The Maggie Murphy Hoax

By Crusader1307

Seen by some as an early example of photographic trickery coupled with and attempt to garner ‘’fame’’ – The ‘’Maggie Murphy’’ Hoax was Nationally circulated beginning with an infamous photograph published in 1895. Farmer Joseph Swan was a noted Colorado Potato Farmer, who had been experimenting with cultivating different types, each designed to either grow larger than an average Potato, or survive ANY climate. Whereas The Potato was seen as a subsistence crop, such a feat would have made Swan a Millionaire. Swan stated that He had perfect a method by which He produced an 85-pound ‘’Giant Potato’’, He nicknamed – ‘’Maggie Murphy’’. Having a photograph taken as proof, it was published and Swan was lauded – that is until He was asked to ‘’show’’ His prize. After much prodding and trying to ‘’track down’’ the now elusive Swan, it was determined that the so called ‘’Super Potato’’ was faked. The photograph showed Swan holding a model made from wood. Swan admitted He needed funding to continue His work. Such a Con was worthy of the great PT Barnum. In fact, Swan’s ‘’Giant Potato’’ was an early mention in Robert Ripley’s famed Magazine ‘’Believe It or Not’’.