 Shackleton induced Lord Ronald to purchase 5,000 shares in the City of Montevideo Public Works Corporation, which were essentially worthless shares that only benefited Shackleton.The amount stolen by Shackleton was later claimed to be upwards of $200,000 from Lord Ronald and $30,000 from his "confidential friend"; Frank Hird.It was alleged that Shackleton initially met Ronald in 1905 and Hird in 1907, whom "The New York Times" referred to as Lord Ronald's adopted son.