RICCARTON TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 152, 29 June 1934, Page 6

RICCARTON TRAGEDY

INQUEST RESUMED

FIFTEEN WITNESSES WIDOW GIVES EVIDENCE ( Per Press Association. ) CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. The inquest was resumed to-day before the coroner, Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., into the death of Donald Fraser, licensee of the Riccarton Hotel, who was found shot in Lis bedroom at 2 a.m. on November 17 last. The inquest is likely to last three days- Fifteen witnesses are to be called. Chief-Detective Dunlop represented the police, and Mr. C. S. Thomas represented Mrs. Fraser. Constable Kearton, the police photographer, was the first witness, -who produced photographs of the hotel and bodv.

Constable Kearton also produced a photograph of the balcony, showing the doors of the bedroom where the body was found, the doors leading to the passage and to the fire escape. On the application of the police all witnesses were ordered out of Court. Mrs. Fraser said that her late husband was born in Quensland in 1892, and was forty-one years of age. She married him in 1915 at Wanganui. There were two children of the marriage. In June, 1929, Fraser took over the Riccarton Racecourse Hotel. The Chief-Detective: On the night of November 16 you retired about 11-45? Witness: It would be about ten to twelve. Airs. Fraser then gave evidence concerning her married life, and said that she retired at 11.45 o’clock on the night of the tragedy. Answered a Caller. Did anyone accompany you? she was asked. “My husband was in bed before I went,” she replied. After you had gone to bed did anything happen?—My husband and I were talking for a time. We had been in bed for half an hour when the door bell rang. I asked him not to go down, but he said he would, and he went down. I think he put on his trousers. And before he went down was there a light in the bedroom?—Yes, and in the hall, too. What happened next? —I don’t remember him coining back again. I was asleep before he went. Can.you remember if he put on his pyjamas?—He did not. When the door bell rang did you hear voices?—Only very faint. A car pulled up right in front of the building. Are you sure the car pulled up?—l was very decided that the car pulled up. What was the next thing you heard? —A very loud explosion. After that what did you do?—I jumped out of bed and ran along to Mr. Higgs’ room screaming for him to come. In don’t remember when I put on the light in my room. Before you left the room did you see your husband?—l don’t remember. It was only when I came back and the light was on. You remember after the explosion calling out and asking where your husband was?—l might have called out. I don’t remember now. Do you remember what you said to Higgs—“Come quick, Donald has been shot. ” After telling Higgs that, what was the next thing?—l went back to the bedroom. Were you still alone?—So far as I can remember, yesLying on Floor. After you entered the room on the second occasion what did you do?— Higgs came along with my daughter Joyce. What happened when they came along?—l caught hold of my husband’s arm and asked him to speak. Was that the first occasion on which you saw your husband?—No. When was the first?—After I heard that my husband was on the floor, and before Mr. Higgs came and the light was on. What position was he lying in? —He was alongside the bed. I saw blood on the sheets. After calling Higgs, was anyone else called? —There was no one else in the house to call. Witness added that later Higgs telephoned for doctors and Constable Murphy. She then noticed the fyar door open and went out and called Mr. J. Wilson, the porter, who lived in a detached cottage. Who were living in the hotel that night?—Mr. Erase.-, myself, the two children, a niece of thirteen, Alwyn Walton, and Higgs. When you went to bed what was the position of the doors? —They were wide open, and the balcony windows were open. They were always open in summer. On the balcony there is another door at the top of the fire escape. Was it open?—l could not say. It was open the day before. Mrs. Fraser next told of the party in the hotel on the night of November 16. The party included 2\lrs. Wood, Mrs. Alex. Thompson, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Welsh, The latter left early. They were in the office at 9 o’clock. Mesdames Wood and Thompson and Mr. Russell and witness were there. Witness’ husband joined them after in the bar. What was his condition?—He seemed merry. What was the condition of the rest of the party?—Mrs. Thompson seemed a bit merry. Mr. Fraser had shouted her some drinks for paying an account in the bar. What time did the party break up?— We did not take any notice of time. I cannot say exactly. Who was the first to leave?—Mr. Wood. Who left next? —Mrs. Thompson and Russell. That was about .11 o’clock. Did any of them return?—Yes, Russell. How long after he had gone?—l: might have been about ten minute' s . We were having a sandwich in the kitchen. Who were there?—Mr. Wilson, Mr. Fraser, myself, and Russell. When he returned do you remember your daughter, Joyce, coming down? — No. I don’t. How long did Russell remain in the kitchen?—Eight to nine minutes. It did not seem longer. . By which way did he leave the premises?—l am not surei Was Russell the last of the party . to leave? —Yes.

How long after did you go to bed? —Almost immediately. What was your husband’s condition? —He was quite merry then, not very much more than at eight. Which side of the bed did you occupy?—l slept next to the light, switches. My husband occupied the side on the fireplace side of the room. Did you have any conversation with your husband before retiring?—He said that he was too tired and could not be bothered. Did your husbanj have any serio is differences with anyone dining his term as licensee? —He quarrelled wi-.li so many people. Thev were just men’s quarrels after a few drinks. When your husband was sob- r 1 as he quarrelsome?—He was very quick tempered. During your married life were there any serious differences between you?— No, we were always very happy. Had you ever complained to him about his conduct with other women? —No. Did you always find your husband truthful?—Yes. Have you ever complained to anyone, else about your husband’s conduct with other women? —I did mention it to his mother, not exactly complaining. What was the nature of the complaint?—Not exactly about women. Until the time of the tragedy had you any knowledge that he was intimate with other women? Have you any knowledge of him being intimate with any particularly woman?—Only what you told me after the tragedy.” "Witness said that she remembered her husband going to the North Island in October. He was away for three weeks. She met her husband in Wellington later. The lunch adjournment was then taken. When the inquest was resumed after lunch, Mr. Burns, appearing for Higgs, asked whether Higgs’ interest i n tlic proceedings was sufficient to allow counsel to cross-examine witnesses. The magistrate held- that as Higgs was merely a witness whose only concern was to tell the whole truth, he < ould not allow Higgs to be represented, but out of courtesy he would allow Air. Burns to remain and to ask questions through him (the magistrate). Examination Resumed Cliiel-L'etective Dunlop resumed his examination of Airs. Eraser. Detecti\e Dunlop: How long wore you with your husband in Wellington? —.Six days. Were you continuously m tils company?—Yes, for the first lour trays m the daytime. And for the last four days?—l did mt know ivhere he was. Did that create any suspicion in your niinu? —Yes. Did you then ascertain whether lie was intimate with a woman in Wellington ' —N o. Was there any suggestion of leaving your liiisb-'.nd?—Never. Witness denied that there had ever been disputes between her husband and herself about the allowance he made Witness said it was her custom to be ou a very low pillow. tine d‘d not need one at all. There were two pillows on her side of the bed on the night oi the tragedy. She did not rest liei hea l on the top pillow ar all. When Iho beci was ex am med by tne police re the morning after the muraer them was no imprcbs of a Lead on her pillow. She always lay right down in the bud below the pillow. Detective Dunlop: When you were awakened by the explosion, did you gut Gut of bed in a hurry F—-it was too awful. I don’t remexuoer nliuc 1 did. Did you throw the clotaes back? — The Inst thing I thought was that I was shot in the throat. How did you come to the conclusion that your husband had been shot? By the awful explosion and the blood on the bed. 1 saw him on the floor. Apart from that was there anything else to indicate to you tnac ne had been shot?—No. only the bang in the room. I seemed to know men immediately. Had your husband ever mentioned i'ear of any person?—He never mentioned any person, but fie was afraid of something or somebody. 1 did not know what it was. If it is said that the side or the bed occupied by you showed no signs of having been occupied, what reply would you make?—l know it is untrue. You yourself saw a crease on tne sheet where I was lying, and a mark on the pillow. The Coroner; Ou the pillow? Witness: Yes, where my head always rested on the edge of the pillow. Husband’s Will Witness, in reply to oilier questions, said she knew she was .he sole beneficiary under her husband's will made in 1927. He had never mentioned the altering of the will. She had seen her husband at tlic Treiilliaiu races with a young woman, but she haa no suspicion of intimate relations between the two. She was not at all concerned when she saw thenu Witness said that her onry concern in Wellington was caused by a remark of her husband that he was sick of life, and a suggestion that tie would commit suicide. It was because of this that she Lad made enquiries as to his whereabouts. On the last two days of their stay in Wellington he had seemca worried, but she knew of no reason lor his worry. She had held the opinion since his death that her husband was slightly mental. She had thought it strange that he should get letters from a girl and siiow them to customers in the bar and laugh over them, yhe had heard about the letters from tne men themselves a fortnight after the tragedy. The Chief Detective: Did you ever tell anyone that you thought your husband not all there? —I den-t remember. Did you ever tell anyone that Don was queer before his tlcatn, and he was better dead than like that?—i don’t remember. I might Liave said that. Witness denied that she had told Airs. Fraser senior, who was at the funeral, that the police would never’find the gun because it was at the bottom of the sea. Witness was questioned about extracts from letters relating to a projected trip to Sydney. It was suggested to her that she and her daughter were going, but witness said she and her husband were going, but she knew in August that they were not going. Another of Fraser’s letters referred to a quarrel between himself ana his wife, which ended in an. agreement co separate. Witness said (here rai not a word of truth in it. Mr. Thomas objected to the quotation of these letters, which h c said were written by Fraser to mistresses,

making excuses. Other extracts were read from [ Fraser’s letters indicating that he was i unhappv with his wife, that it wont 1 i soon end. that she had threatened to I divorce him. and concluding: “I wish '■ou were mistress here.” Witness said the statements were not true. She could not understand what had made her husband write such trash. Her husband had not had a gun. She denied that when ho wont to bed on the night of the murder he was drunk. He was merely “veiy. verv merrv.” The Court adjourned with Airs. Fraser sti 11 in the box.