Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-09-04
FRAZER IS FOUND.
The Long Missing Doctor Captured
in a Woodsmah's Hut
in Duluth.


Duluth. Mimi. Sept George Fra
ker OF Topeka, kas., the man who was
supposed to have been drowned in the
Missouri river two years ago, was cap
tured in the woods near Tower, Mimi,
yesterday. Fraker's life was insured for
$4,000 and the heirs brought suit in the
Kansas courts to recover. TIE case went
to the Supreme court and was one of the
most famous insurance cases of the coun-
try. The insurance companies were de-
feated IN the final decision, it being rem
dered last month. 1t was always main
tanned by the companies that Fraker was
alive. but his whereabouts were unknown.
Recently it became known in some way
that braker was near Tower, where he
was known under the alias of Schnell.
Attorney Robert /. Harris and Deputy
Sheriff Wilkinson of Topeka came here
ana organized a party to search for
him. Fraker was found in the woods
and his capture was effected in a strate-
gic manner. He was brought to Duluth
today and will be taken TO Topeka at
once.
Fraker will so without a requisition.
He has been living near Tower for six
months. He admitted his identity and
to defraud the companies, but that while
he was near the Missouri river he fell
IN. He swan across the river and got
on land. The next day he read in the
papers that he had been drowned and
concluded to carry out the deception
and allow his heirs to collect the insur-
ance.
Fraker arrived in Duluth today at
1870 o'clock in charge of Deputy Sheriff
Walker and Attorney Herrick He ad-
nlts his Identity and will return TO Kan
sas At once. The case is one of great
general interest because of reward Of
$4,000 which was offered for his capt
ure.
Fraker's Singular Career.
His singular career may be briefly
traced. He was of German origin and
was born in Wisconsin. There he was
raised. When a young man he came to
the state of Missouri and settled in Trip
lett. He clerked in drug stores and be-
came himself proprietor of one. Though
be was frugal he is not reported to have
prospered financial. When he left that
village he was considerably in debt. He
read and studied medicine then and also
dentistry. He married while at Trip
lett and settled at Excelsior Springs
He and his wife separated. She returned
20 Irlplett and he remained there. They
were divorced ON some ground mutually
satisfactory.
Up to the latter part Of 1893 was ply
stefan to the st. Elmo hotel, the leading
hotel III Excelsior Springs. a famous
health resort near Kansas City. Togeth,
CT with seven or eight companions the
doctor Went fishing in the Missouri river
July 10 1898. and after dark while in
the company of George Harvey. James
Triplet and Jake Crowley a negro, he dis
appeared and was seen no more. These
three parties afterwards swore positively
that they witnessed his drowning while
rowing in a leaky boat. but after strict
search his body could not be recovered.
Some three or four months previous to
this he began leading up with life in,
surance, taking $4,000 in the Kansas
Mutual Life of Topeka, $4,000 in the
Hartford Life and Annuity. SIS. 900 in
the Providence Savings Life of New
York AMI $1,000 in the Benevolent so,
cieties of that place. a total of 500, 600
Immediately after his disappearance the
insurance companies held a conference
i ins5zsa as ci.i7 about $500 year, lis
Rosii6s his George Harry and James
TriDlet, who Sw0re to having witnessed
raker's death. were men of bad char
acter Harry being arrested only the
other day in Eastern Missouri on a
charge of having committed burglary IN
New Mexico. ITlplet was a Well-kn0Wn
character in Indian territory and was
said to be drowned q short time ago.
Before he went on his fishing excursion
Fraker had drawn al his money from
the bank. saying that he was about 60
ing TO California to bring home the
orphan children Of his deceased uncle.
Forty thousand dollars Of the insurance
money was payable to his brother-in-law
in trust for these children and DR.. Fra
ker, who had practicel ma icine for
eight years. was an active leader II
Sunday school work, but held rather pc
culiar views on religious subjects. After
a thorough investigation all the COM
panies 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 T Herrick was appointed
Jointly to conduct the case for the com,
panies and was assisted by eminent legal
talent. In the latter part of 1894, after
an intensely sensational trial lasting two
weeks in December 1894, the jury acting
under positive instructions from the
court, declared for the defense.
A new trial was granted on technical
points, but in February, 1895, Judgment
was given for the full amount and a stay
of execution granted for six months, until
August II, 1895. On that date the full
amount was paid to the executor and the
companies withdrew their offer of $780,
600 reward.