The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-03

Ffaker. of Topeka, Ksns., the man who
WAS 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 $5s,0oO 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
insurance cases of the country. The
insurance companies were defeated in
the final decision, it being recorded last
month. It was always maintained by
the companies that Fraker was alive,
but his whereabouts were unknown.
Recently 1t became kown in some way
that Fraker was near Tower, where he
WAS known under the alias of Schnell.
Attorney Robert L. Harris and Deputy
Sheriff Wilkinson, Of Topeka, came
here and organized party to search for
him. Fraker was found in tho woods
and his capture was effected In a
strategic manner. He was brought to
Duluth to-day and was taken to Topeka
at once. Fraker will 20 without d re-
QUESTION. He has been living near
Tower for six months. He admitted his
identity and said he did not leave home
on purpose to defraud the companies,
but that while he was near Missouri
river he fell In. He SWAN across the
river and got on land. The next day be
read In the papers that he was drowned
and thought he would carry out the de-
ception and have his heirs collect the
insurance. Fraker arrived in Duluth
to day ct 1880 in charge of Deputy
Sheriff Walker and Attorney Herrick.
He will return to Kansas at once.
The case one of great interest because
ofa reward Of $50. 600 which was offered
for his capture. Fraker is physician,
and up to the latter part of 1893 was
physician to the st. Elmo Hotel, the
leading hotel st Excelsior Springs, q
health resort near Kansas City. To-
gether with seven or eight companions,
the doctor went fishing on the Missouri
river one day. and after dark while in
company OF George Harvey, James Trip.
lett and b. Crowley, negro. he disap-
peared and was seen no more. These
parties afterwards swore positively that
they witnessed his drowning while row.
Ing In leaky boat. but after strict
search his body could not be recovered.
Some three or four months previous he
began loading up with life insurance,
taking q total Of $4,000.
After his disappearance the insurance
companies held 6 conference and dis
covered that while the DOCTORS income
only amounted to $1,000 year, his
premiums amounted to 81, 900 annually.
Besides this George Harvey and
James Triplett, who swore to having
Witnessed Fraker's death, were men of
bad character. Harvey being arrested
only the other day In Eastern Missouri,
charged with having committed bur-
glary In New Mexico. Triplett was
we'll known character in the Indian
Territory and WAS said to have been
drowned short time ago. Before go
Ing on his fishing excursion Fraker had
drawn all his money from the bank,
saying he was going to California to
bring home the orphan children of his
deceased uncle.
Forty thousand OF insurance money
was payable to his brother-in-law in
trust for the children, and Dr. Fraker,
who had pfactioed medicine for eight
years, was an active leader in Sundsy-
school york, but held rather peculiar
views on religious subjects. After a
thorough investigation all the compa-
MES except the Equitable refused to
pay the claims, whereupon James E
Lincoln, the executor OF the will,
brousht suit in the district. court st
Liberty, Mo-, which WAS afterwards
transferred to the United States circuit
court, at Kansas City. Robert Herrick
was appointed jointly to conduct the
case for the companies and was assisted
BY eminent legal talent. In the latter
part OF 1894, after an extremely sensa
tional trial lasting two weeks, in
December, 1894, the jury acting under
positive instructions from the court de.
clared for the defence.
A new trial was granted on technical
points, but in February, 1895, judgment
was given for the full amount. and q
stay OF execution granted for six months
until August IL, 1895. On that date the
fuil amount was paid to the executor,
OF $4,000 reward. Herrick discovered
clue in 1894. and has since followed it
up. Thursday night he arrived In
Tower, together with John wilkinson,
chief OF police in Topeka, TO assist in
taking Fraker back. They learned that
Dr Fraker went by tho name OF Schnell
ana lived with young man in wood
mans hut, five miles from Tower.
Fraker thought be had been arrested
for killing game out Of aeasun, as Phillfp
was also game warden.
When the warrant was read to him he
was thunderstruck but admitted his
identity. He was brought to town, to-
gether with his companion who halls
from Wisconsin, and seems to be an in
nocent party. The prisoner Is a we'll
built man OF about I've feet six inches.
forty years old, with short black whIsk
ers. In conversation he stated that he
had expected his relatives to get q Dor
ton OF the insurance money and himself
also. He had been greatly benefited, he
said. by the waters of spring where he
stopped and had about made arranpe-