Shell Game.
William B. “Lucky Bill” Thornton was a gambler and conman in the American West who focused his time on operating a shell game.
Hailing from Chenango County, New York, “Lucky Bill” Thornton headed to California in 1849 when gold was discovered. Joining a wagon train, he operated a shell game among the other travelers, and by the time they reached the Golden State, many pioneers had given up their hard-earned savings to the conman. In Sacramento, he continued the ruse, making as much as $24,000 in the first two months. Thornton was also an avid gambler, addicted to Faro, a game in which he was not exceptionally proficient. He often lost his shell game profits at the Faro table, so he “hustled” even more with his con game.
In 1853, he moved to Nevada, where he established a ranch in the Carson Valley. He also built a sawmill and operated a toll road. By this time, Thornton had a family and was living a respectable life. However, he continued to gamble, and many of those who chose to participate were soon left with empty pockets. But for Thornton, his luck would run out. In June 1858, he and several others were arrested for killing a Frenchman in Honey Lake. After a conviction by a “mock court,” he was hanged on June 18, 1858.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2025.
Also See:
Adventures of the American West
Scoundrels in American History
Outlaws & Scoundrels Photo Gallery
See Sources.