On October 23rd, 1935, Dutch Schultz, who was a major player in organized crime, was gunned down at the Palace Chop House in Newark, New Jersey. He died soon after in the morning hours of the 24th, but possibly not before he offered some clues to where he might have secreted a now lost treasure.
Recently, I had the chance to go exploring in the area of where this hidden treasure, consisting of cash, diamonds, bonds, jewels, and gold coins has the potential of yet being discovered. It’s quite the interesting story and place.
Arthur Flegenheimer (nicknamed Dutch Schultz- 1901-1935) is thought to have been killed on orders of the ‘Commission’ (leading members of the American Mafia). There was a fear he was going to retaliate and murder Thomas Dewey; the prosecutor who had went after Schultz for tax evasion. Dewey’s relentless pursuit of Schultz was in efforts to curtail his numerous criminal acts as a leading mobster of the time.
Schultz was annoyed with Dewey and met with the Commission asking for permission to take him out for his irritating investigations. The killing of a state authority was seen ‘disadvantageous’ for the Mafia, though, and so it was something forbidden (most times). They denied Dutch an approval, but soon realized Dutch’s desire to get Dewey would not be curbed. In order to try and keep ‘peace’ with authorities, so their own unscrupulous activities could go along smoothly without angering the law, it is assumed, Schultz was taken out instead by the ‘Commission’.
During Schultz’s tax evasion case and probability of jail time, Schultz was known to have ordered the making of a waterproof iron chest. It is said he used this case to stash and bury his ‘earned’ riches in so the government couldn’t get to it if he went to jail after his trial. The value of Schultz’s hidden chest is believed to be in the millions today, if found.
Where exactly he hid his treasure is the mystery. And if it remains there is another. Of course. That’s what makes it a treasure mystery, but these are always fun to research. What if it can be found?
The events of wanting to murder Dewey and the supposed Commission’s hit on Schultz happened before Schultz is thought to have retrieved his hidden stash. Schultz’s loyal bodyguard and driver, who was the only person stated to be with Schultz when he hid the treasure, died during the 1935 hit as well. The exact place of buried treasure died with these two men.
So the last words of Schultz, recorded by a police stenographer during the night of the 23/24th, are of extreme interest, and may include hints to where he hid his treasure. It is not unreasonable to think he might have thought about his ‘money’ on his death bed and gave a clue to where it was.
It was known Schultz and his bodyguard had visited Phoenicia, New York during the time of his court case. It is often thought this rural area in the Catskills is most likely where he chose to stash his hoard of money. Stories have surfaced over the years that Lulu Rosencrantz (Schultz’s bodyguard) had drawn a map and mentioned Esopus Creek, which flows past Phoenicia, to the nurse attending him before he had passed away that dreadful night. This makes the area of Phoenicia a favorite location to search.
And looking into what Schultz spoke, even as he was in a delirious fit before dying, might provide some ideas on where to look in Phoenicia.
There is a line of Dutch Schultz’s last words that has gained my attention for narrowing down possible locations. These are where we visited. Schultz in known to have said, ‘Don’t let Satan draw you too fast.’ He said this after being asked ‘who shot you?’
Other Gang leaders knew Schultz had hid his money for the reason of protecting it from the government. During the hit, it is possible he was being asked to give up the location. I can’t imagine them not asking before shooting him. And so on his death bed, when asked by police, ‘Who shot you and what for?’ it is interesting to hear what Schultz says, for it could have been in the forefront of his mind.
Schultz says he was shot over a million, five million dollars. This is the possible amount his hoard was valued at and so he could have been saying he was shot over where he hid the treasure and not revealing his secreted spot. (or maybe he did?)
Phoenicia has a long history for ‘sightings of the Devil’. This is commonly known and we even saw legends of places where the Devil has left his mark written on a sheet a paper, on a trail board, while searching around the area.
The paper shares four different locations. Only two of which remain. One is the ‘Devil’s Face’ (shown above) and another is the ‘Devil’s Tombstone’.
The Devil’s Face is the like-image of the ‘Devil’, formed from the Cliffside going out of Phoenicia. Before the Devil’s Face, along the road, is a huge boulder in shape like that of a tombstone. This is sometimes referred to as the Devil’s Tombstone.
Both are amazing features to see.
With Schultz’s words, ‘Don’t let Satan draw you too fast’, these ‘devilish’ places catch people’s interest. Digging has been done around the tombstone and searches have been made through the valley and streams nearby.
My thoughts on Schultz’s words about the Devil, assuming he was referring to the location of his treasure, (and I know it is an assumption, but it makes for adventure), is that it could mean to keep the face of the Devil at a distance; to not let him get you too close, but always know where he is at.
I scouted the area for where I could ‘keep the Devil’s Face’ (the Cliffside) in view, for I wouldn’t want to be too close, or drawn in too fast’ as Schultz might have related. I looked for a location of where he might have buried his treasure with this in mind. Obviously, trees grow, landscapes change, but I really liked the other side of the valley. Standing here, the Devil’s Face could be seen, not too close and actually separated by the gap.
Since I’m not ending with ‘I found the treasure!’, I didn’t. But it was a great time looking. And that ‘Devil’s Face’ is definitely creepy. The whole time I was looking, I felt like I was being watched…ha
Best of luck with whatever you seek!
You have to ask yourself why would he give it up? A mobster just say…”Ok, I give up. Here’s a clue. Go take my money”
It’s not what we know of their personality type.
Most likely they would throw false information and since they were familiar with the area they would be familiar with these two spots. So would a mobster say..”Go look here and take my money.” OR SAY, “Go look here so I can have the last laugh as you waist your time.”
I’m not on Team..” ‘Don’t let Satan draw you too fast’” means a clue. But even if it is, its a clue of where NOT to look, most likely.
Hi djjmciv, It is known Schultz was delusional and didn’t know what he was saying most of the time. It wasn’t him ‘giving a clue’ because he wanted someone to find his stash…..it was him talking and much of the time not knowing what he was saying or who he was even talking to.
I appreciate your comment and am not convinced of anything he said even had to do with the treasure. It is just something to consider….because what if he did slip in his feverish state?
It was still a great trip and that rock formation is the neatest looking thing…..! I use treasure hunting to take us to exciting new places……and always have fun.
It also looks like someone made a very convincing claim that they found where it “was”. Of course it could be a hoax, all they would have to do is dig a hole, but the aged markings on the tree by the hole would be improbable to pull off . Of course a really dedicated person could make the marks on the tree and wait 20+ years to take pictures and inform everyone, but…again…improbable. A couple of people have also confirmed this spot and the tree.
But whether this “spot” is true or not I’m not too interested in. Part of the story goes: a group of guys killed a guy for the map. You don’t go all in and kill someone only to NOT go looking.
I say chances are this one was dug up long ago. I for one wouldn’t be putting any energy into this chase, but that’s just my preference.
Hi Jenny….thanks for reminding me that there is such a treasure hunt – almost in my neck of the woods (within an hours travel). Seeking Forrest’s treasure is not such a hop, skip and jump! Glad you enjoyed your visit to the Hudson Valley!
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Hi jenny
Have you ever thought about the lake (Notch Lake) right beside the tompstone. I have hard something About that he’s chest was waterproof. Maybe look down there with metal detectors since it was out of metal/iron
Good luck. The legend have for sure caught my attention
Sure enough on your mind right now you ponder upon where lies the Dutchmens treasure. His speakeasies? His establishments? His secrets? To find the treasure here is more than just looking into the ground to tell you it’s there. The simplest solution can be resolved if you knew him and the truth about the subject matter here is did he really bury it or not and make up a story to throw Dewey off. Soo what do we already know about the legend of the Dutchmen? He supposeably buried his box in the ground that nobody has found in the past 70 years of looking for it. Soo right there that tells us after how many people looking for it NO ONE has been successful in finding it. Soo you’d think in 70 some years someone would have found it by now no matter if it was by pure luck or by metal detector this story doesn’t have validation behind it other than someone claiming in a story that he rambled some words while he was dieing and that a map was made and someone stole it to find it. Soo what do we truely have here? No proof that a gangster did anything but speak about a box on his death bed from rambling on something in his dieing condition. Soo what does anyone have to make anything into??? A man rambling on his deathbed. His gang was shot n killed by other gangsters. Theres no concrete evidence that the treasure exists. It would be found by now if someone was useing a Metal detector if it had gold in it or clues were shown that it exists and has a pressense somewhere. Honestly if it does exist the Dutchmen would hide it where NO ONE WOULD FIND IT.
My grandfather was one of Dutch,s men. They met while in sing sing prison. He was murdered in 1938 in Harlem. My father and uncle had many stories of this stash over the years.as a young kid in the 60s and 70s we made many trips to Phoenicia walking the woods. There’s a lot more to this story.
Sounds like a fun adventure. Maybe sometime you will have it written before it fades into the realm of forgotten.
If anyone is interested or still looking I know and have the location I found it after 12 years of research. When I say anyone I mean anyone. Know that what ever is inside the box. I want half the bonds the hem and half the money. This is no hoax I’ve been at the location twice and the X is right there facing south east. I tried digging it up once but my stupid cousin started making noises. If anyone is interested in what I to offer anyone reach out to me s007m@yahoo.com. We are talking about 982 billion dollars split down the middle