A. C. Probert: The True Crime Story and Key Facts
A. C. Probert: American swindler and confidence man (1862–1918). The documented story, timeline and key facts of the case.
Arthur Clarence Probert (1862–1918) was an American swindler and confidence man active from about 1887 to 1918. In the course of his career, he conducted elaborate scams in small towns from the Great Lakes states to the West Coast. His primary activity involved establishing banks, then draining them dry and leaving town, but he also engaged in other ventures, such as posing as a physician and selling shares in nonexistent hospitals and promoting railroads that would never be built. Probert managed to get away with most of these schemes, typically leaving town before being exposed, but was caught and prosecuted twice, resulting in at least one period of incarceration.
Why the case is remembered
The A. C. Probert story remains one of the most discussed entries in true-crime history, covered in documentaries, podcasts and books. The summary above follows the publicly documented record.
Text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Facts reflect the documented public record.
Frequently asked questions
Who is A. C. Probert?
Arthur Clarence Probert (1862–1918) was an American swindler and confidence man active from about 1887 to 1918. In the course of his career, he conducted elaborate scams in small towns from the Great Lakes states to the West Coast.
Why is the A. C. Probert case famous?
It is one of the most documented fraudster cases, widely covered by true-crime media.
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