Even if you think you know who Victor Lustig is, you dont.
Photo:Carlos Perez/Flickr
Count Victor Lustig was a man of many charms.
His manner was eye-catching and his talk sparked interest in things unheard of before.
To show the authenticity of the printing machine, he would stack the box with a few bills beforehand.
Victor Lustig
But that year, bigger things came Victors way.
Public opinion immediately divided on the matter, with some supporting the repairs while others voting against it.
A newspaper at the time also noted that it would be cheaper to simply tear the whole thing down.
Victor kept track of the papers but no news of the con popped up.
He thought he was safe enough to pull off the same gamble another time, and he did.
After going into the records for this feat, Victor went back to his money-making machine.
He continued to con civilians and officers, high ranking officials and eager businessmen.
He then partnered with a chemist named Tom Shaw to multiply his counterfeit business.
This Lustig money became the trail on which the authorities finally caught him.
Victor was caught, and she got revenge on him for cheating on her.
He pleaded guilty to his charges and was shipped off to Alcatraz for a 20-year sentence.
References#Smithsonian Magazine#Smithsonian Magazine#Mental Floss#Business Today
