The Mysterious Truth Of The Dutch Schultz Treasure

It's been almost a century since notorious mobster Dutch Schultz went down in a gunfight in a Newark, New Jersey, tavern (via Syracuse). Born Arthur Flegenheimer in the Bronx, New York, this bootlegger quickly garnered a reputation for violence, which earned him the name Dutch Schultz (via Biography).

Throughout his 33 years on Earth, Schultz followed a path that led to chaos, destruction, and ultimately, a violent demise. Running with fellow criminals like Lucky Luciano, Dutch's life of crime allegedly began in an illegal New York City saloon. At the time of his murder, he was believed to be tangled up in an elongated list of illegal acts ranging from running alcohol up the Hudson River during Prohibition to robbery, murder, and everything in between.

According to Unsolved Mysteries, Schultz was named Public Enemy No. 1 in 1933 and taken in by authorities the following year. He narrowly escaped tax evasion charges, keeping his freedom but losing his life. In 1935, he finally succumbed to gunshot wounds, but left behind a secret in his final breaths.

According to Schultz, he had buried a rather handsome treasure somewhere within the Catskills' lush landscape. The hunt for that treasures continues to this day.

Whether the highly sought-after treasure even exists in the first place is a matter of great debate. Like many a mobster hailing from the Roaring '20s, or any other time period for that matter, Dutch Schultz was not exactly known for his honesty. Indeed, he was known to be quite shifty in his dealings. Many of his friends became enemies. Some claim he killed more than 136 people in his lifetime (via Unsolved Mysteries).

While on his deathbed, Schultz mused about a multimillion-dollar treasure, which would have matured to be between $50 million and $100 million in today's money, should it prove to be real. Many believe it is real, and that it is buried somewhere in the tiny, majestic town of Phoenicia, New York. However, others think it was merely another scattered statement plucked from the incoherent speech he spewed in those final moments. Other shocking statements he blurted out were, "a boy has never wept...nor dashed a thousand kin" and "don't let Satan draw you too fast" (via Syracuse).

Were these strange words simply muddled ramblings, or were they clues to where the treasure might be hidden? It all depends on who you ask.