Some things don’t change: in the early days of Radio, there were plenty of “get rich quick” wireless companies preying on the public by offering inferior products and services yet trying to sell stocks to investors. Besides bad investments, there was no shortage of rich company officials and trophy wives. From the August 4, 1910 New York Times:
“Christopher Columbus Wilson, President of the United Wireless Telegraph Company, who, with six other officials of the company, was indicted yesterday by the Federal Grand Jury for fraudulent use of the mails in connection with the sale of the company's stock, married his secretary, Steila Lewis, last night at her home, 984 Simpson Street, the Bronx. Wilson was a widower, 64 years old. His bride is 18 years of age.”*
(*For more, see: United States Early Radio History by Thomas H White)
