The record-union., 1895-09-03
Captured by Officers in the Wilds
of Northern Minnesota.
A LARGE REWARD FOR HIS ARREST
HAD 'BEEN OFFERED.
Supposed to Rave Planned One of the
Most Gigantic and Successful In
surance SwIndles of Modern Times
The Prisoner VIII be Taken to
Kansas to Stand Trial for His
Crimes.


of \ orthern Minnesota, fifty miles from
Postoffice, with only boy for COM
panion, DR.. George w. FralSer, who
planned one of the most gigantic and sue
cessful insurance swindles of modern
times, was to-day captured by officers
who have been on his track for the pas t
two years. Up to August 18th last there
was standing reward of $780, 900 for his
arrest offered by the insurance COM
panies.
In the latter part of 1898 DR.. George w.
Fraker was physician to st. Elmo Hotel,
the leading hotel in Excelsior Springs,
the famous health resort near Kansas
City. Together with seven or eight COM
panions, the doctor went fishing on the
Missouri River one day. and after dark,
while in the company of George Harry,
James Triplet and Jake Crowley, ne
gro, he disappeared and was seen no
more. These three parties afterward
swore positively that they witnessed his
drowning while rowing in a leaky boat,
but after a strict search his body could
not be found.
Some three or four months previous to
this he began loading up with life insur-
ance, taking 900 in the Kansas Mutual
Life of Topeka, $4,000 III the Hartford
Lille and an annuity OF $1,000 in the
Providence Savings Life of New York
and $1,000 in the benevolent societies OF
that place. a total of $4,000. George
Harry and James Triplet, who swore TO
having witnessed Fraker's death, were
men of bad character, Harry being ar
rested only the other day in Eastern
Missouri on charge of having COM
mitted burglary in New Mexico. TrIDlet
was a well-known character in the In
dian Territory, and was sentenced to be
hanged short time ago.
Before going on his fishing excursion.
Fraker had drawn all his money from
the bank, saying he was about going TO
California to bring home the orphan
children OF his deceased uncle. Forty
thousand dollars of the insurance money
was paid to his brother-in-law in trust
for the children.
After thorough investigation all the
companies. except the Equita bic, refused
TO pay claims. whereupon James Lin
coin, executor OF the will, brought suit
III the District Court at Liberty, NJ o.,
which was aiterward transferred to the
United States Circuit Court at Kansas
City. Robert 4. Herrick was appointed
Jointly to conduct the case for the COM
panies and was assisted by eminent legal
intensely sensational trial, lasting two
weeks. .Nthe jury declared for the defense.
A new trial was granted on technical
points, but in February, 1885, judgment
was rendered for the full amount and
stay of execution granted for six months.
In August. 1885, the full amount was
paid to the executors and the companies
withdrew their offer OF $4,000 reward.
Herrick obtained a clue in the latter
part OF 1894. which ne has patiently fol-
lowed ever since, until a week ago he
learned the whereabouts and assumed
name of the doctor. On Thursday night
he arrived in Tower, together with John
Wilkinson, Chief OF Police at Topeka, TO
assist in taking Fraker back. They
learned that Fraker went by the name of
Schnell, and lived with q young man in
woodman's hut, fifty miles from Tower
on the Itasca County road. a warrant
was secured in Tower, and Sunday morn
ing, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Archie Philip, they started for the place.
Fraker and the boy were arrested and
handcutfed, ana when the warrant was
read fraker was thunderstruck, bat adj
mitted his identity at once. He was
brought to town, together with his COM
pauion.
Fraker readily agreed to accompany
the officers TO Missouri without waiting
for eXtradition papers, and was taken
down this morning. In conversation he
stated that be had expected his relatives
to get portion OF the insurance money
and himself some also. lie had been
greatly benefited, he said, by the water of
a spring whore he stopped. aud had
about made arrangements to buy the
place. He would have spent $4,000, he
said in improving the place
DR.. Fraker vas brought 10 Duluth this
noon on the Iron Range train in charge of
Deputy Sheriff Philip, accompanied by
Robert T. Herrick Of Topeka, kas. He
was lodged in Jail. pending his removal
to Topeka, which Will take place as soon
as the necessary formelities are observed