Death Valley Scotty

It was called The Battle of Wingate Pass—but it was a con job by the famed Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott.

In 1906, Scotty was taking an investor’s group to see one of his Death Valley gold mines, which didn’t really exist. His men set up a fake ambush to ensure the expedition wouldn’t get to the site.  But in the gunfire, Scotty was gravely wounded in the groin. The con was later exposed and Scotty and several of his men did hard time.  But he continued his swindles for another 30 years.