The Film Flam Men - Keep This in Context

Attributed to P.T. Barnum, the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute" has been the credo of countless con artists throughout the ages. Only the boldest of these con artists, however, were able to assume highly profitable (and fictitious) professional identities, or fraudulently sell national landmarks to the unwary.

The tale of the selling of the Brooklyn Bridge, to recently arrived immigrants with a little money in their pockets, is the stuff of American legend. Scotsman Arthur Furguson, a con artist during the Roaring 20's, probably would have tried to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, if he had thought of the idea, but, to Arthur, the Brooklyn Bridge would have been valuable only as a secondary property.

His career began in London, in Trafalgar Square, in the 1920's. Posing as a guide (and broker), Arthur "sold an unwary American tourist Nelson's Column, a British landmark, for approximately $30,000. The tourist, who had been convinced that the monument was to be eliminated from the square, was unable to believe he had been duped until convinced by Scotland Yard.

London abounded with Americans that summer. Furguson was alleged to have later "sold" another American Parliament's Big Ben for $5,000, while accepting a down payment of $10,000 on Buckingham Palace from another. Neither Scotland Yard nor the London police captured Furguson, which encouraged Arthur to move his operation to the home of his victims.

In 1925, he arrived in Washington, D.C. A cattle rancher, visiting the Capitol, responded to Furguson's persuasive charms and paid Arthur the first year's rental amount of $100,000 as the initial portion of a 99-year lease - on the White House. During the con which followed the White House caper, however, Arthur slipped up and allowed himself to be photographed by his victim, which resulted in his arrest and imprisonment for five years. The Australian, whom Furguson had attempted to bilk out of $100,000 through the hoax of the sale of the Statue of Liberty, had finally bested the con man.

American Dan Collins and partner Victor Lustig posed as a count, responsible for Paris buildings, and his American secretary. By soliciting Parisian scrap metal merchants, Collins and Lustig received submitted sealed bids on an upcoming project, the sale and demolition of the Eiffel Tower. The "winner" in the bids, Andre Poisson, not only paid the amount of the bid he had made, but included a hefty bribe for Lustig, to ensure the transaction. When Poisson discovered the hoax, his personal embarrassment prevented him from seeking the arrest of Collins and Lustig. Unfortunately, this only convinced the two con men to try and sell the Eiffel Tower yet again. The second victim went to the police and the Eiffel Tower was not placed on the market a third time. Collins and Lustig were never caught.

A master of impersonation, as well as a self-educated quick-study, Ferdinand Waldo Demara began his as a deserter in both the U.S. Army and Navy. During the Korean War, in 1952, posing as a doctor he had once met by the name of Cyr, Demara enlisted in the Canadian navy. With an amazing talent for both medicine and surgery, Demara adroitly performed surgeries, including the removal of a bullet lodged near the heart of a South Korean soldier. When he established a clinic to aid the South Koreans, who severely lacked adequate medical facilities, a navy publicist spread the tale of the noble doctor via radio and the press. Almost immediately, the truth of Cyr's true identity was uncovered. Demara, who was not an M.D., was quickly removed from active duty, and, after facing a naval inquiry board in Canada, was discharged with the pay due to him,. He was then told to leave Canada.

After selling his story to a magazine, Demara obtained employment as a prison officer in the Texas Prison System. He had applied for the position using the name of Ben W. Jones, with former aliases used as references. As Jones, Demara initiated writing classes, movie showings and sports days for the prisoners in his care. As a result of these new positive ideas, Demara was given greater responsibility by the director of the Texas Prison System.

When one of the prisoners came upon the magazine story of Demara's life, the confronted Demara claimed to be offended that a prisoner's word had been accepted by the officials over his own. Demara took what he had and left.

Demara, the con man who improved the lives of others, finally decided to go straight. His choice of occupations? Ordained minister.

Finally, there is the story of Dr. James Barry, who had studied medicine at Edinburgh University in the early 1800's. Reputed to have been handsome and popular in his youth, the distinguished retired army surgeon died in London in 1865 at the age of 73. Dr. Barry had lived a full life, during a time when only men were able to hold positions of authority. Imagine the surprise of those who were preparing the doctor's body for burial when they discovered that Dr. Barry was a woman. Since this was the only name that this woman had been known as, her tombstone was inscribed James Barry.