STILL NO CLUE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 693, 20 November 1933, Page 5

STILL NO CLUE

(Press Assn.-

POLICE MAKING CLOSE SEAROH OF WHOLE DISTRICT HAD NO ENEMIES

— By Telegraph— Copyrlght).

Christchurch, Saturday . Whether1 Mr. Donald Fraser, licensee of the Racecourse Hotel at Riccarton, who was shot dead early yesterday cmiorninig, was sleeping when he was murdered or whether he saw his assailant will probably never be known. There are -two entrances to the Fraser's bedroom. The one ordinarily used is from the interior and the other is by way of a French window, which opens on to a balcony over the front door. Entrance by this balcony would present no difficulty, as there is an iron fire escape ladder at one side of the balcony. The escape of the murderer by Wtay 'of the balcony would have been even easier. The nearest neighbours are some distance away and nobody outside the hotel heard the shot. None of deceased's friends who were seen to-day could form any theory as t'o a motive for th'e murder. - No Robbery Attempted Considerable sums of money were found by the police in clothing and in drawers in the bedroom in -which Mr. Fraser was shot apd it is apparent that robbery was not the motive for the crime. Last night Mr. and Mrs. Fraser entertained two friends, a man and his wife, and it is h.elieved that th'ey did not retire until a fairly late Kour. It is stated that one of Mr.J Fraser's relatives died some months ago, leaving him a legacy of several thousand pounds. The police search of a wide area in the neighbourhood of the h'otel was very thorough. They had little hope of finding the murderer, but there ,was a possibility of his having thrown away the gun and for this a very careful search was made by parties of men walking in line at a few yards distance. Hediges, trees and all heavy growth were carefully ex--amined. While this search went on out of doors, police oificers in the hotel questioned all who might be presumed to have any knowledge of events. Fired Both IRarrels It is believed that th'e murderer used a double-barrelled gun and that he fired both barrels. It is also believed that he entered Mr. Fraser's bedroom by climbing the fire escape to the balcony and then Teaching the bedroom through French' doors. On the stonework of the balcony were found marks and on a concrete wall beneath marks as of boots. A Prenieditated Crime No doubt remains that the crime was premeditated that Mr. Fraser was shot by a person well acquainted with the lay-out and general run of the hotel. Bedding and two drinking glasses have been removed from the bedroom and taken to the central station for further examination. In addition correspondence addressed to Mr. Fraser from "Wellington was intercepted at the door of the hotel yesterday by a detective, and is in the hands of the police. Mrs. Fraser is bearing up well. She had a good night's sleep and breakfasted' with the family. She has now been joined by her brothers, Mr. Alan "Walton (who flew over from the Coast yesterday), and Mr. Leslie Walton, of Clarksville, near Greymouth. Men employed in or near the hotel are mystified by the tragedy. "As far as I know he did not have an enemy in the world, and the whole thing is a complete mystery to me." states Mr. Fred Douglas, th'e barman.