously someone she knew.
Next we opened the large deposition file. It collates much of the interviews, forensic data and statements from the police attending the scene. It creates a timeline of events. There were maps of the house layout, lists of weapons used in the murder, and a palm print of the killer. There was also multiple copies of crime scene and coroner photos. Thankfully they were black and white. We saw the house Iris lived in, the sparce furniture, detectives pointing at blood splatters...and Iris. There is a close up of her face, and through the bruises I could see aspects of Peter. He has her nose, mouth and face shape. It was heartbreaking and macabre, but also weirdly profound. We came looking for Iris and found snippets of her. We've pieced together the places she lived and worked. Seen her through other people's eyes.
We closed the files and hugged. I went to the help desk to ask about scanning. A different archivist put down a letter he had in his hands. He said it was from a soldier who didn't return home, so the letter essentially became his will. I said 'it must be an amazing job. You're surrounded by documents, but they're really people's stories'. He smiled, replying 'that's what I said in my interview!'. He showed us the scanning equipment and we copied as much as we could so Peter could read everything in detail later.
Speaking to Peter afterwards, he said how "fucking tragic" the story is. No-one is unscathed by the trauma. The three children who get split up and taken into care. Iris's family, her housemate, friends, workmates and local community. The murderer, who was 17 when he committed the crime in September 1973, but 18 when he stood trial in 1974. We know from the newspaper clippings that he was found guilty, but due to his age we are unsure what happened. The sentencing was referred to the executive council, and we're unable to find the outcome listed anywhere.
We have spent weekends scouring newspapers on microfilm, trying to piece together more details. We found both Iris and Terry's death notices and funeral details. The news articles interview people who knew Iris and talk of how well liked she was and how much she loved her children. As much as our searches have yielded so much information, there are also more questions. What did happen to the killer? Can we confirm if Terry went to goal? Would there be a mugshot of Terry, as we still have no idea what he looks like. He remains an enigma. For every answer there are more questions. But we still have avenues to explore. We also know that information may be locked down due to privacy, and only released into the public record in years to come.
I have watched Peter confront this story. He's both a part of it and set aside from it all. He knows that trauma is woven through the lives of everyone involved. At 20, he could only see the impact this story had on him. At 50 he sees the bigger picture, all the lives affected by a stupid decision made by a kid, including the kid and his family. As upsetting as this is, I am so proud of Peter. We are on this journey together. I'm now officially the research assistant (and chief microfilm loader). In a weird way this has brought us closer together and I am filled with nothing but love and admiration at Peter's search for answers. He's also mindful of not wanting to 'suck all the oxygen out of our relationship'. We are a team, and the search continues. We may not find all the answers, but we're hunting down everything we can. Together.
Comments