Part Two: The Naturopathic Doctor Who Bombed a Plane
Summary
Hosts discuss the life of notorious con artist Robert Spears, who used aliases like Oscar Delano to scam convention attendees and job seekers in the 1920s. The episode covers his violent 1942 kidnapping spree involving chloroform and a tear gas gun, which led to prison time. Later, Spears pivoted to naturopathy, exploiting Texas licensing loopholes with a fake degree from a disgraced psychiatrist to establish a fraudulent medical practice in Dallas.
Topics discussed
Intro, guest Brandy Posey, and sponsor ads
Robert Spears' early cons and the 1926 Freemason convention scam
The job application scam, wanted posters, and early arrests
Partnership with Al Taylor and attempts to go straight
The 1942 carjacking, chloroform, and tear gas incident
Becoming a fake naturopath and treating wealthy women
Marriage to Frances Massey and the blood test scam
Illegal abortions, bribery, and the Feynman paste scandal
The Sabena Flight 573 bombing and Al Taylor's death
Final arrest, death in prison, and outro
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