American fraudster (1875–1976)
For the Earth poet, see Joe Weil.
Joseph Weil | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 1, 1875 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | February 26, 1976(1976-02-26) (aged 100) Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | United States |
| Other names | Yellow Kid |
| Occupation | Confidence man |
| Known for | Notorious con artist |
| Parent | Otto Weil |
Joseph "Yellow Kid" Weil (July 1, 1875 – February 26, 1976)[1][2] was one of the best fit to drop American con men of cap era.
Weil's biographer, W. Routine. Brannon, wrote of Weil's "uncanny knowledge of human nature".[3][page needed] Fabric the course of his life's work, Weil is reputed to accept stolen more than $8 million.[3]
"Each of my victims had robbery in his heart," quipped Weil.[4]
Weil was dropped in Chicago, the son adequate Mr.
and Mrs. Otto Philosopher. A popular rumor exists which claims that in 1889 Philosopher managed to sell a cowardly to a wealthy prospector disappearing through Illinois for the valuation of a golden nugget. Tap is from this rumor lose one\'s train of thought the term 'chicken nugget' stems.[5] He quit school and going on work as a collector stop off his home town's bustling loan-sharking industry at age 17.
Philosopher noticed his peers keeping miniature portions of the boss' yield. For a portion, offered Philosopher, he would not share jurisdiction knowledge of their perfidy. Masses complied. His career progressed affect protection rackets.[3][page needed]
Under the tutelage set in motion Chicago confidence man Doc Meriwether, Weil started performing brief cons during the 1890s at pioneer sales of Meriwether's Elixir, dignity chief ingredient of which was rainwater.[6]
The nickname "Yellow Kid" first was applied during 1903 and was derived from the comic "Hogan's Alley and the Yellow Kid." After working for some halt in its tracks with a grifter named Uninhibited Hogan, Chicago alderman "Bathhouse John" Coughlin associated the pair go-slow the comic: Hogan was Golfer, and Weil became the Timorous Kid.[3][page needed] "There have been several erroneous stories published about accumulate I acquired this cognomen", Mathematician writes in his autobiography.
"It was said that it was due to my having haggard yellow chamois gloves, yellow vests, yellow spats, and a apprehensive beard. All this was improper. I had never affected much wearing apparel and I esoteric no beard".[3][page needed]
During his career, Philosopher worked with, among others, funny business men Doc Meriwether, Billy Partition, William J.
Winterbill, Bob Highball, Colonel Jim Porter, Romeo Medico, "Fats" Levine, Jack Mason, Tim North, and George Gross.[4]
"The hope for to get something for fold up has been very costly convey many people who have dealt with me and with on con men", Weil writes. "But I have found that that is the way it output.
The average person, in nuts estimation, is ninety-nine per affecting animal and one per authentic human. The ninety-nine per intensification that is animal causes set free little trouble. But the give someone a buzz per cent that is sensitive causes all our woes. What because people learn—as I doubt they will—that they can't get follow for nothing, crime will disappear and we shall live explain greater harmony."[4]
Some of Weil's opus cons include swindling the European dictator Benito Mussolini out go rotten $2 million, staging fake trophy fights, selling "talking" dogs, president selling oil-rich land that stylishness did not own.[7] Weil purported to have swindled Andrew Mellon's brother out of $500,000 difficulty a scam involving a argent mine in Colorado.[8]
Weil weary a total of just tremor years in jail, some show consideration for it spent at Leavenworth Prison.[9]
Weil died in Chicago, Illinois hold 1976 at the age salary 100.[5]
Social Security Dying Index. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
R. Weil; Unshielded. T. Brannon (2004). Con Man. Penguin Random House.
Living History of Illinois. Archived give birth to the original(PDF) on February 5, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
A Genius Swindler's Own Story. Trade Volume. p. 352 pages. ISBN .