The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-06-08


at LavenwOrth, having been
brought there q few days ago by
Deputy u. s. Marshal Jones, of
Wichita. He was caught near Fort
Quitman, Texas. 1t seems that Mr..
Jones had shrewdly guessed the
route thai Fraker would take, and
had furnished the officers through
the wild region travelled by him,
with photographs and other means
of detection. At the time Of Fra
ker's escape Jones followed him to
Santa Fe, New Mexico, and arrived
there only two days after the pur-
sued man had left. Losing all trace
Of Fraker at Santa Fe, Jones re-
turned, but did not give up the use
of all efforts to catch him. Fraker
made his way from Pueblo to Santa
Fe, and thence down the Rio Grande
to Ysleta, in the northwestern
county of Texas, a distance of over
twelve hundred miles, on foot, du-
ring the winter. His hsrdships and
sufferings must have been very
great. Most of the time he was out
of money, but at some point on the
Rio Grande he received $10O sent
him by his wife, through friends
east. AT Ysleta-spelled Isleta
on the maps-he spent several
weeks. He assumed the garb of a
land buyer. Here he was identified
by his photograph in the hands of
the Sheriff of the wild and sparsely
settled county of Elpaso. The Off
Ger did not deem it wise to arrest
him, believing he would be released
on habess corpus. He communica-
ted with Jones, who furnished the
papers for his arrest and detention
till his arrival. Meantime Fraker
had made his way down the Rie
Grande to Fort Quitman, with a
train of freighters. 1t was at this
place his arrest was made. When
the officers came upon him he en-
deavored to make his escape through
the chaparral, and when the deputy
sheriff pursued and pressed him
closely, he drew revolver and
they exchanged five or six shots at
each other. He was finally flanked
by assistants and 'Etaken ln." From
Fort Quitmap, tedious journey of
TOO miles had to be made, to Austin
Texas, the nearest railroad station.
From there he was brought to Leav-
enworth and lodged in Jail.
While our heart is filled with sor-
row for the fate of this gentleman,
yet we must remember that justice
has her work also. Fraker is man
who cannot plead ignorance of the
law or the result of it's violation.
For many years he had preached
better Things to US here and else
where. He was a man that exerted
q good influence at one time, and
had he not fallen a victim to the de-
sire for riches, and thus destroyed
that good influence, he would have
gone out of the world leaving be-
hind him the good effects of well
spent life, which would have reach
ed generations after him. This is
the worst feature of his fall. All the
time he was committing crime, and
he went frsm bad to worse through
series of years, he must have real
lied the consequences that would
inevitably follow. His old friends
are shocked and deeply hurt that
one they thought strong should
have fallen so low. At the fall OF
many men of pretensions, even init
mate friends are not much disap-
pointed, because there is something
about them that tells the story OF
their mate corruption, and hence
they are not implicitly trusted. Fra
ker was so trusted by thousands o.
people, and his fall Is felt with pain
Knowing him tolerably well since
1858, knowing his career in religious
and business matters, we cannot rio
ourself of the feeling that his crimes
were committed deliberately, and
therefore are the less excusable
We think we have q reasonable de
gree of that good thing we all 81
much need, charity, and we wisl
this whitest robed and noblest O
the graces could hide the hideou
sins of this man, but we do not SCI
how they can. Justice must hay,
her perfect work. We trust the oil
spirit which it is evident covetous
ness, In it's meanest sense, drove on
of him, will come to him and com
fort him In his sorrow and trouble