Notorious Nellie and the St Louis Baby Fraud

The twisted depression-era tale of kidnapping, high society, blackmail, baby-theft, multiple celebrated trials, and the flamboyant Notorious Nellie would make a pirate blush.

Check out our new shop for fun The History Guy merchandise:

This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.

You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:

All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.

Find The History Guy at:

The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.

Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:

Script by THG

#history #thehistoryguy #truecrime

[JesseOaks-efxn]

I imagine the judge Rush H Limbaugh mentioned in this story was the grandfather of a man who made quite a splash in AM radio. Rush Hudson Limbaugh I and his grandson Rush Hudson Limbaugh III.

[JohnJones-oymd]

Some of these old-timey criminals sure did have incredible imaginations.

[johngalt]

Wondered how you work pirates into a story about St Louis, well done

[roygaisser]

THAT was a dandy, Mr. Guy! It had more characters and unexpected plot twists than a Brit murder mystery. Thanks so much for the content you lay bare.

[goodun]

While trying to discover the origins of the phrase "Woah, Nelly" (or Nellie) which was used by wrestler Dick Lane and sportscaster Keith Jackson (and in the movie Toy Story), I came across the mention of a woman sometimes known as Nellie King who purportedly scandalized Minnesota and Wyoming in the late 1800s with eccentric behavior, outright theft, and Impersonation, including horse thieving, masquerading as a detective, and being a laudanum addict. Sounds to me like a new research subject for THG!

[mutterslog]

Country Club? lol, it was a pool hall with a bowling alley. Everyone knew that "you don't go in there." It's an empty lot now.

[RetiredSailor]

Good morning from rainy Galveston TX History Guy and everyone watching. Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend

[johnopalko]

The reason truth is stranger than fiction is fiction has to be plausible.

[RJ.the.artist]

I’m from St. Louis, but didn’t know this bit of history. This is very interesting to wake up to on a Friday. Thanks!

[sallycormier]

Wow! I can’t believe they haven’t made this story into a movie! Fascinating!😮 I did think of the movie all that jazz where Renee Z’s character faked a pregnancy to gain sympathy in her trial.

[Black]

I like the longer content and the shorts but I do remember, when I first subscribed, the History Guy saying something about “five minutes of history to be remembered.” 🤣

[steveshoemaker]

What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to THG🎀

[ltldxy]

I love your stories about Missouri! ❤ There’s some likelihood my family crossed paths with Nellie’s in mid-Missouri back in the day. But I never heard of this story. How crazy!

[aisforapple]

That had more twists than a pretzel factory!

[tugginalong]

Thank you for another fascinating and entertaining story

[libbylee]

My Nana used to say that to me "there once was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead and when she was good she was so good but when she was bad, she was awful.
Thank you for reminding me of that. It's a great memory
And yes, I have very curly hair

[BruceWSims]

I may have seen this played out
on "Days of Our

[semigoth]

All great stories have pirate 🏴‍☠️ in them ❤

[billbauer]

Thank you for finding and presenting such a fascinating case!

[frankgulla]

What an amazing story of "kidnapping, high society and baby-theft". No wonder the Lindbergh case got such mixed reception. thansk again, for a great tale and visuals.