The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-03
NOT DEAD BUT LIvETH
\ NOTED INSURANCE SWINDLER
CAPTURED IN THE WOODS
OF MINNESOTA.
HAD BEEN REPORTED DROWNED


They Saw Him go to the Bottom in
the Mississippi River.-He Had Just
Taken ont s58,0OO Insurance and
the Case was Fought Stubbornly
Through all the Courts.
DULUTH, Mimi, Sept. q George
Fraker, of Topeka, Kan, the man who
was supposed to have been drowned in
the Mississippi river two years ago, was
captured in the woods near Tower,
Mimi, yesterday. Fraker's life was in
sured for $58, 000 and the heirs brought
suit in the Kansas courts to recover.
The case went TO the Supreme Court,
| and was one of the most famous insur-
ance cases Of the country. The in5urance
companies were defeated in the final de-
cision, it being decided last month.
1t was always maintained by the CON-
panies that Fraker was alive but his
whereabouts were unknown. Recently it
became known in some way that Fraker
was near Tower, where he was known
under the alias of Schnell Attorney
Robert I. Harris and Deputy Sheriff
Wilkinson, of Topeka, came here aud
organized party to search for him.
capture was effected in a strategic man
ner. He was brought to Duluth to-day
and was taken to Topeka at once.
Fraker will go without a re-
quisition. He has been living near
Tower for six months. He admit
ted his identity and said he did not
leave home on purpose to defraud the
companies, but that while he was out in
Missouri River he fell in. He swan
across the river and got on land. The
next day he read in the papers that he
was drowned, and thought he would
carry out the deception and have his
heirs collect the insurance.
Fraker arrived in Duluth to-day at
1890 in charge of Deputy Sheriff Walker
and Attorney Herrick. He admits his
identity, and will return to Kansas at
once.
The case is one of great interest, be-
cause of a reward of $40, 900, which was
offered for his capture. Fraker is
physician, and, up to the latter part of
1898, was physician to st. Elmo Hotel,
the leading hotel in Excelsior Springs, a
health resort near Kansas City.
Together with seven or eight compan-
ions, the doctor went fishing on the
Missouri river one day, and after dark,
while in company of George Harvey,
James Triplett and J. Crowley, a negro,
he disappeared and was seen no more
These parties afterwards swore positively
that they witnessed his drowning while
rowing in leaky boat, but after a
strict search his body could net be re
covered. Some three or four months
previous he began loading up
with life insurance, taking total
of $58, 900. After his disappear
ance the insurance companies held
a conference and discovered that whEe
the doctors income was only about ST.
800 year, his premiums amounted to
81, 900 annually. Besides this George
Harvey and James Triplett, who sworo
to having witnessed Fraker's death were
men of bad character, Harvey being ar
rested only the other day in Eastern
Missouri, charged with having committed
burglary in New Mexico Triplett was
well known character in Indian Terri
tory, and was said to have been
drowned short time ago.
Before going on his fishing excursion
Fraker had drawn all his money from
the. bank, saying he was aboutl going to
California to bring home the orphan
children of his deceased uncle. Forty
thousand of insurance money was pay
able to his brother-in law in trust for
the children, DIR. Fraker. who had
practlced medicine for eight years, was
an active leader in Sunday school work,
but held rather peculiar views on re-
ligious subjects.
Afte.ea thorough investigation all the
companies except the Equitable refused
to pay the claims, whereupOn James E.
Lincoln, the executor Of the will brought
suit in the District Court at Liberty,
Mo-, which was afterwards transferred
to the United States Circuit Court at
Kansas City. Robert Herrick was ap-
pointed Jointly to conduct the case
for the companies, and was as
sisted by eminent legal talent. In the
latter part of 1894, after an extremely
sensational trial lasting two weeks, in
December, 1894, the jury acting under
positive instructions from the court de-
clared for the defense. A new trial was
granted on technical points, but in Feb
ruary, 1895, judgment was given for the
full amount and stay of execution
granted for six months until August 19,
1885, On that date tire full amount was
paid to the executor and the companies
withdrew their offer of $40, 600 reward.
Herrick obtained a clue in the latter
pf TT of 1894 which he has patiently fol-
10 6ed ever since until about week ago,
he learned the whereabouts and assumed
the name of the doctor. Thursday night
he arrived in Tower, talked with John
wilkinson, Chief of Police of Topeka,
to assist in taking Fraker back. They
learned that DR.. Fraker went by the
name of Schnell, and lived with a young
man in a woodsman's hut four miles
from town.
Fraker thought he had been arrested
for killing game cut of season, as Phil
lip was also game warden. When the
warrant was read to him he was thun-