FRASER TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1933, Page 5

FRASER TRAGEDY

STILL UNSOLVED

MURDER WAS PREMEDITATED

(Per 1 ress Association— Copyright )

CHRISTCHURCH, November 19. N o arrest was to-day made in connection with the murde r of Donald Fraser, licensee of Riccarton Hotel,, who, on Friday at 2.30 a.m./ was shot dead in bed. A search for the gun was continued throughout the day in a broken area of scrub and overgrown pasture immediately at the rear of tlie hotel, which was thoroughly beaten, A party of twelve members of the uniformed police thoroughly combed the areas and also searched the bed of a small watercourse without result.

Mrs Fraser, widow of the murdered man, is hearing up well. Sh e had a good night s sleep and she breakfasted with Jier family. She has now been joined by her-brothers, Mr Alan M atloh, 'of Greymouth, who flew over from the Coast on Friday, and Mr Leslie Walton, of Clarkville, near Gl-eyhiouth. ,

It has been established that on Thursday night, Fraser and Mrs Fraser entertained friends. Some champagne was drunk during the evening, and the party did not separate until a late hour. After the party Fraser bade his guests farewell, and. went! to bed.

One of the questions concerns the dress and position of Mr Fraser in bed when the shot was fired. He may have been asleep, but it 'is possible that he was disturbed after liis retirement. He was semi-clothed when found and his position on the floor gives rise to conjecture as to whether he was lying down when he faced the murderer.

The bedding and two drinking glasses have been removed from the bedroom and taken to the.. Central station for further examination. Correspondence addressed to Fraser from Welington was intercepted at the door of the hotel yesterday by a detective, and is in the hands, of ..the. police.

It is understod that Mr Fraser has paid several visits to Wellington in recent months, and police inquires have now been extended to that city! Police investigations up to. the present reveal definitely that all the circumstaces .go to show premeditation of the crime, and that the person who. shot Mr Fraser was well acquainted with the layout and general run of the hotel.

Another definite fact established is that Mr Fraser was not Idled' by someone who was seeking money-, for a considerable sum was found In his room and there had been no attempt to disturb any of the contents of the furniture.

The funeral took place to-day of;the late Donald Fraser. There was an. attendance of a very large number of people. •'

ANOTHER RICCARTON MYSTERY,

“HALF-NAKED MAN” CHASE©

CHRISTCHURCH, November 18,

The murder yesterday morning was not the only sensation.that Riccarton experienced during the past few days. On Sunday night last, a large portion of that district was covered in a chase for a man who had appeared on Riccarton Road wearing only pyjamas and socks. Two 1 constables and a number of residents of the district took part in the chase, but their quarry eluded them in Straven Road, disappearing near the Boys .High School playing field. The matter was first reported to the police by cyclists, and later a woman made a similar complaint. It was at 11.30 o’clock that a young man who was cycling along Riccarton Road, was surprised to see a man clad only in pyjamas and socks turn out of Division Road. and walk along the footpath. The man was behaving in a strange manner. When spoken to lie made no answer but ran and tried to hide himself behind a telegraph post. Other people were passing, among them a woman and her daughter. On reaching home the woman informed her ’son of what she had seen. The son, on going to make investigations, found himself in time to be accepted as a member of a group of men who were setting out to chase the strange individual whose conduct had aroused susnicion. The man did not appear to he armed.

Late on Sunday night. Constable McLeod was aroused by a very excited man who told him that a halfnaked man was being chased through Riccarton, Mr McLeod told the man to wait while lie dressed himself, and disappeared. Two people standing on the footpath near the police station told Constable McLeod that the man had bolted down the road.

Since Sunday, inquiries have been made for the man, but he has not been found.