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Steven Conner Inner circle 2720 Posts |
Certainly one of those men would be Victor "the Count" Lustig. He is probably the only man to Con the great Al Capone and live to tell about it.
Born in 1890 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Lustig taught himself to speak English, German, Italian, and French while still a boy, and embarked upon the life of a con man at an early age. Through. various gambling cons, Lustig worked his way to the United States in the early 1920s. Finding himself in Chicago, he fearlessly looked up the top resident gangster, Al Capone, and promised that he could double Capone's money -$50,000 was required to pad out what he himself would invest-if the racket czar was willing to put up the funds. Such a sum was paltry to mil1ionaire Big Al, but be didn't spend his money loosely, and while counting out fifty thousand-dollar bills to Lustig, Scarface growled: “Okay, Count, double it in sixty days like you said.” This is exactly what the Count expected, and he quickly placed Capone s $50,000 in a safe-deposit box and then returned to "New York to attend to some of his on-going schemes. Returning in about two months, Lustig went to Capone's headquarters and was shown into Al’s coliseum-like offices. Capone motioned the bowing, derby-carrying Lustig to a chair while several blue-jawed goons surrounded him. “You said you’d double that fifty thousand dollars of mine. What about it?" The Count smiled apologetically. "Please accept my profound regrets, Mr. Capone. I’m sorry to report to you that the plan failed. . . I failed". Capone's florid face reddened, his hamhock hands doubled into menacing fists. “Why, you-" Calmly, Victor Lustig reached into his coat pocket, withdrew Capone's $50,000, and placed it on the broad mahogany desk before him. "Here sir, is your money, to the penny. Again. my sincere apologies. This is most embarrassing. Things didn't work out the way I had thought they would. I should have loved to have doubled your money for you and for myself-Lord knows that I need it-but the plan just did not materialize. The jowly gangster stared incredulously down at the neat stack of money on his desk, his mouth open, his fists unclenching. He sagged back in his chair. "I know you're a con man, Count." he finally managed in a weak voice. I expected either a hundred thousand dollars or nothing. But this. . . getting my money back . . . well. . ." Lustig stood up, airily brushing his lapel. "Again my apologies, Mr. Capone” He started to leave. Scarface's massive forehead wrinkled and he pumped his portly frame upward with one thrust of his bearIike arms. My God, you're honest he shouted, surprised at his own voice. Capone reached for his money. If you’re on the spot, here's five to help you along." He counted out $5,000 and gave it to the hustler. Lustig appeared startled,and then, mouthing his gratitude, pocketed the amount and departed. The $5,000 or something thereabouts is what Victor Lustig had been after all along, and all he had to do, he reasoned, was to play the role of an honest man, even though he felt nothing but contempt for such individuals. He was once quoted as saying: "Everything turns gray when I don't have at least: one mark on the horizon. Life then seems empty and depressing. I cannot understand honest men. They 1ead desperate lives, full of boredom."
"The New York Papers," Mark Twain once said,"have long known that no large question is ever really settled until I have been consulted; it is the way they feel about it, and they show it by always sending to me when they get uneasy. "
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
I think there are some very colorful scams but if you get the chance, someone owns one of the original money machines and has a picture of it up on the web. Google should find it. Victor was a real artist with attention to detail. This is the fore runner of selling 'special' copy machines with $20 plates 'built in'. (jpegs stored in memory) And of course the magicians money maker machine.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Yiannis Veteran user Chicago USA 349 Posts |
Tommy, thanks for the link! Very interesting story indeed.
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Yiannis
It is a good book and all true. About 30 thirty years ago there was a crew of Hungarians based in London, they were great. They were known as the Hungarian Circle but I can’t find any mention of them on the Web. I can’t understand why as they pulled some big cons all over the world.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Thanks Tommy
Cards never lie
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Conmen in general though are not nice people and I personally have known some right ruthless annimals.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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NicholasD Inner circle 1458 Posts |
Sometimes the very best are the one's we don't hear about because the suckers are so embarassed that they never say anything. Let's not forget that a "con" man gains your confidence by convincing you that he's your best friend when, in fact, he'd just as soon kill you as look at you.
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-29 11:20, NicholasD wrote: In the treatment of the mental disorder, there are some bits of evidence pointing towards either a cohabitation of spirits within the lower self in the philosophical explanation, or as better medically known a split personality relating to the subconscious being, leaving the thinking middle self in tact. The more dominant evil side allowing control for the purpose of the gain in confidence, and then the shift towards the actual act. This leaving the middle or thinking self being used as a vehicle. Some really fascinating reading can be found in older medical journals. In church terms one would say 'constant obsession', which is the cohabitational step before the expulsion of the soul entity and full possession. In most all cases, the middle thinking self is aware, but has no idea as to the why or the function behind the mechanics or events. This person does not feel a remorse or sense of wrongdoing, but concludes everything is going along as it should. A very sad state of affairs for any human.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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Boston83 New user 7 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-29 15:38, KingStardog wrote: I have to say reading this gave me chills. It definately rings true in my case. Quite an insight... -B |
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ronfour Regular user 162 Posts |
Who thinks the story about the
"count" and Al Capone is true? |
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Boston83 New user 7 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-01-02 15:43, ronfour wrote: It was well known that Capone valued honesty very highly and he was known to reward it. Lustig was certainly aware of this, so the story is at least plausible. |
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ronfour Regular user 162 Posts |
Please tell us more about Al Capone rewarding honesty. I have never heard this. Did you get this info from a reliable source?
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Pavloter Special user 529 Posts |
Quote: It's in the book, "The Man WHo Sold Eiffel Tower".On 2008-01-02 20:04, ronfour wrote:
Pavlo
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card cheat Elite user 426 Posts |
Plenty of crooks, oddly enough, value honesty amongst themselves to a great extent.
CC |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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DStachowiak Inner circle Baltimore, MD 2158 Posts |
For an interesting, very detailed story of an enormous con, see "Drake's Fortune" by Richard Raynor. It is the story of Oscar Hartzell, who conned millions of dollars from trusting folks from 1914 to 1933. He reached his peak at the height of the Great Depression, and even when he was caught and exposed as a crook, his marks continued to shower him with money.
It's a remarkable story and well worth a read. The bare bones are here in Wikipedia, but you should read the book, it's a fascinating story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hartzell
Woke up.
Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across m' head. |
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
Its common knowledge that honesty is rewarded. I have experienced such cases at a younger age. Capone was doing nothing different than was done by may others.
Victor was the premier Flim Flam man if he can't be called a con. His work was much further along than many psychologists of that day. High end stuff. He could cut to the core of the human form of evil and then play it. Very advanced material.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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KingStardog Inner circle 2134 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-01-02 14:04, Boston83 wrote: I can offer some methods to overcome, if you are open minded. My book is close to printing but if you believed you were getting a spiritual steer, and want to work away from it, I will send a copy free of charge. Unlike some of the other material I have written and produced, This work is because there is a human need, and I can't be where everyone is, to assist, so it is there for forwarding to your doctor, and if that that is unacceptable I will forward for self assistance at a last choice. Same for anyone else. If there is a specific need PM me and describe and I will forward. That is what this written work is about so the offer is out there.
...think not that all wisdom is in your school. You may have studied other paths,but, it is important to remember that no matter who you are or where you come from, there is always more to learn.
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
We need the money.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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