RIGCARTON TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 10

RIGCARTON TRAGEDY

INQUEST CONTINUED MRS. FRASER’S EVIDENCE DETECTIVE’S QUESTIONS ( Per Press Association ). CHRISTCHURCH, June 29. The inquest into the death of Donald Fraser, who was shot in bed at the Riccarton Racecourse Hotel in November, was resumed to-day. Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser was again in the box. Chief Detective Dunlop continued his examination with regard to the brushing of the pillow. “You told us you remembered doing so in the presence of Wilson and Constable Murphy ? ’' —‘ ‘ Yes. ’’ “Why do you remember that incident so clearly? You said nothing about that on November 17.’’—“1 suppose if I didn't it was because I was not asked it. I think I put it in the statement. I had some fluff on my hair as was on the pillow.'* The Coroner: “How did it get on the pillow. You said you were not lying on the pillow?’’—“l was on the edge of it.” The Chief Detective: “The statement regarding Wilson and Constable Murphy seeing it docs not appear in the statement.”—“l know Constable Murphy gave it in his statement, because he told me. ’' “What was the practice of your husband with regard to the keys of the bar?” —“When ho went to bod he generally put them on the cabinet by the bed near the torch.” “Ts that cabinet on your side? ' — “Yes.” “And do you know that the keys were on the cabinet on the day of the. tragedy?”—“l don’t remember now.” “Have you any recollection of his taking the keys down when he went to answer the door?”—“I did not see. ; ’ “How did you get into the bar at 2 a.m.?”—“The door was ajar.” The Chief Detective: “Yesterday you said that a car pulled up at the hotel?”—“Yes.” “On November 17 you said: 1 think that there was a car pulled up in front of the hotel just before the bell rang.’ Now which of those two statements?” “Some things are clearer in my mind to-day; some aic not as clear.' I suppc-sc the one ou November 17.” “Do you remember telling Detec-tive-Sergeant Jarrold that from tne fact of the police searching for your lover you felt annoyed?” Mr.- Thomas: “That presupposes that Mrs. Fraser had a lover, which is strenuously denied. It is absolutely untrue. She has always denied it. The Chief Detective: “You felt sore?” —“Yes. I was. I said I was very upset for some time prior to the tragedy.” “Do you remember going Into town one afternoon?” —‘‘I went in early everv Thursday afternoon.” “And when you got home once yc-ur husband was annoyed at you being out late?” —“Yes.” “And you told him you had been out with your lover?” “I did nc-t say that; it is not true. I told Deteclive Jarrold exactly what happened. It would be about 11.10 when I go home. My husband seemed very annoyed that I should stop cut for tea,

and go to the pictures all in one night. Ho said, ‘I never know where you go on these Thursdays in town. I got annoyed and said, ‘Don t you. I’ve got a lover.’ My reason lor sayinn- that was that he seemed so angry and suspicious. That is why I made the remark, I was so annoyed, but 1 did not have a lover.” ‘‘Did you ever sleep on the side ot the bed occupied by your husband on November 16?”—“X bid only once or twice.” . v r That concluded the examination *>J the Chief Detective at 11 o’clock, and Mrs. Fraser bad spent nearly six Fours replying to police questions. Mr. Thomas then proceeded to examine Mrs. Fraser. Witness said that she had not seen the statements she gave to the l >ljl ''- c in November. She was relying strictly on her memory. If there were any slight discrepancies the statements made at the time of the tragedy were more likely to bo correct. Witness had throe drinks the evening before the tragedy and half .a glass of champagne. ‘‘After hearing passages in letters to the other woman, does tha. confirm your view since his death that your husband was not normal? ‘‘After having hoard the passages I don’t know what to think. Except for two or three lines they were all untrue. I can’t behove that he wrote them. I never went to a dance. The Coroner: ‘ I want you to make this clear. When you were awakened by the explosion did you see anj' pe sen in the room?” k°> 1 dld ‘‘You understand that you ■would be awakened instantaneously almost? "J You understand that it would take a person quite a few seconds after the discharge of the gun to turn round and leave the room? ’ Witness: “The bed is not far fiom the windows.” The Coroner: ‘‘Yes I know. Di you see anyone?”-'‘l d ' d not see anyone.” .... Mr Mosley: ‘‘All right. The examination of Mrs. Fraser concluded at 11.15 a.m. Daughter’s Evidence. Marv Alwyn Joyce Fraser, daughter of Mrs. Fraser, aged 17, gave evidene of what she saw of the party in the hotel on November 16 dunng the evening. She. also went downstairs to get a book and towel. She returned upstairs and went to sleep shortly after 10 o’clock. The occasion when she went to get the book was the only time she was outside, apart from being outside talking for a time to two bow. It was at. the back ot ho hotel. She met them at the dance at the racecourse. She dld ” ot know their names, and had not se them since. It was not arranged that she should meet them. She knew' they were there when she went down for’ the towel. They waited for her to come down again. They were not local boys. She thought they had come tor a drink, but would not be sure. The boys were in the backyard just by t ie door. After that she came tn and stood at the bottom of the stairs. Her mother did not know she had been out. Coroner’s Warning. At this stage the coroner broke in on the evidence to warn Mrs. Fraser, who was sitting with Mr. Thomas in

the front row of the solicitors’ benches: ‘‘You must nut signal at all to your daughter, Airs. Fraser,” said the coroner. “If you do I will order you outside. You mind your business just now.’’ Air. Thomas: “Unfortunately, Airs. Fraser is now learning something for the first time about her daughter being out. I think it would be better if Airs. Fraser sat at the back of the Court.' ’ Airs. Fraser was given a chair by the fire at the rear. Air. Alosley: “1 have seer, her movements two or three times. I have been watching her very carefully.” Continuing, witness said that she had not thought it necessary before to say anything about the boys being there. She did not know anyone who was at the jubilee dance who- knew the boys. Continuing, she said that later in the night she was awakened by her mother, who was calling to Higgs. She thought her mother said, “Don’s been shot.” Higgs then got out of bed. Her mother had a nightdress on. They then went to- her mother s bedroom. ~T ‘‘And- when you got there? 1 just went inside the door and looked round the other side of the bed. “And what did you see?” Witness began to cry. Mr. Thomas: Can’t we leave that question ? The Chief Detective agreed. “Did Higgs come into the room? —“I don’t think so.” “The last time you saw your father alive was when you were down in the office that night?”—“Y’es.” “What was his condition He seemed very happy and lively. “Did you and your dad get on Hapiiilv?” —“Yes.” , “Do you know of any quarrels between your > mother and dad? ‘ “Whatw-as that?’ '-‘‘I was out at th “Di n d e 'your father and mother always occupy the same room? The Court adjourned at 12.55 p.m. The examination of Miss Fraser continued after lunch. Do you know if your father had any bad friends or enemies?—No. Had you noticed queerness in your father? No. Boarder’s Evidence Alfred Sidney Higgs, studmaster, of Ri'ccarton, said he first, knew Fraser when ho went to board at the hotel in February, 1933. He boarded there till shortlv* after Fraser’s death, and during that time was the only permanent boarder in the hotel. The Chief Detective: Do you know whether Fraser often entertained visitors in the office?—A fair number of customers called after hours. Soijie went into the bar and some into the office. Did. you ever join them? —I did until a month before Fraser’s death. Did you notice anything strange in the Frasers’ conduct toward one another?—The Frasers seemed to be drifting apart in the last two months. I don’t know what went wrong. At the time you first became a boarder was their life normal and happy?—They seemed a very happy couple and very fond of each other. Were there disagreements over the •children? —Yes. Fraser strongly objected to his daughter going out at night, and Airs Fraser was just the reverse. She thought Fraser was just a little hard on the girl. Did the mother and daughter take sides against the father?—Yes. She seemed passionately fond of the mother and disliked her father very much. About twp or three weeks before Fraser’s death did you hoar any remark by Fraser to his wife? —I did. I was passing the blue room and I heard him say, “I have been watching you for the past two or three months.’’ The reply was inaudible. In further evidence, Higgs said that on the evening of November 16, Fraser seemed about three-parts drunk. He was “pretty well stunned.” It was not Fraser’s habit to take too much liquor. On that evening he seemed silly and senseless. Witness went to

bis room at 9.45, and did not- como out again. He was awakened by shrieking voices outside his room. Mrs Eraser and Joyce came to the door of his room, and one of them switched on his light. Both were talking. Witness told them to be calm and to pull themselves together. Joyce said, “Come, quick. Hurry up!’’ and Mrs Fraser said, “Don’s been shot!” Witness got up and went with Airs Fraser and Joyce to Fraser’s room. There he saw bloodstains and the body lying face downwards very nearly at right angles to the bed. He noticed blood an the sheet where Fraser had been lying, but noticed no wound on the body. When he was examining the body he thought he saw Fraser’s lower jaw move once. Ho saw no firearm in the room. 4 He left the room and at Airs Fraser’s

request rang for a doctor. He succeeded in calling a doctor. Picked Something Up At 2.25 a.in. Mrs Fraser was standing at the door of the office. She stepped in a pace and picked something off the floor. Witness asked her what it was, but she kept it in her hand. It was a triangular piece of white celluloid or bone. Wilson came in from, the back and went upstairs with Mrs Fraser and Joyce, and witness, without their knowledge, rang the Central Police Station. He noticed that the bar-room door was wide open. This was most unusual. The polAe, and then the doctor, arrived. Witness stayed downstairs until Constable Murphy went upstairs, and witness went with him. Doctor Hall and witness examined the bed. Witness said the bed gave the appearance of having been slept in only on the side occupied by the murdered man. He had some conversation with Mrs Fraser on the night of the murder. She said she had been questioned by the detectives for four or five hours. She said to witness, “You renicmoer what was said and done this morning, don’t you? Do you remember when 1 went into the bedroom with you I went over to the bed and shook up the pillow?’’ Witness replied, “Ido not.’’ She then said, “It must have been when Jack (the porter) was there.’’ Witness said, “It must have been,’* and then walked away. Ho did not discuss the case with Mrs Fraser after that. Witness said he did not hear the explosion or explosions when Fraser was shot. Witness was a heavy sleeper. He was present when Dr. Hall examined the bed and bedclothes. Constable Murphy examined them first. He saw shotholes on the bedclothes when he was in the room the first time. The room was quite clear. There was no smell of powder and no smoke. The Court adjourned until Monday. The case will probably occupy two more days.