American Outlaws: King Con

0:00 Speaker 1: Warning, Kind of Murdery contains adult themes, explicit language, and descriptions of violence. It is not suitable for anyone, and we recommend you stop listening now.

0:18 Speaker 2: True crime with a dash of the paranormal, the garish, the strange in the darkly comic. A podcast that's about more than just murder. It's my very own pocket dimension, home to a curated collection of bizarre and compelling stories, the unsolved, the unsettling, and the unbelievable. I cover it all just so long as it's kind of murdery. Hello, everybody, welcome to Kind of Murdery. I'm your host, Zevin Odelberg, and I am so happy to have you here with me. These days, I don't know if it's because people have no attention span or what, but you'll see a top ten list, right and it'll start at number one and then go to number ten.

1:00 Speaker 2: I actually hate that, because I like the suspense of working my way from ten or one hundred or whatever it is up to one. But nevertheless, I'm gonna commit that same sin today because we are starting not with some little known confidence man, not with some anonymous grifter, but with arguably the most famous grifter in the history of grifting, and everybody knows that that is a profession that goes back almost as far as the oldest one. That's right. The subject of today's story is none other than Charles Ponzi himself.

1:37 Speaker 2: But I'm not here to tell you the story of how he invented the pyramid scheme exactly, So I'm not here to tell you the central Ponzi story. No, this is a tale of Charles Ponzi on the lamb, Charles Ponzie running from the law years after he was initially busted for defraud so many investors. That's right, it is time kind of murdery starts now. Charles Ponzi had escaped over land and sea. Wireless messages were dispatched by frantic officials at police headquarters and from the Attorney General's office in Boston, Massachusetts.

2:28 Speaker 2: Ponzi, the dapper Italian quote financial wizard of School Street, was wanted by the police back in nineteen nineteen. Everybody knew Charles Ponzi. His name was on the tongue of almost every man and woman in the United States. He had come to this country to make money. He had peddled fruit, waited on tables, worked as a clerk, and incidentally, which was not so widely known, had served time at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for smuggling Chinese nationals. Now, he declared he'd gotten hold of the big idea, and this big idea was so vast, so audacious in conception, that the financial world stood aghast.

3:02 Speaker 2: It seemed impossible, a mad figment of the imagination. Ponzi, it was rumored, had started his career on a five cent postage stamp, but whether that was true or not, he now rolled up a business based upon the profits said to have accrued from the difference in value between foreign and domestic exchange notes in international reply coupons, which called for payments aggregating the stupendous amount of fourteen million dollars. Charles Ponzie promised a profit of fifty percent in forty five days.

3:34 Speaker 2: Money poured in so fast that it had to be stored in waste baskets. Vehicular traffic on School Street was stopped for two days while investors with fistsful of money fought to get into Ponzy's office. Police were called to keep the crowds in line. Charles Ponzi was riding on top of the world. He bought a magnificent house in Lexington, Massachusetts. He drove about in an expensive limousine. He installed a staff of servants at his home, and bought his wife magnificent Saint jewels. Somebody named a five cent cigar after him.

4:03 Speaker 2: It was even intimated that he might run for the office of governor of Massachusetts. Then the governor, always inconsiderate in cases of this kind, grew Suspicious investigations were started. Investors who had mortgaged homes and automobiles to get in on this get rich quick scheme grew alarmed. A run started, but the first notes presented for payment were promptly paid. More money poured into Ponzi's coffers. Policemen who were called to quell a near riot stayed and invested. Officials became frankly puzzled.

4:34 Speaker 2: Ponzi claimed he had secret agents stationed in all countries, buying international reply coupons in ways in which it would be impossible to trace. Foreign countries became worried. It looked as though existing financial standards of interest might be turned topsy Turvy investigators hesitated about calling Ponzi's scheme fraudulent. They honestly didn't know, but he might have discovered some secret way of manipulating the foreign exchange. However, patient investigation and proved his operations to be fraudulent, and the crash came.

5:04 Speaker 2: Ponsey was convicted of using the mails to defraud and received a sentence of five years. The Hanover Trust Company and several other Boston banks closed as a result of these wild speculations. Investors who'd made enormous profits were forced to make restitution. Ponzi himself went to jail. When released, he was re arrested and faced state indictment. There were more trials and more delays. Ponzi went to Florida and announced to the world that he would sell house lots at ten dollars a lot to pay back his investors.

5:34 Speaker 2: Money flowed in and more trouble followed. He was ordered back to Massachusetts to stand trial and mysteriously disappeared. The manhunt was on. Charles Ponzi had become a fugitive from justice. Once again. The Wizard occupied front page space in all the newspapers. There were plenty of rumors concerning his whereabouts. Most of these rumors were carefully investigated. It was said he had entertained at a roadhouse in New Hampshire. Late he had vanished in the direction of the Canadian border, driving an expensive, speedy roadster.

6:04 Speaker 2: Others said he was in Florida. There were reports he'd been seen in Paris, and one correspondent even insisted that he was in Rome. It began to look as though Charles Ponzi had well and truly escaped in Boston. Disgruntled and disillusioned investor's demanded action. Police Inspector John F. Mitchell was assigned to the case. Meanwhile, down on the Gulf of Mexico, the Sick Boss Don Vobis, a foreign ship flying the Italian flag, was leisurely making her way towards Galveston, the last port of call before returning to Italy.

6:37 Speaker 2: By the way, sik vos non vobis is Latin for you work but not for yourselves. On board the Sick Voss, disguised as a waiter, was Charles Ponzi, himself international man of mystery. He had Austin Powers beat. By about seventy five some odd years, Ponzi had escaped the man hunt by a very clever sk those were, after all, clever schemes, I mean, his true core competence. So here was the scheme. When news came that Ponzi was wanted back in Massachusetts, he was in Tampa, Florida. By luck, he happened to meet an old friend of his from Boston, one Italian Joe, to whom he explained his plight.

7:17 Speaker 2: I'll do my best, Joe promised him. But I don't know what that'll be. Lie low for a time and I'll see what I can do. A little later, Joe sought Ponzi again. This time his face was wreathed in smiles. I think it can be arranged, he said. There's an Italian ship in Port, the sick Voss von Voebis. She's returning to Italy within several weeks. I think I can get you a job on her on board as a waiter. Shall I try? Yes, Yes, said Ponzi. Only hurry. Wires were pulled and Charles Ponzi found himself on board the Italian ship, headed eventually for his native land and freedom.

7:48 Speaker 2: Charles Ponzi, the foppish, smooth face American, had disappeared. In his place was Andrea Luciana, dressed in the rough clothing of an ordinary seaman. It was a good disguise. Head and eyebrows were shaved. He wore long side whiskers and a mustache. Luciana was apparently what he represented himself to be, an ignorant foreigner who understood no English and was not particularly bright. The ship sailed from Tampa, Ponsey breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the shore recede in the distance. That night, he became acquainted with the young wireless operator on board the ship.

8:23 Speaker 2: Day by day he cultivated a friendship with his native born Italian until they were upon intimate terms. Night after night, he listened in on the wireless and heard the police searching for one Charles Ponzi. The Italian wireless operator said that the country seemed quite disturbed about this man Ponzi, and Luciana smiled. He was safe, His scheme had worked. His exaltation grew as he learned he had been located, first in one place and then another. The stupid American police had been completely fooled, and he Charles Ponzi had done it.

8:52 Speaker 2: He was safe, safe, but Ponzi, who had so successfully shut tight all avenues of information for the time being, had overlooked most important factor of all, which would make his escape a success or a failure. He had neglected to take his own egotism and conceit into consideration, and this egotism came to the forefront as he saw safety within his grasp and realized that once more he had outwitted the Massachusetts authorities. This feeling grew more intense as the police messages became more urgent and Ponsi appreciated the situation.

9:25 Speaker 2: Finally, he grew so pleased with himself that he was unable to keep his identity a secret for a moment longer. He was up in the wireless room. He had just listened to a long message reporting his whereabouts in some Midwestern city, and heard with Gusto the steps being taken to bring about his arrest. That Chap Ponsi has given the police a good chase, said the operator, as he removed the earphones from his head for a few moments. He's a bright chap, you think so, Ponsi glowed as he heard praise of himself.

9:53 Speaker 2: You think so. Something in Ponzi's tone made the operator turn Well, of course, I think so. He replied emphatically. He's a one clever guy. Listen, Ponsi said, softly, looking around to make sure they were not overheard. If I tell you something very secret, will you promise to keep your mouth shut? The operator nodded. Ponsey bent still closer. Do you know who I am? He asked? The operator smiled Andrea Luchana, the waiter. He said, not at all. I am Charles Ponzi, the financial wizard. The operator started, a gleam of admiration came into his eyes.

10:25 Speaker 2: Not that Charles Ponsi the police are looking for. By the way, everybody, forgive my terrible cartoon Italian accent if it helps it all. I am Italian myself. My father's mother's maiden dab was Brokhini. I just couldn't resist taking a stab at it here. But yes, it is bad, It is bad, bad, bad, So forgive me for that. So anyway, the operator says, not that Charles Ponsi, the police are looking for the same, replied Ponzi proudly. But don't you breathe a word of it to a soul. The operator swore, by all he held sacred, And then Ponsi talked and we'll find out what Charles Ponzie said after the break.

11:08 Speaker 2: Hey, everybody, we're back. Thank you for taking a moment to support the brands who support kind of Murdery. I'd like to mention briefly, as I often do, and as you know, that I have cerebral palsy, and I would like for kind of Murdery in our community to be not only a forum, but a support network for people with disabilities, physical or otherwise, and really for anyone whose life story is one that maybe people are not that aware of and needs to be shared. I mean, everyone's story needs to be shared, but I think that there are stories and realities among us that we often don't consider, and I hope that our show can be a chance for some people who are living in those realities to be heard.

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14:17 Speaker 2: So yes, please do leave reviews. It helps in so many ways. And with that, it's time to get back to American Grifter Run Chucky Run. Charles Ponsi on the Lamb, kind of Murdery resumes now. Listen, Ponsi said, softly, looking around to make sure they were not overheard. If I tell you something very secret, will you promise to keep your mouth shut? The operator nodded. Ponsey bent still closer. Do you know who I am? He asked. The operator smiled Andrea Luchana, the waiter. He said, not at all. I am Charles Ponsei, the financial wizard.

14:57 Speaker 2: The operator started. A gleam of admir came into his eyes. Not that, Charles Ponsee. The police are looking for the same, replied Ponzy proudly. But don't you breathe a word of it to a soul. The operator swore by all he held sacred, and then Ponsey talked. Police Commissioner Edward Ugh Curtis of Boston knew what he was doing, and assigning Police Inspector John F. Mitchell to the State Attorney General's office. When the worldwide hunt for Ponzie started, Mitchell had a reputation for always getting his man.

15:29 Speaker 2: It was Mitchell who uncovered the famous automobile ring which encircled New England. It was Mitchell who brought to successful unraveling several Boston blackmailing plots. When Ponsey refused to return to Massachusetts and serve his sentence, Inspector Mitchell set the wheels of justice in motion. It was all done very quietly. Too much publicity would have defeated his purpose. Ponsey had boasted he would never come back to Massachusetts to serve his time. Mitchell intended to see that Ponsie did.

15:58 Speaker 2: The police officer was an ex experienced manhunter. He had run down and captured his query too often to be dismayed at Ponsy's disappearance, so Inspector Mitchell proceeded in a leisurely fashion. In a conference with Attorney General J. Benton and District Attorney Thomas C. O'Brien, he suggested that wanted circulars be sent out to police departments throughout the world. The officer took his time. He intended to be thorough. It was decided that Europe in particular should be heavily circularized because of the belief that Ponzi had gone to one of the many countries there.

16:30 Speaker 2: For the first time. Since Ponzie's disappearance, the toils of the law were slowly but surely closing in on the wizard. All unknowingly, Ponzi had made another serious mistake. He had forgotten the fact that back in nineteen oh eight he had grown a mustache. But for that he might have bluffed his way to freedom. Mitchell spent a lot of time and putting a great deal of thought on that police circular. Several conferences were held on the best way to circularize Ponzi. Boston knew him as a clean shaven chap, but Inspector Mitchell recalled that back nineteen oh eight, when he was arrested in Montreal for check forgery and mugged for the Rogue's Gallery, he'd worn a mustache.

17:06 Speaker 2: A mustache is a common disguise, and Inspector Mitchell acted upon the theory that Ponzi had forgotten all about this episode back in nineteen oh eight. After much deliberation, it was decided that the best insurest way to get Ponzi was to send out his description with the Montreal Rogues Gallery picture. However, unwilling to take chances, another circular with a picture showing Ponzi smooth shaven, was sent along with it. The circulars went out, Inspector Mitchell settled back to await development.

17:33 Speaker 2: One of the circulars scattered to the four corners of the world found its way eventually into the city room of a Texas newspaper office. Yet Ponzi's luck still held. Nothing happened at Galveston, who aroused his suspicions. The police knew nothing of that. He was certain after a brief touch at Houston, only one more port of call remained before the prow of the Italian ship would at last be turned towards Italy and certain freedom. Ponzi grew a trifle careless. He made still another mistake. He let drop the fact that he understood English, and the captain, who happened to overhear the remark, subconsciously made a mental note of it.

18:08 Speaker 2: It might be useful to have an interpreter on board in case of trouble with customs. Not that he expected any trouble, but it was just as well to be prepared. Day by day. As the chances of arrest grew less and less, Ponzi's egotism grew more and more pronounced to him. His freedom was sure. Those American police are fools, Ponsi repeated time after time to the wireless operator. Now his confidant, I have nothing to fear, now, absolutely nothing, and the operator agreed with him wholeheartedly. He was proud of his compatriot, and even more vain that Ponsi had taken him into his confidence.

18:39 Speaker 2: He read the police messages, which he still occasionally intercepted, with much zest and amusement as he realized that he, and he alone, was aware of the identity and whereabouts of the man who had aroused police all over the world. If only the operator had some confidant to whom he could have boasted a trifle about his knowledge, then his contentment would have been complete. Was not often that a wireless operator was the bosom friend of a man as famous as Charles Ponzi. But of course he would remain silent, hadn't he given his word.

19:08 Speaker 2: The ship put into Houston, where it was scheduled to remain only a few hours. The wireless operator planned to do a little shopping on shore. Ponsi met him just as he left his stateroom. Remember, he said, in a low voice, not a word, of course, not. The operator replied, a little hurt at this implied lack of confidence, Haven't I promised? And with that Ponsi had to be content. He walked over to the gang plank and watched the operator out of sight. Then he turned away with a sigh. He would have liked to have gone ashore with him, but that was too much risk with freedom so near.

19:38 Speaker 2: Although he felt there was little chance of discovery from the police, they were just too stupid. Still, it was just as well not to take chances. He reluctantly left the deck and went below. The operator drew a deep sigh of relief as his feet touched the solid ground and he heard the din of traffic a few blocks distant. It was good to be on land again, even if it was in a strange city where he knew no one. Then happened one of those unexplainable things that readers of fiction will call far fetched, and yet they occur frequently in real life.

20:06 Speaker 2: As the operator turned the corner, he bumped into an old acquaintance from Boston, John Smith, a former customs officer from that city. The wireless operator was overjoyed at the meeting. He learned that Smith was now a resident of Houston, was a ship chandler. His tongue continued to wag. He felt extremely friendly to this one man, whom he knew in this city. Without thinking In a burst of confidence, he confided the secret he had promised never to reveal. Charles Ponsey was on his ship disguised as a waiter.

20:34 Speaker 2: Smith was apparently unimpressed. He dismissed the subject without comment and turned to other topics. But Smith did quick thinking as he carried on a light conversation with the unsuspecting operator. He knew Charles Ponzi was wanted by the police. He knew also there was little chance of extradition once Ponzi got to Italy. Can't you meet me tonight for supper on a show? Smith asked. Finally, the operator's face clouded with disappointment. He was very sorry, but it would be impossible. The ship was sailing just as soon as they took their cargo on board, a matter of only an hour or two.

21:06 Speaker 2: Smith's eyelids barely flickered at this intelligence Another time, perhaps Smith was no longer interested in the operator. He had learned what he wanted, and there was little time in which to act. He glanced at his watch, pleading a previous engagement. The two men chatted a few seconds longer, and then parted. Smith waited until the Italian was out of sight. Then he hurried to the sheriff's office. Charles Ponsey is on board an Italian ship in the harbor, he said, as he burst into the sheriff's office.

21:31 Speaker 2: Here is that, so said the sheriff, And who is Charles Ponzi? Smith explained as best he could, but the sheriff took little interest and refused to take any action. He was sure it was a case of mistaken identity. He doubted his authority to board a foreign vessel. I don't reckon there's anything we can do, Smith, he said. At last, we'd best keep out of it. Let Massachusetts get our own criminals. We have enough right here to keep us busy. Undismayed, Smith took his leave and started for the newspaper.

21:59 Speaker 2: Officer. Time was going short. At the Houston Press, he met city editor web See Arts, and in Arts found that an interested listener. He told him the entire story. Sure I know about Ponzy, said Arts, fumbling among some papers on his littered desk. Here's the police circular that the Attorney's General's office sent me some time ago. Ponsey's on that boat, Smith said, earnestly, I'm certain of that. If he is we're gonna nab him, promised Arts. Foreign ship or no foreign ship, we should worry about that.

22:24 Speaker 2: If it really is Ponsey, it's a wail of a story, and one that every newspaper from coast to coast will play in the banner heads. And you say the boat is only here for a short time, Well let's go. Smith and Arts returned to the Sheriff's office. The sheriff was still there. This time. Arts did the talking. He was terse and to the point. He used very few words, and those few he did use were eloquent. The sheriff listened as Arts supplemented Smith's information and threatened immediate action if help was not forthcoming.

22:49 Speaker 2: Well said the sheriff, as Arts finished and stood waiting, watch in hand. I ain't got no time to go out on any such wild goose chases. But I'll let you have, my deputy sheriff. Please see, he called Hearts thinks there's a crook on board that form ship of the docks. Run down there with it. Well and see what you can find out. Whatever's done has got to be done in a hurry, warned Smith. Come on, Lacy, cried Arts. Moments count the door closed behind the two. More difficulties presented themselves.

23:17 Speaker 2: The streets were crowded, traffic was heavy. In the vicinity of the docks, the car stalled, A truck broke down ahead, halting the stream of slowly moving machines. Then a clear stretch of space, it looked as though they were going to make it. The speedometer rose to thirty five miles forty five and crept to fifty. Traffic snarled up again. The car shot through for the only open lane. A shrill whistle rang out above the din of traffic. A police officer, springing from somewhere, blocked the passage with uplifted hand.

23:44 Speaker 2: Damn growled Arts. As the screeching brakes brought the car to a sudden halt. A deep throated boat whistle sounded from the docks, still some distance ahead. Tell that fool to get out of the way. Arts demanded, that may be the boat, but the police officer had already recognized them and stood aside. The automobile started again with the exhaust wide open, gathered speed quickly, and rushed on. A few moments later, the car drew up beside the wharf, where the sick foss non Vobis had docked a few hours before.

24:10 Speaker 2: Her Berth was empty. The ship had sailed damn, said Arts again to no one in particular. Now what, asked Deputy Lacy a few moments later, as Arts bustled around, questioning some of the Steveadoors and long Shortmans. The boat's been gone some time. There was less cargo to take than they thought. That was probably the boat we heard while we were tied up in traffic. Anyway, she's gone. Perhaps it was a wild goose chase after all, suggested Lacey. We might as well just go back. We'll go back, agreed Arts.

24:39 Speaker 2: There's nothing further can be done here, but I'm going to follow that boat. I've found that she makes one more stop at New Orleans, back of the Sheriff's office. An hour or so afterwards, they discovered the sheriff, slightly discomfited, holding a telegram just received from the Attorney General's office in response to a request for Ponzi's description. It may have been Ponzi at that, admitted the sheriff ruefully. It sounds like him. Of course it was Ponzi, snapped Arts, and furthermore, I'm gonna follow that ship.

25:05 Speaker 2: By land of New Orleans. If it breaks me, I'm not gonna let a good story like this slip through my fingers. I want you to let Lacey go with me, but the sheriff hesitated. It entailed the expenditure of considerable money with a possibility of failure. Arts, surmising what was passing in the sheriff's mind, offered to finance the trip out of his own pocket. The offer was accepted. Arts and Lacey arrived in New Orleans considerably ahead of the steamer. At the customs house, they disclosed their identity and voiced their suspicions.

25:32 Speaker 2: A plan was discussed to get the suspected Italian waiter on shore. The boat came into port and was boarded in the usual manner by customs officials. Learning that Andrea Luciana was the only man according to the captain who spoke English, the customs official in charge ordered a man as short of the custom house with the papers. Andrea was given the mission. Meanwhile, two Texans were pacing the dock impatiently with the subterfuge work. Would Ponzi leave the ship under any circumstances. Now that Art and Lazy had gone, this far, they were determined to see it through.

26:00 Speaker 2: Just as the two were getting anxious, Lacey touched Arts on the arm. There's somebody coming off the ship now, he said, Is that our man? The two approached the rough looking foreigner, who had reached the dock and started toward town with some official appearing documents under his arm. What's the name of that ship, arts ass, pointing to the sik vos non vobis. The man stared at him stupidly and shrugged his shoulders. Mion non gabash, he said, and began to move on. Arts had already recognized him by the mustache and held him by the arm.

26:27 Speaker 2: Come on, he said, harshly, how do you get that way? You can't fool us with that line. Yes, cut it out, ordered Lacey, drawing closer. You know who you are. You're Charles Ponzi. Ponzi started imperceptibly as the officer pulled the wanted circular from his pocket. It's him, all right, said Arts. Mi andre a Lucian protested Ponzi. Mionnong kaby singlish. Oh shut up, said Lacy. By the way, side, note zeven here, I know that my fake Italian accent and fake Italian is just awful. Forgive me. Oh shut up, said Lazy, now sure of his ground.

27:01 Speaker 2: We've got you good. It was too bad you pulled that job in Montreal back in nineteen oh eight and then let the muggy with a mustache. It's a dead giveaway. Ponzie remained silent. Come on now, threatened Lacey, showing his badge come clean. Either you'll come across, or we'll let you stay in a town that hates your kind and eats them alive. What do you say to that? Ponzi finally got into a taxi cab and they were driven to a hotel where they talked the situation over. Lacey admitted that he had no authority to take him back to Texas, but told Ponzi that Italians were rather unwelcome in New Orleans, owing to some trouble that had been had in the Italian quarter.

27:35 Speaker 2: All in all, Ponzi concluded, Lacey, you stand a much better chance under mov Ferguson than you do here. They argued a bit more, and at the end of several hours, Ponsey decided to go back to Texas with them. As soon as they returned to Houston, The sheriff of Harris County put in a long distant telephone call to Boston Police headquarters asking if Inspector Mitchell wanted Ponzi. Mitchell wired to hold him and later sent another wire giving classifications and measurement. Word was sent back to Austin and Ponsey was under lock and key.

28:02 Speaker 2: Ponsey had been captured at last, but he was still two thousand miles away from Massachusetts, a state to which he had boasted he would never return. The telephone rang sharply and Inspector Mitchell's office in the State House on Beacon Hill, Boston. As he sat patiently waiting for a reply to his four telegrams asking where Charles Ponsee had been confined, The telephone rang again and again. Mitchell leaned over his desk and lifted the receiver from its hook. Hello, he said, It was the state house operator who answered, will you pay for a toll call from Texas?

28:32 Speaker 2: Mitchell replied that he would. There was a low hum on the line as he waited for the connection to be made broken by a series of clicks. His operators over the two thousand miles circuit kept the line open, then a receiver clicked Hello. A voice said, is this Inspector Mitchell? It is, replied Mitchell. This is Charles Ponzi. The voice continued, Well, you let me come back to Massachusetts in the custody of the sheriff here. Mitchell paused before answering. He saw Ponsey was up to his old tricks.

28:58 Speaker 2: He was positive that just as soon as he got outside the state of Texas, it would be goodbye. Ponzie. Hello, said Ponzie, Are you still there? Will you let me do it? Nothing doing? Charlie. Mitchell told him, you've pulled your last stunt with us. Is that so? Said Ponzie. Well, then, he taunted, you'll have to come down and get me. I won't come back. I'll fight first, all right, Charlie, said Mitchell, good naturedly, we'll fight. The inspector hung up. Hostilities between Charles Ponzi and Inspector Mitchell had been renewed.

29:27 Speaker 2: Ponsey put up a stiff fight to remain in Texas. The entire state seemed to have fallen under his hypnotic influence, and it was his boast that he would never go back to Massachusetts as long as Governor ma Ferguson was in power, but the Massachusetts authorities persisted. As Ponsie felt the long arm of the Attorney General's office reaching out for him, he dispatched telegram after telegram to Governor Alvin T. Fuller of Massachusetts asking for clemency. This proved unavailing, and he appealed to his native country, asking Mussolini to intercede.

29:55 Speaker 2: Inspector Mitchell was not finding the job quite as easy as he had anticipated. It looked for a while as though Ponzi would make good his boast. The Boston police departments were thwarted at every twist. In turn, they were asked to defend a case whose merits had already been decided by a Massachusetts court. At the first hearing, held on July tenth, nineteen twenty six, much to the surprise of Assistant Attorney General A. R. Shrigley of Massachusetts, the proceedings took on the color of a court trial.

30:21 Speaker 2: Action was postponed until after the Democratic election later in July. It was alleged that this was done to save the Italian vote. From then until Ponzi lost his last appeal in January nineteen twenty seven, his attorneys did all in their power to prevent his extradition to Massachusetts, but Ponzi lost, and Inspector Mitchell arrived in Houston to take the former financial wizard back to Boston. He had arrived not an instant too soon. Ponzi was still planning to defeat the forces of law and order.

30:48 Speaker 2: The jail was under construction, and there was Ponzi with twenty six other prisoners confined in a single cell. Mitchell happened in unobserved. The prisoners were gathered in a group, talking in low tone. All right, Charlie said Mitchell. We're all set to go, get your stuff ready. But Ponsey played for time. Let's wait over several days, he hedged, and go back by boat. Nothing doing, replied Mitchell. We're going out on the eleven thirty. It was already after eleven o'clock. I'm not going back with you, said Ponzie, still stalling for time.

31:17 Speaker 2: If you try to take me back to Massachusetts, I'll kill myself. I shall never go back to Boston alive. All right, Charlie returned Mitchell, not at all disturbed by the threat. You can suit yourself. It's nothing to me. My papers state I'm here for the body of one Charles Ponze, dead or alive. I'm going to take you back to Boston. If you want to bump yourself off, well that's your business, Ponsey looked thoughtful. Only don't forget Charlie. If you do do that, you'll go back in a box in the baggage car while I ride in the pullman, eating three square meals a day and knowing exactly where you'll stay put without watching.

31:49 Speaker 2: Ponsey, with less than half an hour before train time, had other objections, which Mitchell overrode in a more or less peremptory fashion. Fearful that Ritz might be served, the police officer took him to the railroad station at the same time, secretly holding a fast automobile in readiness filled with gasoline and oil, in which he planned to kidnap Ponsey for to be impossible to leave the city by train, but the financial wizard had played his last card. However, Ponsey remained defiant, even when a gun and some hundred cartridges were found concealed in the lining of his traveling bag, where they had remained hidden since nineteen twenty.

32:23 Speaker 2: Later, he confessed that a jail delivery had been planned for that very night, in which the prisoners counted on overpowering the attendants when they answered a sick call from the cell. Once the door was opened, the rest of the getaway would have been easy, but Mitchell's sudden arrival had prevented the plan from being carried out. They went back to Boston by train, locked in a compartment, where they remained until they reached Saint Louis. Here, they rode about town on a taxi until train time, and then were locked into a compartment of another train, in which they stayed until the train passed over the New York Massachusetts boundary line.

32:54 Speaker 2: But Ponsey had admitted his defeat long before that. He turned to Inspector Mitchell just after they left Texas behind. You've beaten me, Inspector, he said, simply. I told you, I would, replied Mitchell, without rancor, I told you so the day you telephoned me in Boston. You insulted the United States, you insulted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and you got just what any man gets who starts out to beat the law. It can't be done, because there's no such thing as a perfect crime. Charles Ponzi, juggler of other people's millions, was now safely behind the stone walls at the state's prison at Charlestown, Massachusetts.

33:29 Speaker 2: The manicured fingers through which passed the life savings of many, were now occupied sewing on buttons in the knitting room at the prison factory. But although the steel gates of the prison would swing open for him once again at the conclusion of his sentence, he would not walk forth a free man. The doors of America had been forever shut to Ponzi, who had no respect for the laws of the United States and defied the authorities of Massachusetts. He had sacrificed his rights to citizenship and would be deported.

33:59 Speaker 2: Charles Ponzi would be released just seven years later, in nineteen thirty four, and he would live for another fifteen years after his release, until he finally died a broken man, in a charity hospital in Rio de Janeiro in nineteen forty nine. You'll forgive me if I don't shed a tear for Charles Ponzi. I'll see you back here on Thursday. I'm Zevan Odleberg, and this has been kind of murdery.

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