The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-03

that they witnessed his drowning while in
a leaky boat. But after strict search his
body could not be found.
Some three or four months previous to
this he began loading up with life insur-
ance, taking $4,000 in the Kansas Mutual
Life OF Topeka, $15 600 in the Hartford Life
and Annuity, $4,000 in the Providence
Savings Life of New York and $4,000 in
the benevolent societies of that place, a
total of $5s,OOO. George Harry and James
Triplet, who swore to having witnessed
Fraker's death, were men of bad char
acters, Harry being arrested only the
other day in Eastern Missouri on charge
of having committed burglary in New
Mexico. Triplet was well-known char
acter in the Indian Territory and was said
to have been drowned a short time ago.
Before going on his fishing excursion
Fraker had drawn all his money from the
bank, saying he was about going to CAL
ifornia to bring home the orphan children
of his deceased uncle.
Forty thousand dollars of insurance
money was payable to his brother-in-law
in trust for the children. After thorough
investigation all the companies except the
Equitable refused to pay claims, where
upon James Lincoln, executor of the will,
brought suit in the District Court of Lib
erty, Mo-, which was afterward transferred
to the United States Circuit Court at Kan
sas City. Robert T. Herrick was appointed
jointly to conduct the case for the COM
panles and was assisted by eminent legal
talent.
In the latter part of 1894, after an in
tensely sensational trial, lasting two
weeks. the jury. acting for the court, de-
clared for the defense. A new trial was
granted on technical points, but in Febru-
ary, 1895, Judgment was given for six
months, until August II, 1895. On that
date the full amount was paid to the ex-
ecutors and the companies withdrew their
offer of $40, 900 reward.
Herrick, who deserves to rank with the
best detectives of modern times, obtained
a clew in the latter part of 1894, which he
has patiently followed ever since, until a
week ago he learned the whereabouts and
assumed name of the doctor. On Thurs
day night he arrived in Tower, together
with John Wilkinson, Chief of Police in
Topeka, to assist in taking Fraker back.
They learned that Fraker went by the
name of Schnell, but lived with young
man in woodsman's hut fifty miles from
Tower, on the Itasca County road. A war
rant was secured in Tower, and Sunday
morning, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Archie Philip, they started for the place.
Fraker and the boy were arrested and
handcuffed, and when the warrant was
read Fraker was thunderstruck, but ad-
mitted his identity at once. He was
brought to town, together with his COM
papion.
Fraker readily agreed to accompany the
officers to Missouri without waiting for
extradition papers, and was taken down
this morning. In conversation he stated
that he had expected his relatives to get a
portion of the insurance money and him
self some also. He had been greatly ben
Gifted, he sid, by the water of spring
where he stopped, and had about made
arrangements to buy TIE place. He
would have spent $2oIDo, he said,
in Improvements. Dr.. Fraker was
brought to Duluth this noon on the
Iron Range train in charge of Deputy
Sheriff Philip and accompanied by Robert
T. Herrick of Topeka, Kans.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. Am appli-
cation will be made to Judge Foster of the
United States court sitting in chambers
here tomorrow by attorneys for the insur-
ance companies who paid policies on the
life of DR.. Fraker, who was found to-day
in Dover, Mimi, to stop the payment of
$4,000 of the sum which is now in the
hands of the Probate Court at Liberty, Mo-.
awaiting apportionment among Fraker's
heirs. Fraker had $5S, 900 insurance on his
life, divided as follows: Hartford Life and
Annuity $4,000, Kansas Mutual of Topeka
$4,000 Equitable Life of New York $40, 900,
Provident Savings of New York $4,000,
Lloyds Accident $1,000, Knights of Pythias
$300O A. o. U. W. $4,000, Modern Wood
man $4,000.