MURDER INQUEST.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 8

MURDER INQUEST.

CONFLICTING STORY. NIGHT DRINKING IN HOTEL SANDWICHES IN KITCHEN. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. For the third day the inquest relating to the murder of Donald Fraser, licensee of the Riocarton Racecourse Hotel, in his bedroom on the morning of November 17, 1933, was continued this morning. The interest of the public in the proceedings is increasing, and to-day there was a rush for seats when the doors opened, and all accommodation was taken. The sixth witness on the police list, Edward Lortus Russell, butcher, of Riccarton, entered the box. Questioned by Chief Detective Dunlop, witness said that he first became acquainted with Eraser three years before his death. They were friends until the time of his death. In 1932 witness accompanied Mr. an 1 Mrs. Fraser to Australia with the honJe Silver Ring. During the two months prior to the death of Fraser witness did not go to the hotel very often. On November 10, witness continued, ho was at the hotel in the morning and saw both Mr. and Mrs. Eraser. Mrs. Fraser told witness that Mrs. Woods was coming down in the afternoon and invited witness to come also. He lived a mile and a half from the hotel. He travelled by bicycle to the hotel in the afternoon about 3 p.m. Witness was ill the bar about thirty minutes. Eraser was quite sober at that time. Eraser usually drank wine or whisky, mostly whisky. Witness left the bar to go to the office, where Mesdames Fraser and Woods were. Drinks Before Dinner. Witness was in the office, he said, until dinner, and then afterwards until about 10.30 p.m. They had a few drinks before dinner. Mrs. Eraser and Mrs. Woods drank whisky. Witness thought the party had dinner at 0 p.m. in the kitchen. Fraser was not present. After dinner the party was joined by Welsh and there was further drinking. All had three or four. Welsh left about 8.30 or i>. When he left Mrs. Eraser said she did not like the look of him and was glad to get rid of him. It was suggested that they go upstairs. Witness went first, Mrs. Fraser and Mrs. Woods following. Four or_ five later witness heard the piano playing in the room and went in.

After about five minutes upstairs Mrs. Fraser said, "I think I will so back again," and they went back to the office. Welsh came back, but stayed only about fifteen minutes. Shortly before this Mrs. Thompson came in. She said, "I'm dry." Further drinks were brought up. Till then Fraser had been once to the office. After Welsh left all had several drinks. Mrs. Thompson went to the bar for about five minutes, and said, "That's a beautiful man of yours in the bar. I've had five drinks since I left." „ "He Was Pretty Well Drunk." About 10.30 a bottle of champagne was brought in by Fraser. "He was pretty well drunk," said witness. All five of them present had a drink. Fraser was handing a glass to Mrs. Wood when he fell and spilt it on her dress. Mrs. Fraser brought Joyce in, and there came in also Mrs. Woods' daughter and a young man. Joyce went out after having a drink, also Mrs. Woods' daughter and the young man. After Joyce went out the rest went out into the hall to the reee6s near the bar. They had four or five more drinks. Most of them drank whisky. Witness had drunk whisky, shandy, portergafT and champagne. The others were not mixing their drinks much. Mrs. Woods and the young couple left at 11.30. Witness was then very sober. Mrs. Thompson was all right, a bit merry perhaps. Mrs. Woods was all right. Mrs. Fraser was sober.

"And Frascr?" asked the chief detective. "He was quite drunk by that time," was the reply. Witness said that Mrs. Thompson, he and Eraser had further drinks. At 12 o'closk witness left for home. Mrs. Thompson accompanied him. Went Back For Sandwich. Mrs. Thompson left the yard of the hotel first, said witness. He followed her but changed his mind and decided to go back for a sandwich. He went into the kitchen. There were there Wilson, the porter, Mrs. Fraser and Joyce. Witness was quite positive that all were there. Wilson was cutting meat. Witness asked him for a sandwich. Fraser came in. The Chief Detective: Was his condition better or worse? Witness: Oh, ho was very drunk then. Witness said no further liquor was consumed. He had sandvvichcs and then left.

We have been told by other witnesses that Joyce's last appearance downstairs was about 10 o'clock. Would that be true ? Well, it can't be. I swear on oath I saw her when I returned for a sandwich. Witness said he went straight homo. No one saw witness off the premises. He got home about 12.10 a.m. Witness said the people he lived with were all in bed when he got home. Did you leave again?— No. Was Fraser in a condition to climb those stairs before he went to bed? It would take him all his time. If he was in bed and the bell rang, coil Id lie come down to answer it? —Oh, he could get out. If he was in bed long lie would not wake. The chief detective was carrying the question further, but the coroner said he had taken It as far as witness could say. The Chief Detective: Do you know whether Fraser was a steady drinker?— I think lie was what you would call a silent drinker. He would take a lot of drink on his own. Daughter's Alleged Remark. You told us you saw Joyce Fraser in the kitchen. Did you hear her say anything?— Yes, I did. Well, tell us, as nearly as you can remember, the actual words?— Really, I didn't quite got what was said. Something like this: "We have got him just where we want him." Witness said he first heard of the tragedy next morning, when he was working in the garden. He did not go out immediately, as he "did not like to." lie had discussed the matter with Mrs. Fraser three weeks after. Mrs. Fraser asked him why ho had kept away. He said he thought it just as well. Questioned regarding a statement that Mrs. Fraser said to him, "They don't know about the letters. Haven't you noticed Don was queer lately? Don't you think he is better off where he is than in that state?" witness said that that was true. He had replied he | supposed lie was. Did she make any remark about how she had been provided for? —No. Did she say, "He has left everything to me and not mentioned anyone else, even tho children"?—l don't remember if it was that time or another. But she did make the statement? —. Yes. "Joke" About a Lover. You remeuibcr a conversation you had with Mrs. Fraser when they camo back from Wellington in October, 1033 —something about a lover?— She said she was out at the pictures one night and came home late, and "Don was in the office with a long faco on him." She said Fraser had asked where she had been, and she said she had been to the pictures and had been out with a lover. She said she kept that up all night. She said she could not convince him she was joking. Witness said he had always been very friendly with Fraser. He had never at any tirno said he was afraid of anyone taking his life. Witness knew of no one who had any serious grudge against ' Fraser. He had not noticed that Fraser was mentally unbalanced, but thought Mrs. Fraser was right. Fraser had been 1 dull and mopey, and seemed worried.

Questioned by Mr. C. S. Thomas, for the family, witness said he could drink 25 drinks in a period and still be sober. After tlio reading of the deposition the chief detective asked Russell if Wilson was sober when witness returned to the kitchen for a sandwich. "Yes," said witness. If Wilson said that further drinks were consumed, then it would not be true. Witness had not "shouted" for the party twice, as Wilson said in a. statement. He thought he had given Wilson money to get himself a drink. Mr. Thomas: Did you cut 3'our sandwich ?—Yes, I had two small sandwiches. Think again. Did you cat all the sandwich ? —Yes. It would not be true that you ate only half a sandwich?— No. Porter Gives Evidence. John Wilson, porter at the hotel, was the next witness called. Wilson said he first went to work at the hotel in August, 1933, and was there at the time of Fraser's death on November 10. Fraser was in the bar. Witness had tea with Mrs. Woods, Russell and others after Fraser and Welsh had tea. Higgs was in the kitchen writing. Witness was sewing. Higgs left the kitchen before ten, and witness did not see him again that night. Welsh left the hotel about 8 o'clock. The others were in the office, but witness was in the kitchen. When Fraser had tea he was "merry," but witness woiild not describe him as drunk.

Fraser's Condition. Questioned regarding an earlier statement that Fraser at that time was "well gone" witness said. "It is hard to explain. He was pretty merry before tea, but afterwards ho was all right." Later, said witness, Fraser came into the kitchen and asked him to look at the newspaper and see if there was anything about Silver Ring in the racing notes. Fraser was not drunk, and he picked up the paper himself. "Fraser sat down for a while, and talked to mo. He said, I'm feeling a bit merry, Jack.' I said, 'You're all right,' and ho replied that he was 'not feeling too good.'" The luncheon adjournment was then taken.,