RICCARTON MURDER

Kaikoura Star, Volume LIV, Issue 52, 5 July 1934, Page 4

RICCARTON MURDER

The proceedings for the po.ice are being conducted by Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop, assisted by Detjetivc-Ser-geant C. E. Jarrold. Sir C. S. Thomas is appearing for the relations of deceased. and Mr M. J. Burns is watching proceedings on behalf of Higgs. Higgs, a stud master, told :ho ChiefDetective that ho had been a boarder at the hotel from February. 1933. It was his practice to retire early. Do you know whether or not Fraser often entertained visitors in the office during the evening?—There were a number of customers after hours. Some went into the bar and some into the office. ‘ ‘ Drifting Apart. ’ ’ Up till a month before Fraser’s death did you see anything strange in their conduct with one another? —The Frasers seemed to be drifting apart in the last two months. Going back to the time you first became a boarder, would you say they were normal? —I would say they were a very happy couple. She seemed fond

of him and ho of her. Do you know of any disagreement of er the children?—Yes. The father strongly objected to his daughter going out at night. The mother seemed to be just the reverse. She thought Fraser was a little hard on her. Did the mother and daughter seem to take sides against the fathei ?—Yes. the daughter seemed passionately fond of her mother and disliked her father, very much so. Just before Fraser’s death -did you hear of a quarrel ? —I did. I was passing the Blue Room when I Heard voices raised. 1 heard Fraser say, “1 have been watching you far two or three months-.” Her reply was inaudible to me. Do you remember Thursday, November 16?—I do. ‘ ‘ Pretty Well Sprung. ’ ’ Did you notice Fraser’s ccudition?— He seemed to be about three parts drunk. Ho was pretty well sprung. Can you tell me if it were a habit of his to take much liquor?—No. It was not. On that occasion, would you say he had more drink than ho usually took? —I would.

Wlien you went down to the kitchen after your tea, was anyone else there? —Wilson. After writing your letters, where did you go?—To my room. What time would it be then?—About a quarter to 10. Was that the last occasion in which you were out of the room that night?— It was. Was your door closed tight or slightly open?—l always had my door ajar so that I could hear the wireless. W r as it in that position that, night ? It was. What did you hear next?—l was awakened by shrieking voices in my room. Can you fix the time?—No. What was the next thing?—-T said, “Switch on my light.” Was that done?—Vos. Who did it?—Jcycc Fraser, when she entered my room, and Mrs Fraser stcod in the dun. Did eiti u of o :>y Hi.ythlng t.u you then?—They were both chattering away like monkeys. Mr Thomas: Is there any need for expressions like that in an inquest of this sort? The Coroner: He is under a certain amount of strain. Mr Thomas: He should restrain himself, sir. Witness: I will withdraw that expression. The Chief-Detective: Well, what happened next?—l said, “Be calm. Pull yourselves together. What is wrong?” Joyce said, “Hurry up. Come quick.” Mrs Fraser said, “Don’s been shot. ’ ’ What did you then do?—I took my teeth from where I usually put them, and w'ent to the door. 1 was cautious. At that stage had Mrs Fraser given you any indication as to where Don had been shot ?—None whatever. After you got to the door you said you were cautious?—l was cautious. Mrs Fraser said, “Didn’t you hear the row last night?” I said “No.” She said, “Didn’t you hear the door-bell ring?” I said, “No.” Wc then walked round to the room. Mrs Fraser was on my right, and to the best of my belief Joyce walked at the back of us.

How were you all dressed?— Joyce was dressed in a pink pyjama suit. Mrs Fraser had a pink nightdress. I was clad in my pyjamas only. As you were going along the hall did you notice if the light in the bsll was burning?—To the best of my belief, it was. That’s the one near tne Frasers’ bedroom.

When you got to Fraser’s room?—Mrs Fraser stood on my right. 1 looked into the room to see if I could sec Fraser. Mrs Fraser said, “Can’t you see the blood?” I said, “Where?” and she pointed to a patch of blood on tfco sheet beneath the pillow on the far side of the bed. I immediately walked across the room and saw the body lying on the floor face downward, at very near right-angles to the bed.

With the aid of a photograph witness explained the position of the body on the floor of the bedroom. He could only see the top half of the .body. The other half seemed to be under the bed. Fraser was lying with his head resting on a forearm. Witness could not see the side of his face. He could see no blood. The Chief-Detective: Could you see anything that would indicate bow he had died?—Nothing whatever. And you did not interfere with the position of the body?—l did not touch it. I think that when I was inspecting the bodj” I thought I saw his lower jaw move once. How long would you be examining the body?—A matter of seconds. Can yon tell us whether Mrs Fraser came into the room and spoke to you while you were examining the body?— She did not. She stood in the doorWhcn you first entered the ro m, was ihc electric light burning?—lt was. In the room, did you see any sigrs of the firearm?—No. When you left the room, what did you do?—Mrs Fraser said, “G.-t a doctor. Hurry up. Be quick.” When I got outside the door Joyce joined her mother. They both said, “ Hurry up. Be quick.” I went downstairs and switched on the office light, and got the directory io ring a doctor. They were both saying, “Hurry up. Bo quick.” I said, “I am doing my best.” I rang Dr H<« m re. A woman whom 1 took to be Mrs Ilelmorc answered and told nfc that Dr Ilelmore was unavailable. 1 old them I could not get him. I got the directory and rang Dr Hall. A woman whom I took to be Mrs Hall answered the ’phone. She asked me if it was an urgent matter. and I said “Yes.” She informed mo that the doctor had been called out and she would advise him abort it before he put his car away. I turned round and said, “I got him.” Mi's Fraser then ran outside. When she did so I stepped back two or three paces to look at the clock. It was then 25 past 2.

“Mrs Fraser came back and stood in the doorway.” continued witness. “I noticed that she looked down on tho floor. She bent down and flicked an article off the floor. I said, “What is that?” she made no reply, and twisted it in her fingers. Did you get a glance at it?—l did. It was a piece of celluloid or bone, white. I’d know it again if I saw it.

When you came downstairs for the first time, were any of the downstairs lights burning?—No. Can you say the clock you looked at was right?—l couldn’t guarantee that. It kept fairly accurate time Just, after picking up the article from the floor Wilson camo in. What did he do?

Witness: I could only see the porter swing round the edge of the stairs. That was when I asked her what she had in her hand. She saw Wilson run up the stairs and both she and Joyce ran up with him. I stood in the office. When they disappeared I immediately rang the police, at headquarters, unbeknown to anyone. While they were upstairs I noticed the bar-room door wide open. This was a very unusual occurrence. Mrs Fraser came on to the landing and said, “You had better have in the police.” I said, “I have already done so.” Mrs Fraser name down. I looked in her hand. The article she had picked up had disappeared. Wilson and Joyce also came down. I said to

Mrs Fraser, 1 ( The bar-room door is wide open.” She went along and closed it. She came back again and said, “Can’t you give Don a drink? Can’t you do something for him? Can’t you and Jack Lift him back in the bed?” And I said, “Jack has already given him a couple of swallows.” I said that to keep them quiet. I think Mrs Fraser must have been annoyed with me then for she then asked Wilson to ring Mrs Wood. He went to the telephone but he was a bit excited and his voice failed him. He asked me to ring, which I. did. When Wilson went upstairs I noticed he carried a torch under his arm.

Mrs Fraser then stood on my left Wilson on my right, and Jcycc Fraser sat on about the third or fourth stair from the bottom with her chin in her hands. There was not a word spoken. Shortly after Constable Murphy arrived and he was admitted by Wilson, and they all went upstairs again.

The Chief-Detective: Was he admitted in the front or the back?—The front. I stood in the office. Shortly after two young constables arrived. Mr Murphy came down shortly afterward and spoke to me. He said he came well prepared, or words to that effect. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a revolver which he held in his hand. Shortly after Dr Hall arrived. Mr Murphy wont to the dour The doctor had his stethoscope in bis hand. Mr Murphy said, “You won’t require that. He’s dead. Murdered.” They went upstairs and I followed. I said “The body has been moved.” Mr Murphy said that he had shifted it to seo if he had been shot by a gun or a rifle. The doctor had a look at the body, but if I remember rightly he did not touch it. Mr Murphy then came round the side of the bed and they commenced to examine the bedclothes. The inference was that Fraser had been shot asleep in his bed. The doctor then said, “Where is Mrs Fraser?” and Murphy said, “Outside the door.” He left the room.

The doctor and I were standing looking over the bod. I said to the doctor in a quiet voice, “Look at the pillow, doctor,” The doctor immediately walked round the side of the bed and examined the pillow thoroughly. He said, “There arc no traces here. ’ ’ He then commenced to examine the bed on the same side in a similar manner. When he got near the bottom he said, “There is a mark hero.” He said no more. The bed had the appearance that I don’t think it was slept in on one side.

When you first saw the bed did you notice on the side occupied by Mrs Fraser whether the blankets were rolled back?—l was surprised to see the clothes all disarranged at the foot of the bed. I did not notice this when I first went into the room.

Was there anything to indicate that someone had got out of that bed in a hurry?—There were no traces on that side of the bed at all. Do you remember a conversation with Mrs Fraser that night?—l do. I was going out. She was standing with her brother, Allan Walton, in the porchway just below the foot of the stairs. I said, “How are you to-day?” She sAid either “Fine,” or “Quite all right.” She then said, “Do you know the detectives questioned me for four or five hours this morning?” I said “Did they?” She said, “Do you know what they asked me about you?” 1 said, “No.” She said they asked her if she was certain I was sound asleep when she called me. I said, “What did you say?” She said, “Yes, of course he was.” Her brother, Allan, looked round and he said, f 1 Bess, there’s a detective. sitting there.” She said, “Sid, come into the office. I want to speak to you.” Her brother Allan came into the office. She said, “You remember what was said and done this morning, don’t you?” I said, “I do.” She then said, “Do you remember wlien I went into the bedroom with you I went over to the bed and shook the pillow up?” I said, “I do not.” She then said, “It must have been when Jack was there.” I said, “It must have been,” and walked away. I noticed her then run out into the kitchen, and I never discussed the case with her again. When you- told her you did not remember her shaking the pillow, did she mention Constable Mui ph y ?— No. At this stage -a brief adjournment was taken. When the Court resumed Mi Thomas questioned witness. Mr Thomas: Do you remember the day you heard the remarks from the Blue Hoorn?—l could not. It was in the afternoon.

Your door was ajar. You did not hear the explosion?—l did not. You work fairly long hours?—From September to February. What sort of sleeper are you?—When I’m working long hours I’m a heavy sleeper.

Do you remember when thej were saying, “Hurry up,” if Mrs Fraser said it in the passage on the way to the bedroom? —Mrs Fraser did. From that time, one or other asked you to hurry up?—-Both together. When you examined the bed you watched Dr Hall examine it?—Constable Murphy examined it. Were you there when Dr Holl examined it?—The bedclothes, not the bed. At that time, I know, at least one man from outside had been in the room, Constable Murphy?—That is so. It would be correct to say that from the time you first saw the body until you were in the room with Dr Hall, other persons were and had been in the room when you were not present? —I would ont say that. Were you in the room the whole time anyone was there?—l was not. But I did not see them go into the room. I saw people go upstairs but not into the room. The Coroner: Who did you see go upstairs? —I saw Wilson, Mrs Fraser, Joyce Fraser, Sergeant Harrison,*Constable Murphy. The fact remains that when Dr Hall was there you found the body had*boen moved, so something had been done in the room?—That is so. At the request, of Mr Burns the Coroner asked: Did you see the hole in the bedclothes?—Yes, sir. rhe shot hole and the powder marks. The Coroner: Were the bedclothes

then thrown back?—They wtre thrown back. They were disarranged at tho bottom of the bed. No further light you can throw on it, Mr Higgs?—No, sir. The Chief Detective: There is just one question whether Mr Higgs knew the position regarding the balcony door. Whether it was kept shut or open. Witness: That door was alw.-.ys closed. Mr Thomas: Will your Worship ask the witness if he knew that Constable Murphy put the clothes back to the foot of the bed? Does he I now that tho change in the clothes was due to Constable Murphy?—l saw him handling them.

Did you see him finally throw them at the end of the bed?—No. They were disarranged at the foot of the bed and he was lifting them up. But you are perfectly clear you saw Constable Murphy handling the clothes? —Yes.

Mr Thomas (when the Evidence had been read back to witness): Does he know, or is he able to say, to whom Fraser was speaking that afternoon in tho Blue Room? Witness: The words were inaudible to me but the voice was Mrs Fraser’s voice. On my way up I sriC to the cook, “There’s a Donnybrook upstairs,” and she said, “That’s only the tail end of it.” The Chief-Detective: Who was the cook?—Mrs Dore.

Do you know what the usual custom is in regard to the locking of the three doors that give access to the hack yard? —The door leading up the bic< staiin was generally open. Another was generally closed and another was locked last thing at night. With the aid of a photograph witness explained the custom concerning the doors.

The Chief-Detective: When you were in the bedroom on the first occasion did you notice a smell of powder?—l noticed no smell and no smoke.

Evidence was also given by E. F. Russell, a freezing works employee, and John Wilson, a porter employed at the hotel.

A verdict that Donald Fraser met his death through murder by some person or persons whose identity was not disclosed was brought in by Mr E. D. Mosely, coroner, at the conclusion of the inquest into the Racecourse Hotel murder on Tuesday. The coroner said that five of the witnesses other than the technical or official witnesses could be regarded aa having told the truth. The evidence reflected credit on tho skill of the police. A most interesting feature of the evidence was the long report of the pathologist, Dr. A. B. Pearson.

The hearing ended up aftei four full days had been taken up, and after 19 witnesses had been examined. Twelve of these were heard on Tuesday, the previous three days having been devoted to the evidence of the other seven.

The enquiry was conducted by ChiefDetective Dunlop. Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for the relatives, and Mr MJ. Burns for one of the witnesses, A. S. Higgs. Detective-Sergeant Jarrotk, of Wellington, who was closely concerned with the police enquiry, was also in court.