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Chapter Fifteen: “You discovered the money!”

231

Anxious investors began gathering in Pi Alley: “Great Run on Ponzi Continues Until Office Is Closed for Day,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 1; “Mobs Flock to Ponzi’s Office,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 2; “Ponzi Absolutely Denies He Is Insolvent—Alleges Malice,” Boston Evening Globe, August 2, 1920, p. 1; “All Demands Met by Ponzi, Investigators Still at Sea,” Boston Daily Globe, August 3, 1920, p. 1; “Big Run on Ponzi, but All Get Cash,” New York Times, August 3, 1920, p. 15; Hundreds Paid by Ponzi,” Boston American, August 2, 1920, p. 1; “Ponzi Pays, Smiling, as Pi Alley Rages and Mob Beats Door,” Boston Herald, August 3, 1920, p. 1.

232

Ricardo Bogni: “Sub-Agent Is Sure State Ruined Ponzi,” Boston Traveler, November 2, 1922; “Defence to View Ponzi Documents,” Boston Post, November 2, 1922.

232

De Masellis gathered his belongings: “Ponzi Manager Returns $10,000,” Boston Post, August 26, 1920, p. 1; “Coakley to Testify in Ponzi Court Fight,” Boston Traveler, August 26, 1920, p. 1.

233

twirling his snappy walking stick: “Ponzi Absolutely Denies He Is Insolvent—Alleges Malice,” Boston Evening Globe, August 2, 1920, p. 1.

233

“My hat is in the ring”: “Great Run on Ponzi Continues Until Office Is Closed for Day,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 1.

233

Ponzi responded true to form: Ponzi’s response to reporters on August 2, 1920, was pieced together from the following: “Great Run on Ponzi Continues Until Office Is Closed for Day,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 1; “Mobs Flock to Ponzi’s Office,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 2; “Ponzi Absolutely Denies He Is Insolvent—Alleges Malice,” Boston Evening Globe, August 2, 1920, p. 1; “All Demands Met by Ponzi, Investigators Still at Sea,” Boston Daily Globe, August 3, 1920, p. 1; “Big Run on Ponzi, but All Get Cash,” New York Times, August 3, 1920, p. 15; “Hundreds Paid by Ponzi,” Boston American, August 2, 1920, p. 1; “Ponzi Pays, Smiling, as Pi Alley Rages and Mob Beats Door,” Boston Herald, August 3, 1920, p. 1; “Storm Ponzi for Money,” Boston Traveler, August 2, 1920, p. 1.

234

“as calm and undisturbed as a mill pond”: “Ponzi Absolutely Denies He Is Insolvent—Alleges Malice,” Boston Evening Globe, August 2, 1920, p. 1.

234

an impassioned poem: James Francis Morelli, “Chas. Ponzi Says: ‘My Dog Never Leads Me.’ Who Is the Dog?” An undated copy of the poem was found in the Ponzi clip files of the Boston Globe.

235

Gary Johnson of Houston wrote: “All Demands Met by Ponzi, Investigators Still at Sea,” Boston Daily Globe, August 3, 1920, p. 1.

235

Ponzi wandered outside: The scene is told in several papers, but the best version is in “All Demands Met by Ponzi, Investigators Still at Sea,” Boston Daily Globe, August 3, 1920, p. 1. The Globe spells her name Percheck, but that is almost certainly a phonetic spelling, as Mrs. Perchek, according to the reporter, was illiterate. When asked to sign her name, she could only make a mark, which Ponzi had one of his clerks cosign as a witness.

235

“You’re the greatest Italian in history!”: Ibid. There are numerous versions of this exchange, all essentially the same but with minor variations. The Globe account seems the most reliable because it is told in context, strongly suggesting that the unnamed reporter witnessed the scene firsthand in close proximity to Ponzi.

236

Edwin Pride continued his audit: “Ponzi Absolutely Denies He Is Insolvent—Alleges Malice,” Boston Evening Globe, August 2, 1920, p. 1.

236

Pelletier and Attorney General Allen traded barbs: “Great Run on Ponzi Continues Until Office Is Closed for Day,” Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 1.

236

“wiping Peter’s nose with Paul’s handkerchief”: “All Demands Met by Ponzi, Investigators Still at Sea,” Boston Daily Globe, August 3, 1920, p. 1.

236

William “520 Percent” Miller: George Boothby, “Reformed Wizard Discusses Ponzi,” New York World, August 3, 1920. Reprinted in the Boston Post, August 3, 1920, p. 2.

237

“I shall never say anything