James Fraser (1839 - 1878)

Born 1839 in Cromdale Inverness Highlands Scotland

Husband of Jane (Hopkirk) Fraser — married 2 Sep 1870 in Edinkillie Morayshire Scotland

Died 19 Jul 1878 at about age 39 in Grantown on Spey Highlands Scotland

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Biography

Police Constable James Fraser was born in 1839 in Cromdale , Inverness Highlands Scotland.He was the son of Duncan & Marjory MacGregor Fraser.

Marriage

James married Jane Hopkirk daughter of John Hopkirk and Margaret Good Hopkirk. James and Jane were married on September 02, 1870 in Edinkillie Morayshire Scotland.

PC Fraser had 13 years of Police Service, firstly with Lossiemouth Burgh Police and then Elginshire force. A native of nearby Cromdale, he had been stationed at Grantown since 1873. Here, PC Fraser lost his life in the line of duty.

Children

James & Jane had 2 children:

: John Frazer b: 1871

: Donald Frazer b: 1873

Death

James Fraser died from a stomach wound inflicted on the July 19, 1878, when he was stabbed while forcing entry to a hotel room in an attempt to arrest a deranged alcoholic who had smashed up his room at the Grand Arms Hotel at Grantown.

The deranged man was Andrew Granger. PC James Fraser had known Mr. Granger for a long time. A full account of the trial of Andrew Granger can be found in the Scottish Law Reporter Volume 16. in http://www.gogglebooks.com

Upon his death, James Fraser was 39 years of age. He was married with three sons and a six year old daughter and occupied the police flat at the police station at Grantown on spey, not 100 yards distance from the hotel where he was fatally stabbed.

Fallen Hero Conmemoration

PC James Fraser , Elginshire Constabulary , died

19 /7 /1878, from stab injuries received in the execution of his duties two days before in Grantown of-on-Spey. PC James Fraser, and PC Thomas King, were the only officers to be murdered in the line of duty, in what was the Northern Constabulary force area.

On Saturday,12th July 2014, a group of members of the North Constabulary Pipe Band visited PC Fraser's grave in Abernethy Churchyard, Nethbridge, to paytheir respects to the fallen officer ( ....and PC Thomas King the of Inverness -shire Constabulary, who was also murdered on duty ( 20 Dec 1898) and who is buried in the same cemetery. Pipe sergeant, Steve Spencer, played the lament " Flowers of the Forest" God Bless the fallen officers.

Note

By a strange quirk of fate the only two officers ever murdered on duty in the Scottish Highlands and Islands both lie in the same lonely cemetery only a matter of 20 yards apart.

The Scottish Memorial comprises three large blue pearl granite stones, which carry the names of all Scottish Police Officers, to have last their lives in the line of duty.

Memorial

The Memorial is located within the grounds of the Scottish College at Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine on Forth Scotland.

Sources

• Web Site: Scottish Police Memorial Trust http://spmtorg.uk/roll.htm

• The Roll of Honor Constable James Fraser Elginshire Constabulary

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Chantigny-4 for starting this profile