The haunted hotel

In the early hours of November 17, 1933, two shotgun blasts rang out at the Riccarton Racecourse Hotel.
Donald Fraser, the abrasive, violent and disliked manager who had been in a drunken sleep, was killed. Beside him, his wife Elizabeth was unharmed.
The couple had managed the hotel for some time and often drank with patrons, even after hours at a time when it was supposed to be six o clock closing.
This night was no different, the pair had been in the bar and Donald was apparently very drunk. They went up to bed about midnight.
All Elizabeth could remember was at some stage the doorbell rang and that Donald got up. The next thing she knew was the shotgun blast.
The police investigation was huge, with police travelling up and down the country interviewing people.
The discovery of a footprint on the landing of the fire escape out the couple’s bedroom was thought to be a major clue. It was thought to be rubber soled shoes but turned out to be someone unrelated to the crime.
Elizabeth was questioned but there was nothing to prove it could have been her.
So police offered a £600 reward.
Police did turn up that Donald has been having an affair with a Wellington woman Eileen Hardcastle. Elizabeth knew and had argued with him about it previously. She was also the beneficiary of his will, some £670.
But in the end no one was charged and the inquest determined he had been murdered by someone unknown.
Donald was buried at St Peter’s Anglican Churchyard in Christchurch where his headstone says "At Rest".
Except that legend says he is not, with the hotel said to be haunted by Donald’s ghost who walks the halls looking for his murderer.
Happy Halloween weekend everyone!