William Bailey's Ambition and Deception

William Bailey, a smart and ambitious individual, grows up in a tough neighborhood and faces financial hardships while attending Harvard. He realizes the value of having a degree over completing college and starts his career as a con artist. He founds a fake company and sells non-existent mail-order automobiles, attracting thousands of customers. After being caught and serving a short jail sentence, Bailey becomes more cautious and decides to sell a real product. He launches a patent medication called Lazy Go, claiming it enhances manhood. These medications often contain dangerous substances, like strychnine, which were commonly used in patent medicines at that time.