MURDERED IN BED.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12502, 17 November 1933, Page 6

MURDERED IN BED.

R ICCARTON HOTELKEEPER. BULLET WOUND IN CHEST. Electric Telegraph—Tress Association CHRISTCHURCH, Thas Day. Donald Fraser, married, about 45, licensee of the Racecourse Hotel, ac Riccarton, and well known in sporting circles, was found dead near liis bed at the hotel this morning with a bullet wound in the chest. Foul play is suspected. A large force of police, under Superintendent Cummings are 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 2.30 a.m. alongside Mrs Fraser Fraser came here from Hokitika three years ago. SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE. NO TRACE OF MURDERER. CHRISTCHURCH. Later. It is definitely established thjat Fraser was shot in bed at close range. The blankets were torn and stained with gunpowder. He received the fatal wound in the chest and apparently rolled out on the floor dying immediately. Eraser and Mrs Eraser were sleeping in a room facing the balcony on the. first floor. To this/ balcony the fine escape gives entrance from the groun d befo w. The police have taken notice of scratches and other marks indicating that the escape was used recent - The police are also using fingerprint apparatus in preliminarv investigations. The tragedy occurred at 2.30 a.m. Within half an hour Superintendent Cummings and a large force of police were on the scene. By 7 o’clock the police had boe:i i n one a s eel t < 40. The murderer apparently escaped. Thor- is no trace.