The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-29
KANSAS NEWS.
Hubert ]. Frawley, Convicted of
Bigamy and Forgery
At Newport News, Va, Wanted
in Fort Scott.
HE HAS A BAD RECORD.
Had a Short Career as an Evan
geIist in the Pulpit.
Engaged to a Handsome BOur-
bon County Young Woman.
Obliged to Flee From His Debt
Ors Before Marriage.
HE HAS A BAD RECORD.

Fort Scott. June 29.-The name of
Hubert J. Frawley, who has been con-
victed in Newport News Va, of bigamy
and forgery, is known to the authorities
throughout the Southwest as well as in
the prominent social circles of a number
of the cities, where he has a somewhat
romantic acquaintance. He is now
wanted in this city, in Kansas City, St.
Louis and Chicago for forgery and for
obtaining money by false pretenses.
Notwithstanding his record as a GRIM
tnal, he is known as a man of eXcep-
tionally advanced education, command
ing several languages, and being mas
ter Of the sciences and arts. He has
Travelled extensively through Europe
and studied there. AS a Bible student
he is said to have no peer. He trans
lates the Scriptures from the original
Hebrew, and has entertained fashion
able audiences in many cities with lee
lures and reCitaIS. Many believe he IS
lacking in a moral conception Of hon
esty as a result of a mania, which is
evidenced by his odd eccentricities.
While tZaNping through Texas Fraw-
ley happened into revival meeting be-
ing conducted by Maj. Cole, the evan
gelist friend and associate of the late
D. l.. Moody. He was converted, and
his scholarly testimonies attracted the
attention Of the evangelist, who brought
him to this city to assist in a series OF
meetings. His evidently deep spirit
uality and his marked ability as an
him prominence. He was in demand in
the pulpits of the leading churches and
crowds fiOclled to hear him. Before the
meetings closed, however, the ministers
and the evangelist had retired him from
the rostrum, and it was rumOred that
his habits We're not just right. Mean
time he had been given much attention
in society and had become engaged to
a beautiful young lady, who was almost
insanely devoted to him.
When Maj. Cole left, F'rawley opened
a commercial college here and had
large attendance from the first day.
The date of his wedding approached,
and, though the young lady's relatives
had urged her to postpone it until more
could be learned Of his past, she would
not, and she would have been married
to him had not he been compelled to
slip out of town to avoid arrest on a
warrant charging him with having OBJ
tanned money under false pretenses. He
turned up in Kansas City a few weeks
later, occupying a prominent chair in
q large commercial college there, but it
was not long before he disappeared sud
denly to escape arrest for forgery He
went to St Louis and then to Chicago,
leaving both places while the officers
were looking for him on new charges of
crooked financial dealing. The accounts
of mis- escapades published in the local
press at the time gave him credit for
having ingratiated himself into the af-
fectiOns of women who had money, and
in one or two instances they were the
ones whom he had defrauded.
Some time after he left Chicago the
New York papers announced his arrest
IN the charge of a gigantic forgery, and
the evidence seemed SO clear against
him that 1t was supposed here he was
in the penitentiary. His CambridgepOrt
wife correspondent with the officers here
about him after he left. She finally 10
Gated him in Newport News with an
other wife of means and caused his ar
rest and conviction. He is a. large, fine
looking man, whose presence could not
but command notice and whose devo-
ton to women was invariably winning.