Folk Figure. Known as "Kid" Waddell, Reed became a professional con man, earning an international reputation and, according to the "Encyclopedia of American Crime," was "without a doubt the greatest of all at the gold brick swindle" where a gold-plated lead brick was passed off as an authentic gold brick. Waddell sold these worthless bricks as the real thing, earning around $250,000.00 (the equivalent of roughly $4 million today) in a decade. In the 1890s Waddell and another bunco steerer named Tom O'Brien headed to Paris where they continued to gamble and pull their scams. In 1895 the pair had a disagreement and O'Brien shot Waddell six times. Waddell died several days later and his remains were returned to Springfield where he lies not far from the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
Folk Figure. Known as "Kid" Waddell, Reed became a professional con man, earning an international reputation and, according to the "Encyclopedia of American Crime," was "without a doubt the greatest of all at the gold brick swindle" where a gold-plated lead brick was passed off as an authentic gold brick. Waddell sold these worthless bricks as the real thing, earning around $250,000.00 (the equivalent of roughly $4 million today) in a decade. In the 1890s Waddell and another bunco steerer named Tom O'Brien headed to Paris where they continued to gamble and pull their scams. In 1895 the pair had a disagreement and O'Brien shot Waddell six times. Waddell died several days later and his remains were returned to Springfield where he lies not far from the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
Bio by: John Winterbauer
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