Tom O'Brien (swindler), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetTom O'Brien (swindler)
Trickster and banco man active in the United States during the late 19th century; sentenced to Devil's Island for the murder of partner Reed Waddell in 1895.
Date of Birth: 01-Jan-1851
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Date of Death: 29-Sep-1904
Nationality: United States
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn 
About Tom O'Brien (swindler)
- Tom O'Brien (c.
- 1851 - September 29, 1904) was an American confidence man and swindler during the late 19th century.
- He was popularly known as "King of the Banco Men", along with other prominent tricksters such as Joseph "Hungry Joe" Lewis and Charles P.
- Miller, and organized countless banco and confidence schemes throughout the United States, especially in New Orleans, Chicago and New York, as well as in Europe.
- He often partnered with a number of confidence and banco men such as Lon Ludlam, Red Adams, Frank Smith, Pete Carlisle, Ed Ray, Red Austin, Charley Hinnell, "Hungry Joe" Lewis and Reed Waddell.
- He later shot and killed Waddell in an argument over money following a scheme they had run in Paris, France.He, like Waddell, was credited with having invented the "gold brick swindle".
- A classic con trick, he made at least $500,000 using this swindle during a five-month period at the Columbian Exposition of 1893 as one of many figures of the criminal underworld who attended the event.
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