The herald., 1895-09-06
His Claim of Discovering Fraker
Doubted by Attorneys
TALKS IN HIS OWN DEFENSE
Gives Facts and Dates Antecedent TO
the Final Arrest
The Criminal Identified at ST. Louis-Astound-
ing Developments Are Expected.
The California Heirs
Associated Press snecial Wire.


ST. LOUIS, Sept. 81. 5. Hackley, the
liquor drummer, who says he turned
up" DR.. G. w. Fraker against the best
detective skill in the country, and spent
two years in fruitless search for the
gigantic insurance swindler, is indignant
that the Kansas City attorneys interested
in the case should attempt to cast doubts
on his story as published yesterday. Mr..
Hsckley is still in st. Louis. and he is
more inclined to talk today about the
details of the case than he was the day
before. because of the language imputed
to Lawyer D. J. Half of Kansas City in
the morning papers. In regard to the
statement of Mr.. Half, that the insur-
ance people had made all their plans for
the capture and knew of the wherea-
bouts of Fraker before Mr.. Hackley in
formed theiu, the latter said:
The whole story of my part in tie
turning up of Dr. Fraker. so far as my
connection with the attorneys CT the in-
surance companies is concerned. is: On
August oath | wired Mr.. Herrick, the
general attorney of the Kansas Mutual
Life Insurance company, asking for the
names of some of the officers of the
companies most involved in Fraker's ras-
caIity. l thought Herrick lived in Kansas
City, and so sent my telegram there. In
few hours it was answered by J. d.
Half, giving me the name of J. 2. Davis
OF Topeka, as president of the Kansas
Mutual. On August 26th | went to Kan
sas City and wired President Davis to
meet me there that evening. Instead of
Davis Herrick came, and we had long
talk. After Herrlck satisfied hims self
tnat [ was all right and that | was really
in possession of knowledge as to the
whereabouts of the genuine Fraker he
telephoned for Half TO come to the hotel
Immediately. In few minutes Haffs
partner, Van Vandenburg, came out to
the New Albany, and repeated to him
left me | agreed to meet them that night
in Herrlck' $ office for further conference.
We talked fully till midnight. Though
the information | gave them was specific
the officers for long time seemed to
doubt my story.
Finally they asked ME now much
Horrie wanted to peach. told them
$40. 0OO. Then they requested me to 60
back to Mobarly see Horrie again in the
Jail. stand him off in his demands until
Saturday. August 31st, and get all | could
from him. This | did. and on the even
ing OF August 3lst | received q telegram
from Herrick at Kansas City readings:
Have written you long letter got
the letter Sunday morning. 1t consisted
of two and Il half pages of type written
matter, containing an offer of $1,000 IN
cash and a percentage of all the money
recovered, for what | mad done, and was
signed by the three attorneys whose
names have mentioned, This was on
September 1st. On September I'd re-
ceived telegram from Herrick telling me
TO let the matter drop. That evening
Or. Fraker was arrested in his reGreat IN
Minnesota
In speaking of another claim made by
the Kansas City attorneys in their ap-
parent determination to rob him of credit
que tor turning up" Fraker, Mr.. Hack
ley said:
"I will give $1,000 for every letter of an
nature which the Kansas
City lawyers and detectives have of Hor-
rie's. Al such letters from Horrie are
now locked in a vault at Moberiy. and
| have read them all and know their
contents. 1t was these, more tnan Hor-
RES confession, which convinced me that
he was telling the truth and that Fraker
was still alive