The Baron of Arizona

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Bernie Madoff was a piker.

He stole a few score billion dollars.

But how much is a whole state worth? All the land, natural resources, and structures?

That's what James Addison Reavis stole--almost getting away with the theft too.

Last night I watched THE BARON OF ARIZONA, a 1950 film by Samuel Fuller and starring Vincent Price. It tells the true story of Reavis, who cooked up an incredible con job to lay claim to the entire territory of Arizona in the year 1883.

You can read a fascinating essay about it here.

This is one film definitely worth renting for those with a taste for weird history.
     Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 29, 2009
     Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams | History | Historical Figure | Wild West and US Frontier | Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators | Movies | Nineteenth Century





Comments
I read about this guy in Paradox Press' Big Book of the Weird Wild West... or maybe in the Big Book of Little Criminals. I recommend all of the Paradox Press Big Books to WU readers if you can find them.
Posted by kingmonkey in Athens, Ontario on 04/30/09 at 09:53 AM
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