SOAPY SMITH, ALASKA'S FAMOUS CON MAN: The Untold Story of His Death, His Mistress, and His Money.

This article focuses on the life, criminal activities, and death of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, Alaska's most notorious con man during the Klondike Gold Rush era. It details Smith's rise to power in Skagway, his leadership of a large gang that terrorized the town, and the eventual vigilante and military response that curtailed his operations. The article clarifies that Smith was fatally shot on July 8, 1898, by Frank Reid, a town guard, during a confrontation on a wharf, a conclusion supported by official coroner's records, eyewitness testimony, and a U.S. court ruling, despite persistent local rumors crediting another man, Jesse Murphy. Additionally, it explores Smith's complex personal life, including his mistress May Shanly, and explains that despite his criminal earnings, Smith died nearly penniless due to gambling losses and expenditures.