KILLED IN SLEEP

Evening Star, Issue 21571, 17 November 1933, Page 8

KILLED IN SLEEP

RICCARTON HOTELKEEPER SHOT FIRE ESCAPE ENTRY SUSPECTED [Per U.viilin Press Association - .] CHRISTCHURCH, November 17. Mr Donald Fraser, married, aged about forty-five years, licensee of the Racecourse Hotel, Riccarton, and wellknown in Sporting circles was found dead near bis bed at bis hotel this morning with a bullet wound in his chest.

Foul play is suspected. A large force of police under Superintendent Gumming is on the scene. No one is allowed in or out of the building. The fatal wound was apparently inflicted with a shot gun while the victim was asleep at 2.50 a.m. alongside Mrs Fraser. Mr Fraser came here from Hokitika five years ago. It is definitely established that Mr Fraser was shot in his bed at close range. The blankets were torn and stained with gunpowder. He received the fatal wound in the chest, and apparently rolled out of bed on to the floor, dying immediately.

The deceased and his wife -were sleeping in a room facing the balcony on the first floor. To this balcony the fire escape gives entrance from tile ground below. The police have taken notice of scratches and other marks, indicating that the fire escape has been used recently. The police are also using _ finger print apparatus in their preliminary investigations. The tragedy occurred at 2.20 a.m.. and within half an hour Superintend dent Cummings and a large force of police were on the scene. By seven o’clock the police had been increased to forty. The murderer apparently escaped without, being traced. COLD-BLOODED CRIME A MAN WITHOUT ENEMIES In the hotel at the time, in addition to Mrs Fraser, were her daughter aged 16, her son aged eight, a porter, and another man believed to have been a boarder. Ail the indications point to a shockingly cold-blooded crime. With Superintendent Cummings in charge of the investigations, are Inspector Cameron, Sub-Inspector Edwards, and most of the members of the detective staff. All the grounds arc being searched and closely guarded. The nearest house is 200 yards away, and the neighbours heard no noise during the night, Mr Fraser some years .ago was employed in various capacities on the West Coast; once as a railway cleaner, and then in the drapery business at Hpkitika and Grey mouth. For a time while in Christchurch he had a drapery business in High street, but then entered the hotel trade. He was a keen sporting and Rugby enthusiast. He owned the racehorse Silver Ring, and while on the coast played football for the Star Club, Greymouth. His wife was formerly Miss i' alton, of Greymouth. Her brother, on Receipt of the news flew to-day from Greymouth to Christchurch. Mrs Fraser heard and saw nothing until after the crime had been committed. The household were awakened by the sound of the explosion, and almost immediately the police were informed. Doctor Pearson, pathologist at Christchurch Hospital, conducted a preliminary examination of the body this morning prior to its removal to the morgue for a post mortem. Friends of deceased say that he was scrupulously fair and honest, and had apparently no enemies. The bedroom he occupied was his usual room, and it is not considered possible that any mistake was made by the murderer m the choice of his victim. NO ROBBERY A COMPLETE MYSTERY The police searched the hotel grounds thoroughly for any weapon or trace of the assailant, but found nothing. A neighbour passed the hotel when returning from the city at 2 o'clock. The hotel was in complete darkness, and he noticed nothing unusual. His wife afterwards heard the noise of a car being driven fairly rapidly along the road, but this may have no connection with the tragedy. . . .. Fraser at one time tield the license of the Washdyke Hotel, Tiraaru. In his younger days he was a physical instructor at Trentham. At noon the mystery, was still unsolved. Apparently no robbery of any kind was committed. ROUSED BY SCREAMS The only boarder at the hotel. Mr S. Higgs, a”studmaster, stated that he was roused at 2 o’clock by the screaming of Mrs Fraser and her daughter, Joyce. Mrs Fraser cried: “Don’s been shot.” He rushed to the room, and found Fraser lying on the floor among the bed clothes, which were covered with blood. Fraser was then in dying condition. The bedroom light was turned on, but there was no sign of any intruder. Higgs rang for the doctor, who summoned the police. Higgs heard no shot, but this is not strange, as the hotel is built of concrete blocks. The detectives have been unable to find any trace of the gun. The barman did not live at the hotel, but in a cottage nearby.