ultrafacts:

The key to McMahon’s successful defense in the ensuing lawsuit, was that he never verbally stated that the actual height of the building would be 480 feet (150 m). The proposed skyscraper depicted in the blueprints that he distributed (and which were approved by the investors) was clearly labelled as consisting of four floors and 480 inches (40 feet) tall.

He wrote (”) instead of (’) on the blueprint. 

The Newby-McMahon Building, commonly referred to as the world’s smallest skyscraper, is located at 701 La Salle in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas. Reportedly the result of a fraudulent investment scheme by a confidence man, the Newby-McMahon Building was a source of great embarrassment to the city and its residents after its completion in 1919. 

The Newby-McMahon Building is now part of the Depot Square Historic District of Wichita Falls, a Texas Historic »