Upon photographing the haunting beauty of an abandoned mansion along what was once known as Millionaire’s Row in Cleveland, Ohio, my curiosity was piqued, propelling me into a deep dive into its history. While researching the home, my journey led me to a fascinating story previously unknown to me—the intriguing and complex life of Cassie Chadwick; a woman known as one of the greatest con-artists in American history. Chadwick likely visited quite a few parties held inside this once grand home.

Discovering Cassie Chadwick’s Story

In delving into the history behind the Allen-Sullivan House, an architectural jewel once gracing Cleveland’s illustrious Millionaire’s Row, I stumbled into the wild life of Cassie Chadwick. Given that it’s International Women’s Day, it seems both appropriate and enriching to dedicate time to reflect on the story of Cassie Chadwick (born Elizabeth Bigley). To me, Chadwick stands out as one of the most interesting figures in history.

Cassie Chadwick’s legacy is one of remarkable cunning and audacious deceit. With unparalleled boldness, she managed to perpetrate a massive fraud on several American banks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her method was as ingenious as it was scandalous; she claimed to be an illegitimate daughter and the rightful heiress of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, thereby securing vast sums of money under false pretenses. Her exploits remain a fascinating chapter in the annals of American history, showcasing the extraordinary lengths to which she went to forge her place in a very much male-dominated society at the time.

One of the Most Significant Bank Heists in American History

Cassie Chadwick executed what is considered one of the most significant bank heists in American history. This remarkable feat was accomplished during an era when women were largely marginalized, denied the right to vote, and precluded from accessing banking services such as loans on their own merit. Utilizing her wits and charm, Chadwick successfully deceived numerous individuals, predominantly men, throughout her life. Her cunning enabled her to infiltrate the highest echelons of society, gaining entry to lavish parties and exclusive social gatherings hosted by the nation’s most affluent families.

A Life of Deceit

Throughout her life, Cassie Chadwick adopted a myriad of aliases and engaged in an extensive array of minor frauds, simultaneously accruing substantial debts with various tradespeople. Her initial foray into the world of deceit began under the guise of Madame Lydia DeVere, a persona she crafted to embark on a career as a clairvoyant. This endeavor was financed through a cunningly acquired bank loan, using her sister and brother-in-law’s furniture as collateral.

First marriage to Dr. Wallace Springsteen

Transformations and Transactions

In the year 1882, her life took a dramatic turn when she married Dr. Wallace Springsteen, henceforth adopting the name of Mrs. Lydia Springsteen. This period marked the beginning of financial turmoil for the couple, as tradespeople besieged Dr. Springsteen’s residence, clamoring for the settlement of debts incurred by his wife. The revelation of her deceitful past led to a swift divorce in 1883, with Dr. Springsteen reluctantly assuming responsibility for her financial misdeeds.

Undeterred, Chadwick reinvented herself as a clairvoyant once more, this time as Madame Marie LaRose. This new identity facilitated her marriage to John R. Scott, a farmer from Trumbull County, whom she persuaded into signing a prenuptial agreement. Her tenure on the farm lasted about four years, after which she orchestrated her exit through a calculated confession of adultery to a lawyer in Youngstown, directing him to initiate divorce proceedings on her behalf.

Mugshots as Lydia DeVere and Cassie Chadwick

Legal Repercussions and a New Chapter

The year 1889 brought Chadwick’s nefarious activities to a critical juncture when she was convicted and sentenced to nine and a half years in a penitentiary in Toledo, Ohio, for forgery. Her incarceration, however, was not the end but rather a pause in her saga. Paroled in 1893, she returned to Cleveland, not to seek redemption but to open a brothel on the city’s west side.

Marrying Into Wealth

It was here in the brothel where she encountered Dr. Leroy Chadwick, skillfully weaving a narrative that portrayed her as a bereaved widow, Cassie Hoover. This crafted persona resonated with Dr. Chadwick, who was navigating his own grief after the loss of his wife. Utilizing empathy as her tool, she seamlessly positioned herself to fill the void left in his life, a maneuver that ultimately led to their marriage.

In 1897, the union between Cassie and Leroy Chadwick was solemnized, marking the beginning of their life together amidst the opulence of Cleveland’s Millionaires’ Row. It was this strategic alliance that catapulted her into the sphere of the city’s elite, providing her with the perfect backdrop to orchestrate her most ambitious scam. Leveraging her newfound status, she began laying the groundwork for what would become her magnum opus of fraud, claiming to be the illegitimate offspring of the industrial magnate Andrew Carnegie.

This phase of her life was characterized by a meticulous blend of social maneuvering and strategic planning. Cassie’s entry into the affluent circles of Millionaires’ Row was not merely a testament to her adeptness at deception but also highlighted her ability to navigate and exploit the social dynamics of her era. It was here, amidst the wealth and prestige of Cleveland’s most distinguished families, that she set the stage for the ultimate deception, aiming to secure her place in history as one of the biggest con artists of her time.

The Ultimate Con

A Strategic Encounter in New York City

In a meticulously planned venture to New York City, Cassie Chadwick sought out Dillon, a lawyer and an acquaintance of her husband. Her request to Dillon was seemingly innocuous yet strategically pivotal—she wished to be escorted to Andrew Carnegie’s residence. Upon arrival, rather than meeting Carnegie himself, she ingeniously engaged with the housekeeper, gathering as much information as possible to bolster her impending deception.

The Ingenious Drop

The climax of this elaborate setup occurred when Chadwick, upon her return to Dillon, orchestrated the accidental drop of a document. Dillon, retrieving the paper, found himself looking at what appeared to be a promissory note for $2 million, allegedly signed by Carnegie himself. Caught in a moment of feigned vulnerability, Chadwick confessed to being the steel magnate’s illegitimate daughter, imploring Dillon to keep this revelation confidential. She spun a tale of Carnegie’s profound guilt and his supposed commitment to make up for his neglect through financial support.

Fabrication of Wealth

Chadwick didn’t stop there. She concocted elaborate stories of possessing around $7 million in promissory notes stored within her Cleveland residence, further claiming an inheritance of $400 million upon Carnegie’s demise. This narrative, rich in detail and audacity, painted her as a heiress poised for unfathomable wealth.

The Ripple Effect

Dillon, convinced by her performance, secured the document in a bank’s safe deposit box. This act set off a chain reaction across the financial markets of northern Ohio. Word of Chadwick’s supposed fortune spread rapidly, enticing banks to offer their services to her. Over the span of eight years, leveraging her fabricated identity and the illusion of imminent wealth, Chadwick succeeded in securing over $2 million in loans. 

Arrest of Cassie Chadwick

The Fall of Cassie Chadwick

A Tenuous Empire Built on Deception

For years, the grand illusion crafted by Cassie Chadwick thrived, largely because no one dared to question the truthfulness of her claims about Andrew Carnegie. The fear of causing embarrassment to such a prominent figure, coupled with the banks’ own greed—evident in the exorbitant interest rates they imposed—ensured a veil of silence. Chadwick exploited this to her advantage, forging securities in Carnegie’s name with a boldness that went unchecked. Bankers, seduced by greed and the allure of profit, blindly believed that all debts would be settled upon Carnegie’s death.

Lavish Living and Philanthropic Facades

Throughout this charade, Chadwick indulged in a lifestyle of opulence, acquiring diamond necklaces, expansive wardrobes, and even a golden organ, all financed by her fraudulent activities. She crafted a public persona of generosity, claiming to support the poor and contribute to the suffrage movement, further endearing herself to the social elite and eventually cementing her status, becoming known as the “Queen of Ohio.”

The Inevitable Unraveling

Her plan began to collapse when Herbert B. Newton, upon disbursing a $190,000 loan in 1904, grew suspicious of Chadwick’s financial dealings. His demands for repayment marked the beginning of the end. Unable to fulfill her obligations, Chadwick faced legal action, and it wasn’t long before the staggering extent of her indebtedness—surpassing $1 million—came to light, revealing the worthlessness of the securities she had pledged.

The Confrontation with Reality

Her scheme finally fell apart when Andrew Carnegie himself was finally drawn into the fray, furiously denying any acquaintance with Chadwick and asserting his decades-long abstention from signing promissory notes. This clear rejection completely destroyed what little credibility Chadwick had left.

Fleeing to New York in a desperate move to evade the consequences of her actions, Chadwick’s freedom was short-lived. Arrested at her refuge in the Hotel Breslin, she was promptly extradited back to Cleveland. Amidst the scandal, her husband, Leroy, sought a divorce and departed for Europe with their daughter, leaving Chadwick to face her fate alone.

The ripple effects of her schemes culminated in the collapse of the Citizen’s National Bank of Oberlin, which had extended an $800,000 loan to Chadwick, sparking a bank run that led to its bankruptcy. Yes, she single-handedly took down an entire bank. On January 1, 1906, Chadwick’s story concluded with her imprisonment in the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus, where she spent her final days until her death on her 50th birthday, October 10, 1907.