Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-09-06
GEORGE rRAkER HAS BEEN FOUND


Insurance Companies Finally Run a
Much Advertised Man TO Earth.
| Duluth, Mimi, Sept. 2.-George Fra
ker OF Topeka, Kan. supposed to have
been drowned in the Missouri river two
years ago. was captured in the woods
near Tower. Mimi. yesterday. Fraker's
life was insured for S5S,000. His heirs
brought suit in the Kansas courts to
recover. The case went to the supreme
| court. The insurance companies were
| defeated IN the final decision, recorded
| last month. 1t was always maintained
| by the companies that Fraker was
| alive. Recently 1t became known in
| some way that Fraker was near Tower
and Known under the alias of Schnell
Attorney Robert T. Herrick and Dep
uty Sheriff Wilkinson of Topeka or
gained party to search for him.
Fraker was found in the woods and his
| capture was effected in a strategic
manner. He was brought to Duluth
today and will be taken to Topeka at
| once. Fraker will go without a requi-
sition. He has been living near Tower
for six months. He admitted his iden-
tity and said he did not leave home on
purpose to defraud the companies, but
he fell in the Missouri river, 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 insurance.
The case is one of great general in
terest because reward OF $4,000 was
oHered for his capture. Fraker is a
physician and up to the latter part of
1873 was physician to the ST. Elmo
hotel. the leading hotel in Excelsior
Springs. famous health resort near
Kansas City. Together with seven or
eight companions the doctor went fish
Ing on the Missouri river one day, and
after dark, while in company with Geo.
Harvey, James Triplett and Jake Crow
ley, negro, disappeared and was seen
no more. These parties afterward
swore positively that they witnessed
his drowning while rowing in leaky
boat, but after strict search his body
could not be found. Three months pre-
vious he began loading up with life in
surance, taking $4,000 in the Kansas
Mutual Life of Topeka, $4,000 in the
Hartford Life 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,0O0 Immedi-
ately after his disappearance the in
surance companies held conference
and discovered that while the doctors
income was only about $500 a year his
premiums amounted to $1,000 annually.
Besides this, George Harvey and James
Triplett, who swore to having wit
messed Fraker's death, were men OF
bad character, Harvey having been ar
rested only the other day in eastern
Missouri on the charge of having COM
mitted burglary in New Mexico.
Triplett was a well known character
in Indian territory and was said to
have been drowned short time ago.
Before going on his fishing excursion
Fraker had drawn all his money from
the bank, saying he was about going
20 California to bring home the or
phan children of his deceased uncle.
Forty thousand Of the insurance money
was payable to his brother-in-law in
trust for these children.
DR.. Fraker, who had practiced med
icine for eight years, was an active
leader in Sunday school work, but held
rather peculiar views on religious sub
jects.
After a thorough Investigation. all
the companies 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 district court at
kansas City. Robert Herrick was ap-
pointed Jointly to conduct the case for
the companies and was assisted by en-
inent legal talent. In the latter part of
1884, after an intensely sensational
trial lasting two weeks, in December.
1894, the jury, acting under instruc-
tons of the court, declared for the de-
Tense. A new trial was granted on a
technical point, but in February, 1895,
Judgment was given for the full
amount and stay of execution grant
ed for six months, until August H.
1896. On that date the full amount was
paid to the executor and the companies
withdrew their offer Of $20, 900 reward.