102: I've Got A Bridge To Sell You

About this episode

The episode explores the notorious con man George C. Parker and his infamous scams involving iconic New York landmarks.

George C. Parker was an infamous con man. He sold the Brooklyn Bridge countless times. He sold Ulysses S. Grant’s tomb. He sold Madison Square Garden. He sold the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He even sold the Statue of Liberty! Most often, the victims of his schemes were new immigrants who didn’t speak English and were unfamiliar with America’s public property laws. …but… was George C. Parker truly the prolific scammer he claimed to be? The internet sure thinks so! Normie C begs to differ. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Asbury Park Press . “Capt. Parker Held For Extradition.” June 30, 1928. Asbury Park Press . “Parker, Famous ‘Seller,’ Seized Here, Gets Life.” December 18, 1928. Asbury Park Press . “Parker, Noted Confidence Man, Is Arrested Here.” June 29, 1928. Brooklyn Daily Times . “Famous ‘Con’ Man Starts as ‘Lifer.’” November 23, 1928. Brooklyn Daily Times . “Smartest Bunco Salesman Faces Life Term If Convicted.” July 8, 1928. Brooklyn Eagle . “Albert Murch Dies.” August 11, 1931. Brooklyn Eagle . “Brooklyn Bridge’s ‘Seller’ Sent to Sing Sing For Life.” November 23, 1928. Brown, Peter Jensen. “Bridges, Bunco and…

People in this episode

Host: Normie C

Topics covered

• con man
• scams
• Brooklyn Bridge
• history
• immigrants
• true crime

Keywords

• George C. Parker
• Brooklyn Bridge
• scams
• con man
• Ulysses S. Grant
• immigrants
• New York
• true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Asbury Park Press, Brooklyn Daily Times, Brooklyn Eagle, The New York Times

Books & works: Bridges, Bunco and Basso - a Gullible History of Selling the Brooklyn Bridge

Places: Brooklyn, Sing Sing

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