Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-07
FRAKER is FOUND.
The Missing Doctor Captured in the
Woods Of Minnesota.
Caught by Shrewd Detectives from Topeka
The Doctor Surrendered Without
a Struggle and Was at Once
Started Back.

DULUTH, Mimi, Sept. 3.-Dr George
w. Fraker, of Excelsior Springs, No,
the man who was supposed to have
been drowned in the Missouri river two
years ago, and to whose heirs the last
of SIS, 900 was recently paid in Kansas
City, was captured in the woods near
Tower, Mimi, Sunday. 1t was al
ways maintained by the companies
that Fraker was alive, but his
whereabouts were unknown. Recent
iy it became known in some way
that Fraker was near Tower, where he
was known under the alias of Sch nell,
and Attorney Robert L. Herrick and
Chief of Police Wilkerson, of Topeka,
came here and organized party to
search for him. He was found in the
woods and his capture was effected by
strategy. He was brought to Duluth
yesterday and will be taken to Topeka
at once, going without requisition.
Fraker had been living ear Tower
for six months. He admitted his
identity and said that he did not leave
home on purpose to defraud the COM
panies. but that while he was near the
Missouri river he fell in. He swan across
the river and got on the land. The
next day he read in the papers that he
had been drowned and concluded to
carry out the deception and allow the
heirs to collect the insurance.
Fraker Will Be Prosecuted.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. 3.-Oficers
of the insurance companies assert
there is no doubt that the man cap
tured at Tower Mimi. is DIR. G. W.
Fraker. r. T. Herrick, the insurance
attorney, has been working on a secret
clew for six months. How he received
this clew Mr.. Herrick refuses now to
divulge. A week ago he was sure he
had found him, and he and Mr.. Wi-ker.
son, of Topeka, started for Minnesota.
Herrick and Wilkerson reached
Tower on Saturday afternoon and
made inquiries of several people as to
whether they had seen a person an
swering to a description which he gave.
He described man of about 40 years
of age, smoothly shaver, but no one
could tell him of any such per-
on having been seen in that section.
Finally, however, he met man who
was certain that the person describ bed
was in the city on the morning of that
very day, but said to him, ''he had
sideburns instead of being smoothly
shaven."
Mr.. Herrick at once concluded that
the man described was the person for
whom he was looking, and, securing
the services of Deputy Sheriff Phillips,
at once supplied themselves with
provisions and proceeded into the
woods 20 miles from Tower, where
they came across hut, the
sole occupant of which was man who,
in answer to an inquiry, said that he
was the servant of William Schnell.
The officers asked him where Schnell
was and he replied that he was out
hunting. In order to prevent the serv-
ant from giving an alarm upon the
approach of Schnell, they handcuffed
him and proceeded on their way.
About miles further on, Schne!l,
with gun on tt.a shoulder, was met
and T,as Instantly recognized as the
Supposed dead man, Dr. Fraker. Her
rick engaged him in conversation,
Waen suddenly Phillips seized his arms
and Wilkinson put on the handouts.
EGaker thought he had been arrested
for killing game out of season, as
Phillips was also game warden. When
the warrant was read to him he was
thunderstruck, but admitted his iden-
tity at once. His nerve, however,
never deserted him for an instant, and
he discussed the matter very philo
sophically, saying: ''Well, Jim, glaG
/ don't have to worry about it any
more
Attorneys here are busy preparing
petitions to 6te in the United State!
circuit court here before Judge Foster
of Topeka, sitting in place of judge
Phillips, to restrain j. E. Lincoln
executor of the estate; Georgt
w. McGruder, trustee under tn,
will, and the Commercial bank of Lib
erty from paying out any of the money
paid under judgment by the insurance
companies. Petition will also b,
filed to restrain the probate judge
from disposing of any of the money
he may have in his possession
under the judgment. The heirs have
received $500 in cash. When the cas-
was settled out of court, more than 81,
months ago, an agreement was reached
between the insurance companies ant
the counsel for the heirs whereby tn
final payment of all the moneys Shouts
take place on August 10 last. TIL
money was paid in the form of draft
to the parties that attorneys will tn
to have restrained.
Five indictments have been drawn IL
against Fraker charging him with OF
tanning money by fraud. The indict
ments are based on special section $50
of the revised statutes of Mis-
souri,, which makes it a Grim
to attempt to defraud by a trick
a cheat, a fraud and deception, falls
and fraudulent representation and falls
pretenses. The penalty for each Of
Tense is punishable by not less tina
two years nor more than seven year
In the peniten tiary.