Criminalia

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Stephen Weinberg: The Man With So Many Aliases We Couldn't Count Them All Jun 29, 2021

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When Stephen Weinberg was a child, he wanted more than anything to be a doctor. When his parents couldn't afford tuition, Stanley began his path to becoming on of the greatest impersonaters. As Stanley Clifford Weyman, he pretended to be a lot of things -- none of whom were real people.

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Will the Real Anastasia Romanov Please Stand Up? Jun 22, 2021

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Anna Anderson claimed she was Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of the Romanov dynasty, after rumors swirled that one of Tsar Nicholas II's daughters had survived the execution of the family. Her real name? Neither Anna nor Anastasia.

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Was Perkin Warbeck a 'Sham' Duke, or the Real Thing? Jun 15, 2021

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Upon Richard III's death in 1485, a man named Perkin Warbeck saw an opportunity. Since there was no firm evidence as to the fate of either of the Princes in the Tower, what should stop him claiming one of their identities? So he laid claim to the throne of the first Tudor King of England, Henry VII.

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A Victorian Mystery: Was Arthur Orton the Tichborne Claimant? Jun 08, 2021

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This episode is a story about a shipwreck, a contended inheritance, and a butcher. You'll meet three men: Arthur Orton, Thomas Castro, and Sir Roger Tichborne, who was the man at the center of this whole affair and a man lost at sea.

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Elizabeth 'Betty' Bigley: The Lady of the Hypnotic Eye Jun 01, 2021

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Betty Bigley's biggest fraud of all began when she convinced the world that she was the daughter of Andrew Carnegie, although born out of wedlock. She let the word spread, while she ran up debts totaling in the millions. She became known in the papers as "the Queen of Ohio" -- that is, until her secret was discovered by a banker in Boston.

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FRED DEMARA, Known for His 'Rascality, Pure Rascality' May 25, 2021

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Using a series of stolen identities -- many of whom were still living -- Ferdinand Waldo Demara, aka Fred Demara, built a lengthy résumé as an imposter. But unlike many other imposters, his goal wasn't money. It was to attain prestige and status. Time magazine called him, we quote, "audacious, unschooled but amazingly intelligent pretender."

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Barry Bremen, 'The Great Imposter': No Guts, No Glory May 18, 2021

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Barry Bremen was a novelty goods salesman, but between 1979 to 1986 he was known in the sports world as The Great Imposter. He posed as a player and umpire in the MLB, a player in the NBA, a PGA golfer, and even Dallas Cowboys cheerleader -- among others. He also accepted an Emmy award meant for Hill Street Blues actress, Betty Thomas.

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Christian Gerhartsreiter: The Man They Called 'Crockefeller' May 11, 2021

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Some people knew Christian Gerhartsreiter as Chris Gerhart, a University of Wisconsin film student. Others knew Christopher Chichester, a descendant of British royalty. Still others knew him as Christopher Crowe, a film and TV producer. But most people knew him as Clark Rockefeller, who claimed to be heir to the Rockefeller dynasty. And he pulled it for three decades.

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Meet the Real 'Wolf of Wall Street': David Lamar May 04, 2021

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David Lamar was known for walking about Manhattan with his diamond-studded walking stick, for being brash and cutthroat in his dealings, and went on to become a legend for his financial scams as well as impersonating powerful and influential people.

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Who Wears the Pants? Sarah Emma Edmonds, That's Who Apr 27, 2021

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On May 25, 1861, Emma Edmonds became Private Franklin Thompson and was mustered into Company F of the Second Michigan Regiment of Volunteer Infantry as a 3-year recruit. Fueled by love of her country and a see slavery's end, Emma, as Frank, volunteered to fight for the Union armies.

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