Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Search for Dutch Schultz lost Treasure

Dutch Schultz (Arthur Flegenheimer) was a New York gangster of the 1930s who made his fortune in bootlegging, loan sharking, the numbers racket, and murder. Schultz became a powerful figure with a reputation for ruthlessness. "Dutch Schultz was ugly; he had been drinking and suddenly he had his gun out. Schultz wore his pistol under his vest, tucked inside his pants, right against his belly. One jerk at his vest and he had it in his hand. All in the same quick motion he swung it up, stuck it in Jules Martin's mouth and pulled the trigger. It was as simple and undramatic as that—just one quick motion of the hand. Dutch Schultz did that murder just as casually as if he were picking his teeth.”
As Martin contorted on the floor, Schultz apologized to Davis for killing someone in front of him. When Davis read a newspaper story about Martin's murder, he found out that the body was found with a dozen stab wounds to the chest. When Davis asked, the boss dead-panned, "I cut his heart out."
Schultz is said to have buried $7m in cash, jewels, and gold in a safe in upstate New York.
The story of Dutch Schultz's lost Treasure has inspired a movie, books, documentaries, a PBS special, and many treasure hunters looking for loot in the Catskills. People still flock to Phoenicia, looking for lost treasure.
Schultz had ties to the area. He was involved in gambling in Saratoga Springs, and had an aunt who lived nearby. Schultz also hid out from the FBI and IRS just to the south in Saratoga County.
Cops recorded the gangster's rambling last words as he died of peritonitis caused by a rust-coated bullet.
  • Oh, mamma, mamma, please don't tear; don't rip...
  • Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
  • Who shot me? No one.
  • I will be checked and double-checked and please pull for me.
  • The sidewalk was in trouble and the bears were in trouble and I broke it up.
  • I can't come; express office was closed.
  • Please crack down on the Chinaman's friends and Hitler's commander.
  • These native children make this and sell you the joint.
  • You can play jacks, and girls do that with a soft ball and do tricks with it.
Bernard "Lulu" Rosenkrantz was Dutch Schultz's chauffeur and bodyguard. He was shot at the Palace Chophouse moments after Schultz was shot. He died two days later in hospital. He produced a map before dying. No loot has ever been found, so far.