Churchill illustrates public gullibility during economic speculation.

Evidence

The mania for speculation broke loose. … There was no limit to the credulity of the public. One promoter floated a company to manufacture an invention known as Puckle’s Machine Gun, “which was to discharge round and square cannon-balls and bullets and make a total revolution in the art of war”, the round missiles being intended for use against Christians and the square against the Turk. … This amiable swindler set up a shop in Cornhill to receive subscriptions. His office was besieged by eager investors, and after collecting £2,000 in cash he prudently absconded. — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 1403

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 1403
• XREF: connects to: Churchill employs detailed storytelling to illustrate historical events. — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 261