MURDER AS JOKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 September 1924, Page 5

MURDER AS JOKE

OLD MAN’S NIGHT OUT.

A CALLOUS GIRL-GUEST.

(Australian and N t Z. Cable Association

LONDON, September 4. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says: An amazing murder, as a joke, has been perpetrated by a young Parisian girl, named Helene.An elderly commercial traveller, Henri Durand, desiring an evening’s fun, invited two girls, Helene and Lucienne, to dinner. They drank freely. All three became excited, and they concluded a suicide pact, whereunder Durand would shoot them, and then himself. The girls dared Durand to carry out the programme. Helene said: “Give me the revolver! I will do it.” He handed over the weapon, and Helene shot him. Then she fired at Lucienne, but missed. Helene left Durand dying, and coolly went home to sleep. When arrested in the morning, she refused to believe that Durand was dead. She told the police that in any case it was “only a joke.” BODY IN BAG. LONDON, September 4. Scotland Yard has not progressed any in identifying the woman’s remains found in a bag under a bush at Ditton Marsh, but they are seeking for a mysterious man who is believed to be able to throw light on the puzzle. The detectives are of the opinion that the bones picked up some time ago on Wimbledon Common belonged (o the same body as these remains, the sawn portions fitting accurately.

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY.

(Per Press Association),

AUCKLAND, September 5. Harry Joseph Peters, alias Keogh, was committed for trial on the charge of murdering his child, Desmond. Accused pleaded “not guilty,’ ’reserving his defence.

Giving evidence, Constable Allan said that he had been watching Peters who had a prohibition order issued against him. On August 4 he asked Peters how he was getting on. Peters replied : “Oh, it’s worry being out of work!” He denied that he had been drinking. He looked a very sFck man, but was rational and normal. There was no sign ot drink on him. On the day of the tragedp, witness asked accused what he had done. He replied: “I’ve killed my boy. I got a sudden impulse. ’ ’