How Female Grifters of the Gilded Age Stole Millions & Fooled Everyone | #126

Step inside a world of opulence, excess, and elaborate deception. While the Gilded Age is known for its industrial titans and lavish parties, a dark and fascinating criminal underworld was thriving, run by some of history's most audacious con artists. In this episode, we uncover the shocking true stories of the female grifters of the Gilded Age, a group of women who used society's expectations against itself to swindle fortunes. Author Annie Reed joins us to reveal how these master manipulators stole millions, outsmarted the shrewdest businessmen, and became legends of crime.

From high-stakes cons that shook the financial world to elaborate romance scams, this episode explores the lives of the most notorious Gilded Age swindlers. We begin with the incredible tale of Cassie Chadwick, the subject of Annie Reed's book, The Imposter Heiress. Chadwick masterminded one of the era's biggest scams by convincing bankers she was Andrew Carnegie's illegitimate daughter, securing millions in fraudulent loans. Her story serves as the yardstick against which all other swindlers were measured. But she was far from alone. We delve into the reasons why the Gilded Age was the perfect breeding ground for these criminals, as women began to demand more agency in a world dominated by men and speculative wealth. The conversation then turns to other legendary figures, including Ellen Peck, a lifelong "jack of all trades" swindler in New York whose criminal career spanned decades and netted her an estimated $30 million in today's money. We also uncover the story of Bertha "Big Bertha" Heyman, the "Confidence Queen" who retired from a life of crime to become a theater owner and lecturer. A particularly dark story is that of Sarah Howe, who preyed on vulnerable women with her "Ladies Deposit Bank," an early and cruel Ponzi scheme. Finally, we explore the incredible tale of the House of Hearts swindle, a massive marriage scam run by best friends Izzella Brown and Vina, who lured countless men into phony engagements to steal their money. These incredible true stories of the female grifters of the Gilded Age reveal a hidden side of American history, where cunning women built empires on lies.

About Our Guest:
Annie Reed is an author and historian specializing in American history and female criminals. She is the author of the bestselling book, The Imposter Heiress, which details the unbelievable life and crimes of Cassie Chadwick. After stumbling upon Chadwick's story, Reed fell down a rabbit hole of research into the many forgotten female swindlers, grifters, and thieves of the Gilded Age, becoming a leading expert on the topic.

Timestamps:

(00:00) The Notorious Women of the Gilded Age

(01:04) The Story of Cassie Chadwick, The Imposter Heiress

(04:24) Why Did Women Become Swindlers in the Gilded Age?

(07:11) Ellen Peck: New York’s Lifelong "Jack of All Trades" Swindler

(09:26) Big Bertha Heyman: The "Confidence Queen" Who Retired

(11:20) Sarah Howe and the "Ladies Deposit Bank" Ponzi Scheme

(13:40) Mabel Parker's Expert Forgery Ring

(15:12) Inside the "House of Hearts" Marriage Swindle

(19:26) How Gilded Age Cons Connect to Modern Scams

(22:31) International Counterparts: The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum & The 40 Elephants