Soapy Smith: King of the Frontier Con Men

Jefferson Randolph "e;Soapy"e; Smith was the slickest article that ever hit the West.

He set up his tripod and suitcase on a Denver street corner in the 1880s and started his spiel.

The "e;suckers"e; flocked around and got thoroughly taken.

Everyone listened to Soapy and he began laying down his own brand of law, soon commanding a band of criminal characters whom he protected through his influence with politicians and policewomen on his payroll.

He became America's first racketeer, eventually leading the Skagway underworld until a bullet ended his career.