The Folk Culture of “The Travelers”: Clans of Con Artists

Over four decades ago, on July 16, 1956, to be exact, Newsweek Magazine passed on to its readers a warning from the Pittsburgh Better Business Bureau to "Beware the `Terrible Williamsons."' The article described the Williamsons as "a close-knit clan of swindlers who have preyed on the nation for more than 30 years ("Family" 26). Typical swindles involved "a quavering old woman with a head shawl and a thick Irish brogue" who offered "genuine Irish lace...a precious family heirloom, made by `me mother' in county Killarney" for sale to a Pittsburgh housewife at an absurdly low price. Shortly thereafter, "the crone" as Newsweek delicately described her, "was at another door. This time, she spoke with a soft Scottish burr. She was offering an imported wool rug for a fraction of its real worth." Out of the city a farmer agreed to let a Williamson paint his barn, again at an unheard-of bargain price. "Not until days or weeks later did the housewives and the farmer discover that the rare lace was machine-made cotton; the Scottish rug, a cheap rayon imitation, and the paint, a thin substitute that washed off with the first heavy rain" ("Family" 26). The Newsweek article included a photograph of a grinning suspect-identified as "a `Terrible Williamson"'-being frisked by the police, an act that was all too rare. There is no doubt that Newsweek was correct in saying that the clan had defied rewards, warning notices, and "the panting efforts of local and state police and the FBI to bring them to justice." Much of the article, however, relied on speculation rather than fact. The "Terrible Williamsons," it said, were "thought to be" descendants of Irish Gypsies. They were nomadic, and favored expensive automobiles and luxurious motels. Cincinnati was a "command post," and many Williamsons were buried at a cemetery there. The overall boss to whom they owed allegiance was a mysterious "Uncle Isaac Williamson," and in the few instances when they "were arrested, they paid fines or jumped bail, roaring out of town in their high-powered cars." As with many confidence schemes, the reluctance of many victims to testify aided the swindlers. Few people wished to admit that they attempted to buy "tainted goods," or that they were willing to "take advantage of a poor Irish mother" ("Family" 26). The article in Newsweek generally was correct in its brief description of the behavior of the Williamsons. It minimized their number, however, saying that there were about 200. It also described New England as their primary target, although it conceded that they "have ranged westward to California." As will become apparent, they appear to be vastly more numerous. Moreover, they may be found in any part of the country, as a rule on a seasonal basis. They tend to head for warmer regions in the winter, and proceed north in the summer. Although there are some similarities with Gypsy culture-both are nomadic, both tend to marry within the group, and both tend to close ranks against outsiders-there also are some striking differences. Gypsies are descendants of tribal peoples in India, among whom the Banjaras have maintained their distinctive Gypsy culture. The "Williamsons," are descendants of Irish, Scottish, and English nomadic tinkers, "Travelers," who are as staunchly Protestant as the Gypsies are Catholic. The confusion is understandable. Both groups are secretive, and attempt to reveal as little as possible about themselves to outsiders. Officer Randy Wiler of the Leawood, Kansas, Police Department indicated that many law-enforcement officers are not adequately informed regarding the nature of the groups. Some, especially those in metropolitan areas who are not part of fraud units, may be unaware of the existence of the Travelers. Others may confuse them with Gypsies. Leawood, Kansas, is an affluent suburban community within the metropolitan area of Kansas City, Missouri-an unlikely venue for Travelers. Even Leawood has not been immune, but Officer Wiler had much more frequent experience with Travelers when he was the Chief of Police in a small Kansas community in a predominantly rural area of the state. …