Reed Waddell
Reed Waddell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Reed C. Waddell c. 1860 Springfield, Illinois, United States |
| Died | March 27, 1895 (aged 34–35) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Other names | Kid Waddell |
| Known for | Swindler and confidence man credited for the invention of the "gold brick game". |
Reed C. Waddell (c. 1860 – March 27, 1895) was an American swindler, confidence man and underworld figure in New York during the mid- to late 19th century. He was one of the most successful men of his trade making nearly a quarter of a million dollars using his "gold brick" swindle, a con game which he invented and introduced to New York in 1880, and from which the term "goldbricker" originated.
Waddell was also involved in schemes with other prominent confidence men, including attempts to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, before his murder by noted bunco artist Tom O'Brien in 1895.