New-York tribune., 1895-09-03

BY A KANSAS LAWYER.
Duluth. Mimi, Sept. Living in the wilds OF
Northern Minnesota, fifty miles from a post
Office. with only boy for companion, Dr.
George W. Fraker. who planned one of the most
successful insurance swntves Of modern times
was to-day captured by officers who have been
on his track for the past two years. Up to Au-
gust - last. there was a standing reward Of
900 900 for his arrest offered by the insurance
panies.
In the latter part OF 1898 DR. George W. Fraker
was physician 70 the ST. Elmo Hotel. the leading
hotel in Excelsior Springs a health resort near
Kansas City. Together with seven or eight COM
panlons the doctor went fishing in the Missouri
River one day. and after dark. while in the COM
many OF George Harry. James Trpet and Jake
Crowley negro he disappeared and was seen
no more. These three persons afterward swore
positively that they witnessed his drowning while
rowing in leaky bat but after a strict
search his body could not be recovered.
Some three or four months previous TO this.
he began loading up with life insurance, taking
$4,000 in the Kansas Mutual Life of Topeka
SIS 900 IN the Hartford Life and Annuity; $4,000 in
the Providence Savings Life Of New-York; $4,000
in the Equitable Life Assurance and $4,000 in the
benevolent societies; a total Of S5S. 600 lmmedi-
ately after his disappearance, the insurance COM
panies held a conference and discovered that
while the doctors income was only about $500
q wear his premiums amounted to 81 900 annually
Besides this. George Harry and James Trpet
who sWore to having witnessed Frakers death,
We're men Of bad character Harry being arrested
only the other day in Eastern Missouri on
charge Of having committed burglary In New
Mexico. Trplet was we'll known In Indian Terri
tory and is said TO have been drowned short
time ago.
FOUGHT THE CASE IN THE COURTS.
Before going on hts fishing excursion Fraker
had drawn all MS money from the bank. saying
he about TO start for California TO bring nome
the orphan children of his deceased uncle. Forty
thousand dollars Of the insurance money was pay
able 10 his brOther-in-law in trust for the chill
dren. Dr Fraker. who practised medicine Tor
eight wears was an active leader in Sunday
school work but held rather peculiar views on
religious subjects. After : thorough invesuga-
tiOn all the companies. except the Equitable re-
fused 10 pay the claims. whereupon James r.
Lincoln, the executor of the will, brought suit IN
the District Court at Liberty. Mo-. which was
afterward transferred to the United States CIR
cult Court at Kansas City. Robert 7. Herrick
an attorney Of Topeka. was appointed JOINTLY 10
conduct the case for the companies. and was
assisted by eminent legal talent. In the latter
part of 1894 after a sensational trial lasting two
weeks the Jury acting under orders from the
court declared for the defence. new trial was
granted on technical points. and In Feoruary
1895 Judgment was given for the full amount
and a stay Of execution granted for six monihs
until August l2. 1895. On that date the full
amount was paid to the executor ana the COM
panies withdrew their offer Of $4,000 reward.
TRACED TO THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS.
Herrick who deserves TO rank with the best
detectives of modern times. obtained ciew IN
the latter part of 1894. which he has patiently
followed ever since. until about week ago ne
learned the hiding place ana assumed name OF
the doctor. on Thursday night he arrived in
Tower Mimi, together with John WILKINSON
Chief Of Police Of Topeka. to assist in taxing
Traker back Herrck and Wilkinson learned
that Dr. Fraker went by the name Of Schnell
and lived with young man in a woocsman
hut fifty miles from Tower. IN the ltasca county
road. A warrant was secured in rover anu
Sunday morning. accompanied by Deputy-Sherh
Philip they started for the place. About Twelve
miles from Tower. Philip. who was acquainted
with Fraker under his alias as Schnell. saw FRA
ker's companion in a shanty the wood. and
on inoulring where the doctor was learned that
he had Just moved to this place and was out
hunting. The young man was handcuffed and
Guarded and about two miles further on Dr.
1-raker with a gun on his shoulder. found
Eerrick engaged him in conversation, when suo-
dan,v Philip seized his arms and Wilkinson put
on the handcuns
Fraker thought he had been arrested for Kill
ing game out OF season. as Phfip Was also game
warden When the warrant was read 10 hlm' he
was thunderstruck. but admitted his Identity at
once He was brought TO town together with
his companion. Fraker readily agreed to accom-
many the officers to Missouri without waiting Tor
.x,roaitIon napers lie stated that he had eN-
nec;ed his relatives to get a portion OF the
insurance money and himself some also. lie
ba6 been greatly benefited, he said, by the waters
NJ spr,ng where he stopped, and had about
made arrangements to buy the place. He would
have spent s2OOOO he said, in improving the place.
CLOSE TO THE CANADA %lDER'
yy,hen no started on his fishing trip in Missouri
he stated he had no intention oil pretending
death. but a landslide Of the river DaiiN "du car
"a bin, IN and he was obliged to swim the
river. and then he decided to 20 10 Ch'caso
While there he heard of so many oao STORIES o'i
o,latod about him in Excelsior Springs aiter ms
r osannearance that he decided nov TO go Ddch' anu
go f,emntation 10 swindle the insurance com
,s,,as rIie,rsn,e him. on him was found charm
Of some kind .,,uo, -, r,as received AT
,ynrag s Cj,v from, Moberly. saying Fraker was
under arrest there but it proved ds dslse aar rayn
Fraker's hiding place was ony my "a dI beer there
from the Canadian boundary. lie mao De'ii ."g,
a,,, . nannths coming into town occasionally
for mail and provisions. His supply 9i nomrs sns
was quite low, and he evidently at dis,ribnted
.b~r,Iv AZ his executor has not YET olS'I ~
the MONEY Mr.. Herrck telegraphed TO kansas n. Sas
CITY to nave suit Instituted against MN a' o"'e
70 recover the money ,>,,.h ,bis noon
DR. Fraker was brought to Duluth 'hls nsi',' n1o"
fTat
sheria philip and accompanied by HerTGT Toneka te
was lodged il Jail pending his reosh ,h veressary
ron,,,;es T, are Observed Fraker will go without
any opposition
LABOR D5Y RIOTS ~