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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: Aspergirl73 on Saturday 07 May 16 13:03 BST (UK)
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Three of my family members were killed in Whyalla, South Australia in a triple homicide in 1974. The crime was reported on the front pages of newspapers in Adelaide at the time. The killer was convicted and served time in Prison in South Australia. I cannot find any details at all about the case apart from details I have been told verbally. I cannot find any links to news articles. Can anyone help me understand why these records/evidence of this crime might have been removed from South Australian public history?
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Hello Aspergirl,
Welcome to rootschat :)
I don't believe these details can have been removed from South Australian history.
I only have access to Sydney Morning Herald for 1974 and I haven't found anything yet - not if I include Whyalla in the search. You would expect a triple homicide would have been reported in SMH. If I take Whyalla out of the search then are many pages of possibilities.
Is there a possiblity that it occurred somewhere other than Whyalla? I must admit SMH search facility has been a little iffy for the past few days and currently ignores the year restrictions.
Are there any other keywords that you can give us?
regards,
Ros
(adding : No the SMH archives search facility is definitely NOT working tonight ... weird results from different years other than those stipulated ... I'll try again tomorrow)
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Hi Aspergirl73,
:) Welcome to RootsChat :)
As far as I am aware there are no online SA newspapers for that time period so you would need to go a library to access hard copies or microfilm.
There would probably be a mention in the Sydney newspapers which you can access here (subscription required) http://archives.smh.com.au/
Some of the SMH papers are freely available on the Google news archive here https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=lL5f5cZgq8MC&dat=19621017&b_mode=2&hl=en
The only place you may find an online mention of such an incident might be on websites/blogs belonging to people who are interested in criminal history, and other that that I am not sure what you are expecting to find?
Seeing Ros's post, if you have an actual date it shouldn't be too difficult to check.
Debra :)
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Hi,
Have you viewed the following?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjEa7JNG6g
Leanne
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Hi,
Have you viewed the following?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjEa7JNG6g
Leanne
I just found that too :)
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SMH, 5 May 1974, page 5, seems to be the first story.
Debra :)
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My Great Grandmother was Gladys May Hicks. Her Husband was Leonard (Len) Hicks. My Aunt was Shirley Hicks (Cherrington). They were murdered on the 4th May, 1974 by a man named Mittos who served 10 years in prison (I think) before he was extradited to his birth country. Gladys, Len and Shirley are buried together at Renmark. I have been told the story was in several papers at the time. Thank you for your help.
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Just adding the link, go to page 5
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=lL5f5cZgq8MC&dat=19740505&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
Debra :)
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Hi,
I have it as page 3 on the bar across the top.
Leanne
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Sorry, I am being a little slow as I am new to this. Yes, the youtube link is about my family. No sound unfortunately and only a few comments from neighbours and family members on there.
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Thank you so much. Yes, that is them.
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What you are seeking is simply not available unless published in a newspaper which has archived copies online.
South Australian daily newspapers are not online post 1954 with the exception of the Victor Harbor Times. As Debra has suggested, you need to visit the State Library of South Australia to view South Australian newspapers for 1974 including The Whyalla Times
Cando
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My Great Grandmother was Gladys May Hicks. Her Husband was Leonard (Len) Hicks. My Aunt was Shirley Hicks (Cherrington). They were murdered on the 4th May, 1974 by a man named Mittos who served 10 years in prison (I think) before he was extradited to his birth country. Gladys, Len and Shirley are buried together at Renmark. I have been told the story was in several papers at the time. Thank you for your help.
The family are not buried at any section of the Renmark Cemetery.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01hla/
According to the Whyalla Cemetery burial records they are at Whyalla Cemetery. Leonard and Gladys are in one grave and Shirley in an adjacent grave.
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=809&c=46581
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=809&c=46584
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Leonard-B-Hicks/8079002
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?c=46587
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Shirley-Hicks/2459742#
It would appear that Shirley was legally a CHERRINGTON when she died.
Cando
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Thank you Cando. I appreciate your help. I will search at the Library as you have both suggested. I did get the cemetery wrong. Yes, Shirley was a Cherrington by birth but was raised by her maternal Grandmother (my Great Grandmother) and Stepfather and used their name (Hicks). She was from a large sibling group that were separated as children.
Do you know how I can access court records or records of prison inmates? I have tried to access my Grandparents death certificates but I am not allowed to as I have to be a 'parent of' or 'child of'.
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Yes I read your earlier posts about Shirley. The point I made was she was legally a CHERRINGTON when she died so doubt she was formally adopted. You will note her burial record is in the name of CHERRINGTON.
When did your grandparents die? There are restrictions on purchasing death certificates in South Australia for 25 years.
Why do you need their death certificates if they died within the last 25 years? Isn't there any family who can help you with information about them. What were their names?
Cando
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Do you know how I can access court records or records of prison inmates?
I think you need to find the newspaper reports of the court case. At this moment in time you don't know where the hearing was held.
Photographs and prison records to 1973 in SA are closed for 60 years so if you are seeking records for 1974 they possibly may not be accessible to 2034. Prison records if person committed in the Supreme Court are closed for 100 years. Prison cards are closed for 100 years also.
http://www.archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files 20151012%20Photographs%20Final%20V3.3.pdf (http://www.archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files 20151012%20Photographs%20Final%20V3.3.pdf)
Cando
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Thanks Cando. It is disappointing that I can't access those court records. I also don't understand why the event is so difficult to research when other crimes that are similar in nature are public. The newspaper article about the triple homicide was incorrect in that it states she was adopted and 17 and it didn't show the real connection between Shirley and Gladys and Len.
I have been searching on Ancestry.com for over a year and checked facebook, google etc to find out what I have. I found information about my Grandparents but they are both deceased. My Grandfather died on March 18, 1993, in Renmark, South Australia, at the age of 64. My Grandmother died on July 5, 2003, in Goolwa, South Australia, at the age of 65.
I am aware that I have many living Aunts, Uncles and cousins in South Australia. I am gathering information now because my own children are young adults and it occurred to me that with so many potential relatives all living in the one state there was a chance we would all meet without knowing and my children could potentially date a relative. I also decided it was time to put the puzzle together for my own peace of mind.
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The information is in the public arena....you need to read the newspapers of the day. I am only posting what I have found. I am certainly no expert in the area of court records, gaol records etc.
Your grandfather's death certificate may not have accurate information and if a wife is named on his death certificate it may only name the number of children of their marriage/relationship. Only two years to wait if this is his burial record. He was born 10 Apr 1928 at Renmark but possibly you have that information.
http://www.renmarkparinga.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?c=1272
I would have thought putting their surnames on the net may help any other family that may be searching also.
Cando
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My Grandmother died on July 5, 2003, in Goolwa, South Australia, at the age of 65.
An online tree has her death as 1 Mar 2000 at Goolwa. Which date is correct? What was her surname at the time of her death?
Have you searched for a death notice? May name her children.
Cando
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Pauline Margaret (Clark) Cox (Hicks) and Graham Durham Cherrington. I believe Pauline's date of death that I provided is correct. I have information from Ancestry about Graham's extended family but nothing about him as an individual apart from the date of death.
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The correct way to name your grandmother is Pauline Margaret HICKS nee COX. Her mother was a CLARK. If she did remarry then she would be Pauline Margaret ******* formerly HICKS nee COX. Or if she formed a relationship and used her partner's name then she would be Pauline Margaret ****** formerly HICKS nee COX.
I suggest you remove the names of any living persons from your post. We are not permitted to post names of living people on rootschat.
All I asked was the surname she was using when she died.
I can understand your reluctance to post information so as not to offend your mother however you have asked for our help and as there were only two females apart from your mother, it will be difficult to find their married names due to the unavailability of marriage registrations in SA.
Have you approached any CHERRINGTON's living in SA?
Cando
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Thank you. I have edited. I have not found any living Cherrington's yet.
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Murray Pioneer (Renmark, SA : 1942 - 1950) Thu 16 Oct 1947
"Knocked down by Bus an accident occurred in Renmark Avenue at about 7.30 p.m.
on Monday, when Graham Cherrington was hit by a passenger bus, driven by Mr. R. McFarlane.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109426682?searchTerm=%22Graham%20Cherrington%22&searchLimits=
FIRE AT RENMARK.
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931) Saturday 7 January 1928
At Mr Robert Cherrington's house
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165639920?searchTerm=Cherrington,%20Renmark&searchLimits=
Wife Bessie an daughter Florrie Cherrington
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109367041?searchTerm=Cherrington,%20Renmark&searchLimits=
Wondering if Robert's full name was Robert Durham Cherrington
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Thank you :)
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Advertiser
CHERRINGTON Graham Durham 1993
You have Graham's date of death from the burial record so if you haven't a copy of the above death notice then I suggest you use the Ask a Librarian at SLSA for a copy of same.
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=387
I would imagine you have searched TROVE pretty thoroughly ;)
Cando
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This is what I have learned about Graham Durham Cherrington:
Birth 10 Apr 1928 in Renmark, South Australia, Australia
Death 18 March 1993, in Renmark, South Australia.
"CHERRINGTON Given Names GRAHAM DURHAM Cemetery Renmark Lawn Cemetery Denomination UNKNOWN Section SEC H Plot/Grave/Niche 1 Date of Death 18.03.1993 Age at Death 64 Date of Burial 22.03.1993"
Parents: Robert Durham Cherrington and Gertrude Omealia Cherrington.
Sister Phyllis (Dawn) Cherrington(1929–2001) Renmark, South Australia, Australia
Birth and Death of Brother William James Cherrington 28/12/1929 • Loxton South Australia
Sister Gertrude Joyce Cherrington(1934–2013) Renmark, South Australia, Australia
Sister Kathleen Joan Cherrington(1934–2012)
Brother William Robert Cherrington(1939–2001) Renmark South Australia
Birth of Brother William Robert Cherrington(1939–2001) Renmark South Australia
Graham's Grandparents were Robert Walter Oswald Cherrington and Bessie Cherrington and Charles Albert Aston and Gertrude Muskery.
I think my details are correct but I may be wrong as I have not had anyone living to verify for me from the family. I did find Graham's second cousin once removed (I hope I have that right) on Ancestry.com and she shared that Robert and Elizabeth were born in Kandy, Ceylon.
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Yes all of that is easily found but have you all the death notices and names of their children...occasionally the daughters will have their married names printed.
I am puzzled why you are reluctant to name Pauline's surname at time of her death. One online tree has her buried/cremated at Centennial Park. Is this correct? Perhaps you know your mother's other two sisters' details.
Cando
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Hi Cando, I am not reluctant to use my Grandmothers surname but I am not sure what it was. My family have only ever referred to Pauline by her first name. My records have come from Ancestry and I am a beginner so I am sure everything I have is easy to find. I think the last name Pauline used was Baker but I am not positive. The verbal information I received from family hasn't been helpful for a search except that Pauline did live in Goolwa and was unwell with cancer at that time the records state that she died.
I have got all of my information from things other people have recorded on Ancestry, for example:
"Name: Pauline Margaret Surname: Baker Last Abode: Goolwa Beach Date of Death: 05/07/2003 (Aged 65 Years) Sex: Female Cremation Records for this Person Cremation Date: 09/07/2003"
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I assume you have taken your information from Ancestry's online trees. I always treat online trees with a degree of caution unless they are well referenced and sources noted so you can check the information. I haven't looked at them all just one that had a different death date.
Now with your information - her cremation record at Centennial Park.
http://www.centennialpark.org/memorial-search/pauline-margaret-baker-541718/
Why don't you get a copy of her death notice. Someone must have arranged her cremation etc.
Cando
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"Yes all of that is easily found but have you all the death notices and names of their children...occasionally the daughters will have their married names printed".
I don't have death notices yet.
"Perhaps you know your mother's other two sisters' details".
I know all of the siblings first names. I have met one of my Mum's siblings with the same parents and one of Mum's siblings who has a different Father. All of my Mum's siblings are alive (I think) apart from Shirley Cherrington and a brother born to a different Father. I am not in a position to find out more information from them at the moment which is why I am still searching for more information about Graham.
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No death or funeral notices for Pauline in The Advertiser.
http://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-databases.html
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/savill/savill-B.html
Cando
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Perhaps it is time to gently approach your mother for some information about her sisters ie at least their surnames.
My only other suggestion is to place an advertisement in The Murray Pioneer, the Renmark newspaper seeking information about or contact with persons who knew Graham.
http://www.murraypioneer.com.au/
Cando
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Thank you Cando. You have been very helpful and it is a great idea for me to contact the Murray Pioneer. I won't upset my Mum at the moment with more questions (this whole topic is very painful for her) but I will continue to quietly search. My next step is contacting the Library and then my Husband and I plan to visit some of the grave sites. Should I close this topic?
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That's up to you :) You can mark the topic Completed by modifying the heading in your first post.
Good luck :)
Cando
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Hello, I was a schoolboy in Whyalla at the time of these murders--a friend of mine, Brenton Stewart, lived next door to the house in which they occurred.
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I am a bit confused. Are you saying that Shirley had 2 siblings, because there are 11. Or Pauline?
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Hi Aspergers girl,
It appears I am your Aunt (half Aunt),
My grandmother was Gladys Hicks, my birth mother was Pauline Danielsen (née:Hicks) and one of her many discarded children is Cheryl - who I met once or twice in the early 80s and then I learned st contact with. I would love to share emails or messages etc... ps - Aspergers runs in our families.
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I am trying to work out who is asking questions. We are related AspergerGirl. Do you have a brother and does your mums name start with W? I have some of the information you seek but not alot. I once spoke to the husband of Pauline's sister to find more info but she had dementure. Grahams family was a similar story.
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Do you have two sisters and two brothers?
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Hi there Aspygirl,
My name is Ros Stiles, née Danielsen.
My mother was Pauline Margaret Danielsen, previously Cherrington, née Hicks or Cox
She was Shirley’s birth mother.
I have messaged you before but you may not have seen the message.
Xx Inwould love to meet you.
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Hi,
You are speaking of my Mother - Pauline Danielsen née Cox. I am Ros (Lyn) Stiles née Danielsen. My email is rosstiles63@gmail.com if you would like to contact me
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Mum’s (paulines surname at death was Baker. It was not a legalised name. She took my father’s surname when they started living together. Mwhen she started living with Ellis Baker she took his surname, in about 1997
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Hey.
I know some information on this case.
Whats an appropriate way for you to contact me?
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Billiongraves has photos of the burial site.
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Hey! I came across this post by accident. I was searching Google about the murders.
My family and I only lived around the corner from where it happened.
My sister remember this time vividly. I was only 5 and my sister was 10. Shirley actually went to school with my older siblings.
If by chance you find my reply, hit me up as I might be able to help...
Cheers,
Lav
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I live in Whyalla and I remember the night this murder happened, we thought the screams were coming from the Shell service station across from the Eyre Hotel. The murder happened in the house on corner of Playford Ave, Shirley went to school with my older siblings. I can access the Whyalla News archives held at the local public library. The newspapers for this time are hardcopy, and over the years become fragile but still readable. If you want copy of what was written in Whyalla news I can photograph or photo copy the original articles. Len and Gladys I often saw in the front yard on the front page of the Monday issue of WN had a small photo of Len and that is how I remember him. The murder was a tragic rarity in Whyalla, and was the first murder I heard of. They are buried at Whyalla cemetery I have visited the graves over the years and it is a sorry sight, mound of earth and a cross that can be barely read. Laws forbid the cemetery workers from touching the graves to put a monument there without family permission the lease would be a 99 year lease on the plot I photographed the graves for findagrave and Billiongraves in 2012. The cemetery is managed by Whyalla city council I can find out if they can at least paint their names on the crosses as I am not a family member I don't like my chances.