The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-09-11
FRAZER F0tNb OF ALIVE.
THE MANS FOR WHOSEDEATHl lNSUR
ANcE COMPANIES HAD PAID.

ANcE COMPANIES HAD PAD.
He Lived Close to the Canada Line-He
Had Dug Cave Uurder His Shanty to
Aid Escape But Was Caught.
DULUTH, Mimi, Sept: 4:SDr. Geo.
W. Fraker, a principal in one of the
most daring life insurance swindles OF
which there is any record and who
was supposed to have been drowned IN
July, 1898, was captured recently IN
hiding near Tower, Mimi, close TO
the Canadian border.
= Early in 1898 Fraker insured his
life for sums aggregating S5S, 900 IN
five Insurance companies. The pre-.
miums. amounting to something like
81, 600, were regularly paid, although,
as afterwards transpired, Franker's in
come was only about 81, SEQ a year,
and for a time the insurance companies
saw no reason to suspect that they had
not accepted a bona iide risk. In July
1898. came Frake's disappearance,
which led to the offer of reward 'of'
$4,000 by the interested companies
for proof that he was sti}lHalive-an
attempt which they have never since
abandoned, although verdict OF the
Supreme Court of Missouri compelled
the payment Of the greater part Of the
insurance money to the heirs-and
this was followed by the publication
of the missing mans peculiar will:
directed that his body be created, and
bequeathed the amount or his insur-
ance to brothcr-;n-law named Nc
Gruders, five minor chrildreu.
The story Of Fraker's disappear
ance:as sworn to by six men, as fol
lows: .:
With John McMurray, Charles Nc
George, J. T. Triplett. George Harris,
Alberto Mondes and Jake Crowley, a
negro, Fraker started for spot on the
Missouri river where, it was said, fish
:ing was good, ten miles from Excelsior
Springs, one dark night in July. The
men say that Fraker, Triplett and
Crowley were walking along the bank
in the dark when suddenly it crumple
under their feet. Triplettand Crowley
Sprang back but looked in vain for
Frakcr. They got a lantern. and
swang it over the dark river. There
was no sign of the missing man. They
shouted to their companions and the
rest of the:party. 'came up. Another
search was made, and this time hat
said to be Fraker's was found
sclose under the fallen bank.
No cry was heard, and
Fraker's disappearance, now explained
by his confession that he swan the
river, was complete. The next day
men in boats with graphing irons
dragged the bottom and searched the
river banks for miles without success.
From that day until his capture yes
terday no one has been able to prove
that Fraker was not dead. One man;
however, Detective T. Derrick, spur
red by the reward of $4,000 offered
for proof that Fraker was still in the
flesh, has never given up the hunt,
and yesterday success crowned his
efforts.
Herrick, with Chief of Police Wilk-
inson. Of Topeka. came to Minnesota
week ago and have since been clos
ing in on the hunted man. Sunday
morning they reach Tower, where
they informed Deputy Sheriff Philips
of their business. He offered to guide
them and they set out for Fraker's
hiding place, where he has been going
under the name of Schnell. The
Kansas officers, before leaving Tower,
swore out warrant for his arrest,
charging him with swindling in
surance companies. Deputy Sheriff
Phillips, who knows Schnell, told the
officers that the man was camping
about fifty miles out in the woods, at
a point Which could be reached only
with the utmost difficulty. When
the camp was reached the companion
was there, but Fraker was not
around. The officers were told that
Fraker had gone out hunting, and was
expected back at any minute.
An examination of the camp was
made after the Young man in charge
had been placed under arrest, and it
was found that under the floor, reach
ed by a trapdoor, was an excavation
of large dimensions, which could not
be discovered without the utmost
scrutiny Leaving the Kansas officers
at the camp Phillips proceeded on the
road, Keeping sharp lookout for the
fugitive. He had not gone over a
mile before he met Fraker face to face.
Herrick had come up'in themeantime,
and when Fraker saw the detectiye he
collapsed, but was told that he was
only wanted for violating the game
laws. He was armed with rifle, and
he declared that he did not believe
that he would surrender While
Herrick engaged him in conversation,
Phillips slipped up behind, and before
Fraker was aware of what was, going
on he was handcutfed.' The warrant
charging. him. with swindling the
Kansas Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany out of $40. 900, the Hartford Life
and Annuity. Company out OF SIS 5000,
the rrovident Life Savings Company
of New.Yorl1 out of S15, 900 and other
New York companies out of 5000
more, total OF nearly 100000; was
then read to him. He admitted his
identity, saying that as he could not
help himself he would 60 along
quietly. He maintained his nerve to
a remarkable degree, saying to Deputy
Sheriff Phillips: ''Well, Jim, I'm -
glad the chase is over; now | can
take things easy"
The prisoner was taken TO Tower,
together with his companion, who
gave his name as Frank Smith. As
it was evident. that Smith knew moth
ing Of his companion, and had merely
fell in:with sFraker in 4 casual way;
he was simply detained at Tower,
where he will be held to await develop
,mcnts. AT Tower the Iron Range
road was boarded, and the party ar
rived in this city about noon.