Retired Glasgow-born actor Arthur Furguson was a terrific
salesperson. However, like many other such people, he was unaware of his talent
until one inspiring day when the perfect opportunity presented itself to him.
His moment happened in Trafalgar Square, one bright and sunny morning in 1923.
The source of his revelation was a rich American from Iowa, who he found
staring reverently at Nelson’s Column.
Furguson decided to appoint himself as the official guide to
the Square. Speaking to the American, he explained that the statue atop the
column was of Admiral Lord Nelson, one of Britain’s most famous seafarers and
naval heroes. He had died during the Battle of Trafalghar, after which the
square was named. ‘Such a terrible shame,’ he sighed. ‘The square wouldn’t feel
the same without it. However, it all had to go, lions and fountains included.
Britain’s debts were sky-high, and the government had decided to sell off the
landmark to the highest bidder.’
The American was interested and inquired as to the price.
Furguson mused and explained that it was to be sold for just £6000. Obviously,
it would have to go to the right buyer- someone who would protect and
appreciate a monument of this scale.
By a curious coincidence, it was Furguson himself who had
been entrusted by the government with the task of organizing the sale, which
had to be kept top-secret. The American pleaded with Furguson to allow him to
jump the queue. At last he relented and telephoned his employers for
instructions. He returned within a matter of minutes. It was decided that
Britain was prepared to accept a cheque right away, to compare the deal as soon
as possible.
Furguson, amazed at his own cunning, immediately went off
and cashed the cheque while his customer got in touch with some contractors. They
were extremely reluctant to accept the
job and told him that they would not be able to help him. It was not until he
received an official assurance from Scotland Yard that he would believe that he
had been conned. That summer was a good one as far as Arthur Furguson was
concerned. The police, however, were far from happy. Another American
complained that he had paid £1000 for Big Ben, and another had made a £2000
down payment on Buckingham Palace.
While visiting Paris, he managed to sell the Eiffel Tower
for scrap at an unknown price to yet another American. Since Americans had all
been his best customers, he decided to continue his work in their country. In
1925, he leased the White House to a Texan cattle rancher for 99 years at
$100,000 a year, with the first year’s rent payable in advance. Furguson’s bank
balance was now sufficiently large for him to consider retiring. His vanity got
the better of him, and he wanted to end his career with a grand finale. Whilst
in New York, he found the perfect victim, an Australian from Sydney. Furguson
told him that the entrance to New York harbor was to be widened and
unfortunately, the Statue of Liberty was in the way. However, sentimental
attachments was not going to stop the path of progress, and the US State
Department was prepared to sell to anyone who would to take it away.
The Australian attempted to raise the £100,000 deposit over
the next couple of days. Furguson was practically glued to his side, carefully
steering him away from anyone with whom he might be tempted to boast about his
venture. Furguson grew impatient, and the Australian got suspicious. He took
the photograph of himself and Furguson to the police. It was exactly the
breakthrough the police wanted. They already knew about the salesman of
monuments, but he had always managed to escape them. The Australian led them
straight Furguson, who was promptly arrested.
Furguson was jailed for five years, a rather small price to
pay for the fortune he had made. He was released in 1930, and moved to Los
Angeles where he lived in a lap of luxury, paid for by a few more convenient
tricks until he died in 1938.
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