Gold Brick Swindle Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 526
Scope and Content
The Gold Brick Swindle Photograph Collection contains five photographs of C. W. "Con" Caddagan. Three are of him as used on wanted posters found in the Amenia and Sharon Land Company Records (Mss 134), Box 40, Folder 3. The other two are of a man identified as "James Randall, Farmington, Mo." who was falsely identified as Caddagan as part of the reward.
Dates
- 1910-1911
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are in public domain.
History
On October 13, 1909, a con man using the name Cornelius W. Caddagan, successfully swindled Amenia and Sharon Land Company owner, Herbert Fuller Chaffee, out of money after selling him a fake brick of gold. Chaffee hired the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and they were able to track Mr. Caddagan down in Los Angeles, California. He had been arrested there after trying to pass off another fake gold brick. Chaffee wanted to get Caddagan extradited to Minnesota. Herbert was going to send his son, Eben to California to positively identify the man, however before being able to do so, Caddagan skipped his bail and disappeared.
Mr. Caddagan was arrested a second time. It turned out that Caddagan was a personal friend of William Pinkerton, and had protested his innocence to the Pinkerton’s. Upon revelations of this, Chaffee hired the Burns National Detective Agency. Chaffee attempted again to get Caddagan extradited, however the Governor of California, Hiram Johnson said he needed more proof that Caddagan had committed his crimes in Minnesota before following through. Caddagan also filed suit against the Chaffee’s for false arrest and wanted $27,000 in damages. The governor finely approved the extradition on May 25, 1911. Caddagan failed to show up in court the next day, and his bail was declared forfeit. A warrant was issued again for his arrest.
A few days later, a body was found floating in San Pedro Bay at Long Beach. The body was identified as that of Caddagan by his wife. The official cause of death was listed as a suicide on June 2, 1911. The Chaffee’s contended that this was a false identification, and did not believe Mr. Caddagan was dead. They posted a $5000 reward for his capture. Chaffee then went after Mrs. Caddagan, who had been involved in her husband’s business dealings and swindles. They filed suit against her for grand larceny in San Bernardina County on August 12, 1911. They attempted settle out of court. In the settlement, Chaffee would take a fair price on the Bonanza King Mine, owned by the Caddagan’s, and in exchange they would give Mr. Caddagan the benefit of doubt, to clear his reputation, alive or dead. Instead Chaffee put a lien on the property, hoping for a better settlement from Mrs. Caddagan. Fate would intervene however, when Herbert Chaffee, a passenger on the Titanic, lost his life when it sank April 14, 1912. Members of the Chaffee family would continue to search for Mr. Caddagan, however much of the fervor disappeared once Herbert Chaffee was gone. Caddagan was also known as C. W. Caddigan, John Armstrong, Thomas Moore, and Joe Daniels.
A more compete history of the Gold Brick Swindle can be found in the Amenia and Sharon Land Company Records (Mss 134), Box 40, Folder 1.
Mr. Caddagan was arrested a second time. It turned out that Caddagan was a personal friend of William Pinkerton, and had protested his innocence to the Pinkerton’s. Upon revelations of this, Chaffee hired the Burns National Detective Agency. Chaffee attempted again to get Caddagan extradited, however the Governor of California, Hiram Johnson said he needed more proof that Caddagan had committed his crimes in Minnesota before following through. Caddagan also filed suit against the Chaffee’s for false arrest and wanted $27,000 in damages. The governor finely approved the extradition on May 25, 1911. Caddagan failed to show up in court the next day, and his bail was declared forfeit. A warrant was issued again for his arrest.
A few days later, a body was found floating in San Pedro Bay at Long Beach. The body was identified as that of Caddagan by his wife. The official cause of death was listed as a suicide on June 2, 1911. The Chaffee’s contended that this was a false identification, and did not believe Mr. Caddagan was dead. They posted a $5000 reward for his capture. Chaffee then went after Mrs. Caddagan, who had been involved in her husband’s business dealings and swindles. They filed suit against her for grand larceny in San Bernardina County on August 12, 1911. They attempted settle out of court. In the settlement, Chaffee would take a fair price on the Bonanza King Mine, owned by the Caddagan’s, and in exchange they would give Mr. Caddagan the benefit of doubt, to clear his reputation, alive or dead. Instead Chaffee put a lien on the property, hoping for a better settlement from Mrs. Caddagan. Fate would intervene however, when Herbert Chaffee, a passenger on the Titanic, lost his life when it sank April 14, 1912. Members of the Chaffee family would continue to search for Mr. Caddagan, however much of the fervor disappeared once Herbert Chaffee was gone. Caddagan was also known as C. W. Caddigan, John Armstrong, Thomas Moore, and Joe Daniels.
A more compete history of the Gold Brick Swindle can be found in the Amenia and Sharon Land Company Records (Mss 134), Box 40, Folder 1.
Extent
5 Photographic Prints
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs of a con man who successfully swindled Amenia and Sharon Land Company businessman, Herbert Fuller Chaffee, out of money after selling him a fake brick of gold.
Provenance
Donated by H.L. Chaffee and Robert B. Reed, 1953 (Acc. 134).
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Gold Brick Swindle Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu