AN ODD BEQUEST.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 11

AN ODD BEQUEST.

MYSTERIOUS GERMAN'S WILIa £500,000 FOB CHINESE PEOPLE. (united pbess association —by electbic TELEGBAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 16th, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. The correspondent of the "Morning Post" at Rome says a mysterious old German, Herr Heinrich Basse, died at Bressanone in seemingly wretched poverty. The authorities, however, found a steel box containing bank books, showing accounts in German and English banks, and keys of various safe deposits, also a will bequeathing tho total estate to the Chinese people through the Chinese Government so long as the money is used for a struggle against Europeans. A clue to this strange bequest is believed to lie in other queer discoveries. For instance, a letter from the frx-Kaisw on tho occasion of Heir Basse's eightieth birthday last year, a document showing that he served with the Prussian Guard, a badge of the French Espionage Service,, and papers of the Soviot Government. The fortune, it is believed, amounts to £500,000. It has been suggested that the money represents the special secret funds of the late German Imperial authorities, accumulated when He: - r Basse was a banker. The bequest to the Chinese people is regarded lis a cynical gesture' to dispose of the, inculpating moneys.