Wicked Victorian Boston

Jimmy "The Kid" Fitzgerald

Confidence man.


Conman Jimmy “The Kid” Fitzgerald, met Charles Francis Adams—grandson of President John Adams, son of President John Quincy Adams, now retired from a long career of public service—in front of his home on Beacon Hill. After ingratiating himself with the old man and Fitzgerald asked Adams to accompany him as he entered a lottery office on Boylston Street to cash in a ticket. Inside, Fitzgerald persuaded Adams to play a game of banco, which, unbeknownst to Adams was run by Fitzgerald’s confederate. At the end of the crooked game, Adams had lost $20,000.