Episode 37: Snake Oil

Humans are very good at tricking each other, but they are also good at getting tricked. On this episode, lifelong Oregonian Marcus Axford takes you on a journey through the history of the states frauds, cons, and peddlers with stories about Bunco Kelley, the origin of the term "snake oil", and an epidemic that saved thousands of lives. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thompson_(confidence_man) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ponzi#Early_life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghaiing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scam https://offbeatoregon.com/1407c.bunco-kelley-part2-the-myths.html https://offbeatoregon.com/1407b.bunco-kelley-part1-the-facts.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kelly_(crimper) https://ltwilliammowett.tumblr.com/post/648376901597003776/shanghaiing-crimping-another-way-of-lets-call-it https://offbeatoregon.com/1812c.ka-ton-ka-donald-mckay-warm-springs-indian-medicine.html https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/26/215761377/a-history-of-snake-oil-salesmen https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/dr-eugene-lazowski