German Who Left Huge Fortune to Chinese
CYNICAL GESTURE OF MISER juitad Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. ' Received Wednesday, 11.15 p.m. LONDON, Alarch 16. Tho Morning Post’s correspondent in Rome says that a mysterious old German named Heinrich Basso died at Bressanone seemingly in wretched poverty, but the authorities found a steel box containing bank books showing accounts in German and English banks, keys of various safe deposits, and a will bequeathing his total estate to . the Chinese people, through the Chinese Government, so long as the money is used for the struggle against Europeans. The clue to this strange bequest is believed to lie in other queer discoveries. For instance, there was a letter from the ex-Kaiser on tho occasion oi Basse’s 80th. birthday last year, a document showing that Basse served in the Prussian Guard, a badge of the French espionage service, and papers of the Soviet Government.
The fortune is believed to amount to £500,000. It is suggested that it represents special secret funds of the late German imperial authorities, accumulated when Basso was a banker. The bequest to the Chinese people is regarded as a cynical gesture to dispose ot the inculpating moneys.
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Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6810, 17 March 1932, Page 7
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197German Who Left Huge Fortune to Chinese Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6810, 17 March 1932, Page 7
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