The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-15
BRONX TREASURE TROVE HOAX
MEEHiN. BANKRUPT, OHNS tP
AS Fan As THAT

He Found No Chest OF Gold and silver
on the Old Macy Place-If He Had
His CreditonN Would He After Ids
charge in bankruptcy Not Yet Granted
II will be painful shook to many people,
no doubt when they learn that the tale
told on or about Jan. 9 last concerning the
digging up Of box Of buried treasure In
The Bronx has been discovered to be lack
ing in some OF those elements which arc
considered rather an advantage in nara
tons Of fact. The tale, it may be renem'
bered. was, in brief, that once upon time
there lived in The Bronx near where Pros
pect now joins Westminster avenue
family OF the name OF Macy, that this family
had n venerable mansion, that a member
OF the family in times gone by was gwen
TO strange nocturnal prowlings with
spade and a lantern, that the family man
sion" was sold and torn down and an old
garden that was about it was dug up for
new building and that in so digging ono
James +. Neehan, builder unearthed
chest Of treasure gold and silver coins
and bauk notes OF many countries, all OF
the value of some $50 900.
has for some months been involved In
bankruptcy proceedings and has attended
hearings from time to time in the once
OF Peter b Olney referee in bankruptcy
~ William street In the course OF these
hearings Mr. Meehan, either az witness
or in casual observation-disclosures olney
il not quite sure which--threw some addi'
tionsl light on the treasure trove story
1t seems. according TO Mr.. Meehsn, that
the story il absolutely true with two e1-
captions These exceptions are that no
treasure was found and that so far "a Is
known the Macy family had no ancestor
addicted 10 Nocturnal wanderngs with
lantern and shovel The house was where
Meehan said it was and hole was dug
there and il there now where anybody can
see IL
Thomas Cunningham hls brother in
law who was said to have seen the buried
treasure, was still enveloped in mystery
about ii yesterday
j am not at liberty to speak, he said
But will have a communication from MT
Meehan tomorrow or next day ana then
may reveal things. Mr.. Meehan LEFT
for Florida to-day He said that when
he got down between Washington and
Richmond he would both write and teIe-
graph to me Meantime he told me To keep
mum, and mum | am When ] hear from
him will know whether can talk or not.
Referee Olney said that he had heard
Mr. Meehan say that the treasure trove
story was hoax.
A gentleman who has acted in legs
capacity for Mr.. Meehan. but who did not
wish to have his name used said that IL
might be confidently asserted that the
treasure trove story was all CANNON
According to this gentleman Mr.. Meehan
did not originate the tale. but merely lent
countenance to it after somebody else
had started il;
1T would be strange. indeed. said rms
gentleman. il man who was gong
through bankruptcy proceedings as Mr.
Meehan is found $50 600 and then went
around telling about it. The story APP
pears to have originated in a Bronx rea
estate office. That anything touching on
and appertaiuing to Bronx real estate that
swerVed by so much as hairs breath from
mathemat teal accuracy should come from
Bronx real estate Office is what hopelesHy
perplexes people up there. unless the soiu-
ton NAV be that II was started TO get peo-
pie talking about Bronx real estate much
as the sea serpent s utilized by the summer
resort Mr.. Meehan filed petition in
bankruptcy June 30 last with Liabilities
SIS. 3s7 and assets 81 600. He has applied
for a discharge in bankruptcy and hash
vet 2Ot II.