Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-10-03
A Strange Story..if true--about a Lea Their
Trunk full Of Doubl0Ons and Bank Bills.

A strange story-.if true--about a Leather
Trunk full Of Doubloons and Bank Bills.
In 1899, a man BY the name of MICHAEL
ScANNELL, lived in this city. He was a gar
dener, and also kept grocery and eating house,
near the old Aqueduct. lie was man Of con.
siderable enterprise, and did very fair bu'i-
ness. One morning, in the fall Of the year 1920,
very destitute looking man Gas the story goes)
came to his house, complaining Of having been
stripped Of all his clothes by a canal.bnat cap-
tain, and stating that he had not farthing with
which to purchase meal of vctuas. Scannell
eympa hized with the poor fellow gave him his
breakfast and dinner, and procured him employ.
ment. He did not, however, evince any very
particular desire TO 60 to work when work was
procured for him; but hung about the grocery,
as If he had something 10 communicate.
During the afternoon, Scannell proceeded to
his cellar 10 tap barrel Of beer, and was fol-
lowed by the stranger, who accosted him with
the remark that he had "a secret TO connuni.
cate to him, which would make a man of him
for life" But belore he would communicate
this desirable secret, he required Scannell to
swear upon a Catholic prayer book which he
held in his hand, "never to reveal 10 mortal man
what he should communicates" This oath it is
probable Scannell took, although he denied hav-
ing done 60 at period which will be referred to
in the sequel.
The stranger then told Scanned that the night
previously, a trunk had fallen from carriage on
what is now Exchange street. This trunk he
picked up, and found that It contained large
amount of money, in doubloons and bank bills.
This trunk he had secreted under a pile Of boards
near the aqueduct, and If Scannell would ac-
company him, and aid him in getting it safely
away, he should share in its contents. The Of
fer was at once accepted; and as soon as it was
Aar tss,n lad ,,,;th ,,,l1
old quilts, to the hiding place, where the trunk
(about three feet by two, and made Of black
leather) was found. On opening It, it appear
ed to he about third full of douboons, and the
rest Of the space was occupied with bank bills
of various denominations.
The money was placed in the sheet, and
covered over with the quilts and old clothing,
to make the bundle appear as much as possible
like a bundle Of bedding. When the money
was thus secured, Scannel broke the trunk
into pieces and cast it into the river Before
returning TO SIS house with their rich booty,
the two had determined to proceed in the morn
ing to Canada, by the ridge road. The stran.
gers wife lived at Toronto aud they we're 10
proceed to tho house Of - -, at that time
an auctioneer in that city, from whence they
would, in due time, and after the funds were
properly disposed of, 90 abroad. Scannell hap.
pened to be well acquainted with the auctioneer,
he being a relative OF his wife, He according.
" readily acceded TO the plan but unfortunate.
" when they reached Scannell's house, the
public room was thronged, and while $. went in
alone to arrange matters, his lucky friend gave
him the slip, and he was no where to be found.
But Scanuell thought it "would never do to
give II up SUI and supposing that his friend
had suspected him, (from having had to remain
some fifteen minutes in the house,) he deter
mined to hunt him up and undece,ve him. He
consequently took the stage for Lewiston the
next day, hoping to intercept his rich friend at
the Ferry, with his bounty: but after waiting a
day, he saw nothing of him, and becoming shor,
of change, he communicated these facts to Out
informant, who loaned him five dollars with
which he paid his way to Toronto.
From tina, day to this, Scanned has not beer
heard of. Soon after, as we are told, his groce
~ was broken up, and his family left for parts
unknown, whether to share in the rich booty
Of this lucky stranger, or to seek out her liege
lord, is mystery TO this day.
Now, tn. query is, has this singular story
about Michael Scannell and The leather trunk
full OF douhloons and bank bills, any foundation
in truth! Our infOrmant-a gentleman Of un
doubted veracity, whose recent visit to the oil
aqneduct called up these long. past reminiscent
ces-fully believes all that Scannell told him
although at the time, he had much az he
could d. to enjoy his honeymoon visit to the
Falls, and make no inquiries either about Sean.
nell or the Leather Trunk, until so ne five year.
ago, when, on visiting this city, he had The Gu
riosi,y to inquire of various persons whethe
they ever knew Scannell and what had become
of him. Many remembered him, but nune kne "
where he had gone; but all concurred that he
had suddenly disappeared some time in 1870.
What had also tended to keep these rernlnis
cences alive in his mind, or rather to revive
n q a ~ factt hat
published statement of the large bank robbie
res, which had taken place in this country with
IN nheen or tweny years, il was stated that
heavy robbery had occurred in a Bank in Mass
achusetts about the time when Scannell wen
in pursuit Of the mysterious person who prom
ised 10 reveal TO him "a secret which woul
make man of him" Whether this was tina
money-or whether Scannell's ragged CUES
was the robber, or whether he found The mnne
a. stated, or whether Scannell ever overtoo
him, or whether he shared in the spells, {
whether he is still living, or where is his where
abouts, or whether any thing of the kind as r,
lated ever occurred-all is clothed in impent
trable MYSTERY. That Scanned lived aud move
and communicated what we have here pubsl
ed to our informant, we have no manner
doubt but whether he lied, we cannot sa
But this we can say, there have been mar
worse stories than this-less of exciting inc
dent, with less capital to build upon--writte
and published And if there is any thing
Scannell's revelations, this publication may v
LEAD the owner Of the douboons and bank bill
to their possession. ScanneIl's friends lived
Limerick. Ireland. where he doubtless went,
no got the loose change. and where he may pc
sibly row be found. reveling upon the spoiis o
tanned from the Leather Trunk, under tho o
AQueduct.-- Rochester Dem.
GREAT YIELD OF WooL--The merino foo
of }. Speed. IN the vicinity of I,hca, New Yor
averaged the past season. @ lbs. of clean was
ed wool per head for which he has been offert
40 cents per pound.