The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-23
PHANTOMESTATELEFTBYWILL
LARGELY TO A YOUNG WOMAN
DASSEL WAS ATTENTIVE TO.

q. Louis Knew Him ss Captain Mansieid'
In Chicago He Married Imogev
Bear I.eenard-Fa wnticsets and Tn
paid bills All the Executor Can Find
An eccentric will disposing OF Q phantom
estate was filed In the Surrogates' offics
yesterday. 1t was executed by Louis
Howard Dassel. who died on Feb. II, zoos
at the Hotel Hanover, OF heart disease
Dasael was connected with Q fire PROBING
company and lived expensively, making
money on commissions and spending II
faster than 1t came In.
His will. which was fled by John Hall
Jones Of Warner, Peckham a Strong, az
executor. provides that all his estate shall
be formed into a trust. 10 he divided into
two parts. The first Is to include all Dassers
rights and interests In q large estate left
by his father and mother at Tilsit. Germany.
while the second embodies all the remainder
OF his property, real and personal.
From the first part Dassel directed the
executor to give 1000 each to Imogen
Pearl Leonard. his divorced wife. and
Leonard Howard Dassel. his seven year old
son. who Is living with an aunt, Mrs. j. A.
Duggan Of 1920 East Fiftieth street, Chicago.
Two more legacies OF 5000 Q ach were
10 be paid to his friends. Robert d. Bristol
and David p. Ahern.
Dassel then directed that out OF the re-
mainder OF the proceeds Of his German
estate Sos 900 was to be given to Miss Helen
Terry Potter and the income from what
ever was left was to be paid to her for life.
with power TO dispose OF the principal
by will. The entire residue OF the property
he beaueathed to Miss Potter absolutely.
In the petition Mr.. Jones says that he
has found no real estate belonging to Das-
his testator's personal property does not ex-
100 East Thiry-first street, and Mrs. Das-
SETS as 100 West Forty-fifth street.
Mr.. Jones said out OF court that Dassel
left absolutely nothing. There was moth
ing coming to him in Germany. not even
expectations. and as to his property here,
two pawntickets and huge collection of
unpaid bills. from hotels, livery stables.
florists. confectioners, tailors and other
tradespeople. amounting to thousands Of
dollars. II Is possible that some commits
sions may fall due. but Mr.. Jones has failed
TO discover any trace OF them.
What his idea was in making such a will
but short while before his death canno.
imagine" said Mr. Jones Perhaps he
used 1t TO raise money or to impress some
Of his acquaihtances. There must have
been some such reason for his fiction Of
the estate in Germany.
From Dassel's personal papers / have
discovered that he was born at Koenigs-
berg sixty years ago Of poor parents. He
started in life "a sailor before the mast
and gave that up to become pilot on the
Suez Canal. Finally. he drifted over here
n nd hot
only. the most expensive publications and
making large commissions. He wandered
through the country, married Miss Imogen
Leonard In Chicago, and posed At one time
a. Capt. Dassel. a Descendant Of the ancient
ner were good and his personality very i'm
pressive. At one time. believe. he was
known In st. Louis a. Capt. Mansfield
From his sister In Germany continued
Mr.. Jonee, Il have learned that Dassel's
people had little or nothing, and that his
mother was supported by her daughter
The great estate consisted Of small cot
tage that was sold years ago. Bristol and
Ahern, to whom he left 5000 each. were
friends in business way. and. / think,
creditors. Miss Helen Terry Potter Is a
stSS statue beautiful young woman With
her mother. and believe feels very keenly
the disappointment connected with her
legacy l understand Dasscl used to take
her ont. driving and send her expensive
flowers
Altogether concluded the lawyer, Il
guess Dassel, in making his will, intended 70
put finishing touch to an extraordinary
career. II that was his idea. he certainly
succeeded"
Miss Potter's fiat at the address given
above was pervaded last night with the idea
hat Mr. Jones must be mistaken and that
here must be heap Of money somewhere,
MIR. Dassel had made the money fly so in
his lifetime. Miss Potter's negro maid dis
the will. She took care Of Dasael
N his last illness at the Hanover. Miss
Potter is now going TO hire a lawyer her
'elf to discover the estate.
Miss Potter has been on the stage In Sam
Marquis Of Michigan company.