The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-04
JURY FINDS
MYSTERY MAN
is IMP0STER
Lopez Frazier Loses Suit
To Establish Identity
as Indian Veteran
WILL APPEAL CASE
Parents of Soldier Refuse
To Accept Verdict; Say
Boy Is Their Son
WILL APPEAL CASl

Minneapolis, June 4.-(AP)-"Ar-
thur Lopez-Frazier" lost his suit
against the government to establish
himself as Arthur Frazier, Indian
world war veteran from South Da-
kota, when a federal court jury re-
turned verdict against him here
last night.
1t marked the end of the most un.
usual case in the history of the Uni
ted States Veteran Bureau, which
said Frazier died in France and
which charged the plaintiff is Ar
thur Lopez, Mexican and an inn
poster, seeking to collect insurance
on a war policy issued to Frazier.
Jury Deliberates 3 Hours
The jury reached its decision after
celebrating for about three hours.
from 6 to p. NJ, and announced its
readiness to report at 1928. The ver-
dict was read in court at S:40.
Seven ballots were taken. accord
ing to r. ID. Underwood, Of Lake
City, Mimi, foreman. The first 4
ballots stood 8 for the defendant
and ) for the plaintiff. On the fifth
ballot the count switched to IL to |
for the defense. remaining as such
until the seventh ballot.
lhc little mystery man." sitting
between Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Frazier,
parents Of Arthur Frazier, showed
no emotion whatever when the YER
diet was read. He sat with his
eyes fastened to the floor as the
clerk read the brief decision that:
eve, the jury, find for the defend
ant"
Mr.. and Mrs. Frazier merely stared
at the dispensing jurors until
friends came up and escorted them
from the courtroom.
Fraziers Claim Him
Today Lopez-Frazier goes back to
Santee, Neb., with the father and
mother Of Arthur Frazier to live
with them in their home as their
son.
II guess l know my own son bet
ter than II strange men do" de-
clared Hannah Frazier.
She said she will refuse to accept
the insurance payments due to the
beneficiary of the dead soldier bur-
led in the cemetery at Niobrara, Neb.
A motion for a new trial will be
made, A. X. Schall, Arthur's attorney
announced following a consultation
with the Fraziers.
"We are happy to have our son
and brother, Arthur with u.s." Mrs.
Frazier declared after the verdict.
"He will remain with US. We shall
take him back to Santee, where we
live now. There we shall take care
of him and look after his health"
Mrs. Mary Raymond. daughter of
the Fraziers, referring to the grave
at Niobrara declared, "as we have
cared in the past for the grave of
the unknown soldier, the Frazier
family will deem it an honor to con-
tinue to care for the grave Of the
soldier buried in the Frazier lot at
Niobrara, Neb.--for some other gold
star mother"
To prove Arthur Frazier Of
ficially and legally dead, the govern
ment is said to have expended more
than $4,000.
Story Starts April 4, 1917
The story of the case dates back
to April 4, 1917, when Arthur Fra
zier, an Indian student of the Flan-
dreau school, enlisted in Troop D.
first regimental cavalry at Flan-
dreau, S. D.
Frazier was sent abroad in June
1913, and while serving in France
with Company B, 2sth division, he
was reported killed in action on Oct
6, 1918, while fighting in the Ar
gonne. In September. 1921, the body
was buried with military honors al
Niobrara, Neb.
1t was in November, 1928, that a
mystery soldier" suffering from
loss of memory was taken in by the
Red Cross at Pawnee, Okla, as g
disabled veteran. A month later
Rev. and Mrs. Frazier, Of Winner
S. D., went to Pawnee and identified
the man as their son, Arthur.
Acting on this Identification, the
Veterans Bureau placed the man j,
St. Paul hospital and started ar
investigation to clear up his identi
ty. On March 3, 1924, the war de.
partment declared Arthur Frazier
"officially dead"