Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-09-03
ARREST A SURPRISE.
FRAZER HAD NO IDEA OF DEINo
ARRESTED WHEN oFFI-
GERS TOOK HIM.
The Courts Inst Month Had Decided
That the Companies Must Pay
the Insurance Money.

Duluth. Mimi, Sept. 2.-George Fra
ker OF Topeka, Kan. 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. Fraher's life was insured
for $4,000 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 IN the an
mails OF this country. The insurance
companies were defeated In the final
decision, II being recorded last month.
II was always maintained by the COM
panies that Fraker was alive, but his
whereabouts We're unknown. Recently
II became known in some way that
Fraker was near Tower, where he was
known under the alias of Schnell.
Attorney Robert II. Harris and De-
putty Sheriff Wilkinson OF Topeka came
here and organized a party 10 search
for him. Fraker was found In the
woods. and his capture was effected in
a strategic manner. lie was brought
TO Duluth today and will be taken to
Topeka at once.
He admitted his Identity and said he
did not leave home on purpose to de-
fraud the coroner, but while he was
near the Missouri river he fell in. He
swan across the river and the next
day read in the papers that he had
been drowned and concluded to carry
out the deception and allow his heirs
to collect the Insurance.
fraker arrived in Duluth today at
LOO o'clock In charge Of Deputy Sher-
in Walker and Attorney HerrlclS, who
started at once for Kansas.
The cause is one OF general interest
because OF reward OF $50 600 which
was offered for his capture. F'raker is a
physician and up TO the latter part OF
1885 was the physician to the ST. Elmo
hotel, the leading hotel In Excelsior
springs a famous health resort near
Kansas City
Herrlck obtained olew In the latter
part OF 1894 which he has patiently
followed ever since until about a week
ago when he learned the whereabouts
and assumed name OF the doctor. Thurs
day night he arrived at Tower to-
gether with John WilkersOn, chief OF
police Of Topeka. to assist in taking
Fraker back. They learned that DIR.
Frakor by the name OF Schnell had
lived with young man I'm hut fifty
miles from Tower on the Itasca county
road. a warrant was secured In Tower
and Sunday accompanied by Deputy
Sheriff Archie Phillips they started in
rough wagon over still rougher roads
FOR the place, taking along with them
provisions for Ave days, giving out
that they were to look over some tim
Der lands. About twelve miles from
Tower, Deputy Phillips, who was ac-
qualnted with Fraker under his alias
as Schnell, saw his companion In a
shanty near the wood, and on inuuiring
where the doctor was learned that they
had Just moved to this place and that
Fraker was out hunting. on examln-
Ing the shanty trap door was found
In the floor with a considerable excava-
ton underneath, looking rather sus-
ma
cuffed and guarded and Phillips pro-
ceeded on the road. About two miles
further man with gun on his shout
der who was instantly recognized as
the man F'raker Herrick engaged him in
conversation when suddenly Phillips
seized his arms and Wilkinson put on
handouts. Fraker thought he had
been arrested for killing game out OF
season as Phillips was also game war
den. When the warrant was read TO
him he was thunderstruck but admit
ted his identity. He was brought to
Tower together with his companion.
who halls from Wisconsin and seems
to be an innocent party. The prisoner
Is well built man of about Ave feet
six Inches, forty years old with short
black whiskerB.
In conversation he stated that he
relied on his relatives to get portion
of the insurance money and himself
fited, he said, by the waters OF n spring |
where he stopped. and had about made |
arrangements to buy the place, intend |
Ing to make II water cure resort. |
He would have spent $4,000, he said, |
in improving the place.
Kansas City, Sept 2.-Attorneys for |
the Insurance companies Interested |
this afternoon drew up the inforfnn-
ton that VIII be lodged against DR.. |
Fraker, the insurance swindler, ar
rested near Duluth when he reaches
here Wednesday morning He will be |
arrested under special section $3.50 Of
the Revised Statutes OF Missouri, which
makes II fraud to attempt to defraud
by trick, cheat. fraud and de-
ception. false and fraudulent repre-
sensations and false premises.
The penalty rs seven years In the
penitentiary on each count. and one
OF the attorneys said there would be
hye counts in the indictment against
Fr1ker.
Mr.. Ham said that Uncle James
Crowley, James Triplet and George
Harvey. who swore that they saw pr.
Fraker drowned. win be arrested on
the charge of perjury. DR.. Fraker will
be prosecuted In Ray county. Suit
VIII be begun at once against the
heirs 10 recover the insurance money
al