The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-01-26
SAD FATE. ,

J. G. Fraker, late president of the defanct |
first national bank of Wichita, had 50 lit |
out" He had been watched ever since |
made his escape. 1t is intimated that his |
whereabouts are known, but it is not
stated whether steps will be taken to
capture him or not. The worst feature Of
this business IL that it has been reported |
by some ever since the bank collapsed |
that Mr.. Fraker had been guilty OF dis
honest action in connection with the |
management OF the bank, and his running |
away tends rather to augment this feel |
ing than otherwise. Had he stood and
IS faced the music - till all its affairs were
investigated and settled, and come out
with clean character, which would be
worth more to him than all the money he
ever saw, his friends would have rejoiced.
and stood by him to the last. But it is
now generally conceded that his course
will not bear daylight.
We regret the late of this man. He
came to EmpOria as Methodist preacher
in 1850. he was active and earnest, and
became popular and trusted by all who
knew him. 1t was by his efforts that
money was raised to erect the Methodist
| church in this city. He afterwards quit
preaching and opened q carpenter shop.
Soon he became candidate for county
treasurer. and was twice elected to the
| Office. He also entered into other branches
OF business, after his election. He be-
iieved in having several ''irons in the
ire' at once. He had great energy. but
was known to be careless and slouchy in
his business affairs. But those who knew
him well had unlimited confidence in his
honesty. He was one Of those men whom
many trusted softr as not to take receipts
for money paid him. They did this to
tleir sorrow, as some OF them afterwar DIS
found out. But they believed him care
less rather than dishonest. He got wild
and bought everything. One month he
J would be reported worth 1000, and the
next penniless. He was q regular Col.
Mulberry Sellers. He saw millions in
everything, and especially in bunch OF
old Texas steers, or a second hand stock
Of dry goods.
Before leaving here, his three or four
years administration IS treasurer was
thoroughly overhauled, by three differ
ent commissioners. Neither head nor tail,
beginning or ending, could be made from
his books. Finally some sort OF COM
promise was adopted, and he was receipt
ed 20 in full. We think he went from
here to EIdoradO. Then wichita began
to offer openings for men of speculative
turn, men Of finsReial genius and expan-
sIve views like Fraker. 1t is but proper
to say, though, that before leaving here,
the confidence of many OF his old friends
had been badly shaken, by his change
from devout spiritual life to oFerreaehing
worldly -mindedness, and by few rather
scaly tricks he had been caught in. We
heard from Wichita that Fraker was to
open q national bank there. There was q
broad grin on the faces OF those who knew
him, and knowing wink went round,
which said ''you'll hear from him before
lonR.o These prognosticated truly 1t
has been stated that he actually went INTO
the bank with 81 200 Of borrowed money.
He had got to that point in finances,
where men said, ''he is sharp" This
and 81 200 was sufficient in a new coun-
try, and many . bank has probably been
established on even smaller capital and
cheek. There was an awful business in
| tue new tONns anu tue Donk HourlSneO.
There were believed to be some financial
~ sound me in the concern and some
that were honest. The new bank had q
big run, and even IN '73 was propped up
and carried over the troubled sea, al
though jostled rather roughly against the
rocks But the concern was always be-
lIeTed to be unstable, and warnings were
now and then thrown out. The story il
told. 1t went down, aud carried many
trusted friends Of the ex-Reverend presl-
dent into ruin. Among the rest were sew.
eral ministers, whS had trusted their al
to Fraksr's honesty. But the saddesi
part Of the story is Fr&ker's downfall
from the high esteem In which he WA
formerly held by all who knew him. He
risked ali in grasping for money, and thu
. blacAness OF ruin now oYeFshadows him
and will follow him to that bourne from
which no traveller returns. Ills feputa
ton was priceless. He squanaered it fol
pottage. There IL = lesson In Fraker'l
Z brief career.