Treasure in the Cellar: A Tale of Gold in Depression-Era Baltimore

by Leonard Augsburger

Overview

Coin collectors and enthusiasts have long been familiar with the story of two boys who unearthed a fortune in gold coins while playing in a Baltimore basement in 1934. But the rest of the story trailed off to a few odd details. One of the boys died young, the other ran into trouble with the law. No one seemed to know more.

A lifelong coin collector, Leonard Augsburger was determined to uncover the rest of the story. What happened to the kids? The gold? Who buried it in the first place?

Meticulously researched, Treasure in the Cellar delves into the lives of the boys and their families, recreates the hours at the police station after the boys reported what they found, and describes months of courtroom drama as descendents of several former property owners came forward, each claiming the fortune for themselves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780938420972
Publisher:	The Maryland Historical Society
Publication date:	09/01/2008
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Leonard Augsburger is an engineering manager in the telecommunications industry. He has written numerous articles for numismatic hobby periodicals and is a frequent speaker at numismatic events. He is a member of the Maryland Historical Society, the American Numismatic Association, and the American Numismatic Society.

Table of Contents

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xiii
The Discovery
The House at 132 South Eden Street     3
Bessie Sines and Theodore Jones     10
Henry Grob     17
Treasure in the Cellar     22
Whose Gold?
Laying Claim     27
The Baltimore Gold Rush     32
A Weekend of Labor     37
Andrew Saulsbury     45
The Trial Begins
Theodore's Testimony     55
The Saulsbury and Chenven Claims     59
The Copper Pot     63
Judge O'Dunne and the Saulsbury Claim     69
The Findlay-French Claim     74
The Auction
Perry Fuller, Stamp and Coin Dealer     83
The Findlay-French Appeal     90
Trespassers or Discoverers?     93
A Mysterious Theft
A New Turn of Events     101
The Families Celebrate     108
The Merrill Brothers     112
No Pot to be Found     117
Secrets and the Secret Service
Agent Benjamin Bratton     125
Strategy in the Appellate Court     128
The Court Decides     137
Scattered to the Wind
Treasure Trove Law     143
The Coins are Dispersed     146
Epilogue: 132 S. Eden Street Today     151
Appendices
A Select Cast of Characters     157
Settlement of the Henry H. Grob Estate     161
Fuller Inventory of Part One of the Hoard     164
Merrill Inventory of Part Two of the Hoard     167
Notes     169
Index     203

Editorial Reviews

Using historical context, concrete details and quotes, Augsburger offers a riveting tale of poverty, greed, legal red tape, and the way they exacerbate each other.
—Diane Scharper, Baltimore Sun

An interesting read.
—Mike Thomas, Numimaster.com

From the Publisher

Using historical context, concrete details and quotes, Augsburger offers a riveting tale of poverty, greed, legal red tape, and the way they exacerbate each other.

Baltimore Sun - Diane Scharper

An interesting read.

Numimaster.com - Mike Thomas

An interesting read.

— Mike Thomas

Numimaster.com

Using historical context, concrete details and quotes, Augsburger offers a riveting tale of poverty, greed, legal red tape, and the way they exacerbate each other.

— Diane Scharper

Baltimore Sun