The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-03
He WASAFTER MONEY
And He Attempted to Defraud Insur-
ance Companies.
BUT THEY'VE GOT HIM NOW
His Work Was Too Coarse for the
Officials. Who Did Not Think He
Was Dead. and He Was
Not Was Arrested.

Duluth. Mimi. Sept. 2.-George Fra
ker OF Topeka, Kan, supposed 10 have
been drowned In the Missouri river two
years ago. was captured In the woods
near Tower. MINI, yesterday, Fra
ker's life was insured for s5S.OOO. The
heirs brought suit In the Kansas courts
to recover. The case went to the su-
preme court. The insurance compa-
nies were defeated In the final decision.
recorded last month. 1t was always
maintained by the companies that Fra
ker was alive. Recently 1t became
known in some way that Fraker was
near Tower. and known under the alias
of Schnell. Attorney Robert 4. Herrlck
and Deputy Sheriff Wilkinson Of Tope-
ka organized party 10 search for him.
Fraker was found in the woods and
captured. and brought to Duluth to-
day. He will be taken to Topeka at
once. Fraker will go without requisl-
ton. He has been living near Tower
for six months. He admitted his iden-
tlty and said he did not leave home for
the purpose OF defraudlng the compa-
MES. but he fell into the Missouri river.
swan across the river and got on land.
Next day he read in the papers that
he had been drowned and concluded TO
carry out the deception and allow the
heir to collect the insurance.
| The case Is one of great general in
terest because a reward OF 100000 was
offered for his capture. Fraker Is a
physician, and up to the latter part of
1898 was physician for the st. Elmo
hotel. the leading hotel in Excelsior
Springs. famous health resort near
Kansas City. Together with seven or
eight companions the doctor went fish,
ing on the Missouri river one day, and
after dark and while In company with
George Harvey. James Triplett and
Jake Crowley, negro. disappeared and
was seen no more. These parties af-
forwards swore positively that they
witnessed his drowning while rowing
In "a leaky boat. but after a strict
search his body could not be found
Three months previous he began load.
Ing up with life insurance. taking s1o..
900 In the Kansas Mutual Life OF To.
peka, $4,000 In the Hartford Life An.
nuity. $4,000 In the Providence Saw.
ings Life Of New York. and $1,000 In
the benevolent societies OF that place
total Of $4,000. Immediately aftei
his disappearance the insurance com
panies held q conference and dlscov.
cred that while the Doctors income
was only about $500 a year his pre-
miums amounted to $1,000 annually
Besides this George Harvey and Jane.
Triplett. who swore to having witness
ed Frakers death. were men of bad
character. Harvey being arrested only
the other day In Eastern Missouri or
a charge Of having committed burglar,
in New Mexico. Triplett was a well
known character in Indian Territory
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 about to go I,
California to bring home the orphan
children OF his deceased uncle. Fort,
thousand OF the insurance money wa
payable to his brother-in-law In trus
for these children. and DR.. Fraker
who had practiced medicine for elgh
years, was an active leader In Sunda,
school work, but held rather peculiar
| NltWS oil ftibiohS supJNtts. hittt I
thorough investigation all the compa
J nies except the Equitable refused 4
pay the claims. whereupon James L
Lincoln. the executor OF the will
brought suit In the district court a
Liberty. NO. which was afterward
transferred 10 the United States circui
court at Kansas City. Robert Herr!cl
I was appointed jointly to conduct tn
case for the companies and was assist
!; ed by eminent legal talent. In the lat
ter part OF 1894. after an intensely sen
sational trial. lasting two weeks In DE
cember, 1894. the jury. acting unde
positive Instructions from the court
, declared for the defense. A new trla
was granted on technical points. bu
In February. 1895, judgment was give
| for the full amount and a stay OF exc
, cution granted for six months unit
August IL. 1895. On that date the ful
amount was paid TO the executor an
the companies withdrew their offer Q
$50, 900 reward.