The San Francisco call., 1907-06-08
VAN TAssELL CARRIES
$4,000 LIFE INSURANCE
Police Find Also That the
Missing Doctor Owes
About ST 900
SEARCH is RENEWED
Woodrnen of the World Send
Out Many Thousands
of Circulars
SEARCH IS RENEWED

BERKELEY, June Two new facts
were revealed today in the investiSa-
tfon of the disappearance of DIR. Van
Tassell on May 80 The police learned
that he owed about $1,000 to various
persons in Berkeley. and that although
poor financially he carried about $4,000
insurance in fraternal orders and the
Bankers life association of Iowa
The discovery of the large insurance,
coupled with the report that'he owed q
great deal of money TO friends, In
creased the speculation concerning the
reasons for his mysterious disappear
ance If he was murdered or IL he COM
'mitted suicide Mrs. Van Tassen viii
receive the insurance The possibilities
involved in the situation have given
added interest to the case and have in
creased the efforts OF the detectives to
solve the mystery.
1t is said that the fraternal orders In
which Van Tassell carried insurance
are TO employ private detectives TO
work on the case. The ForesterS and
the Woodmen of the World are respon-
sible for the bulk of this insurance.
Mrs. Van Tassell. who is Frustrated
with grief. today asked TO be excused
from examining her husbands papers
so that 1t might be known just what is
the liability, in the event of death, OF
each order to which her husband be-
anee aggregated $4,000.
Mrs. Van TaSsell continues to scoff at
! the theory that her husband deserted
her. She declares that their home life
was ideally happy and that II Van Tas-
sell is alive he certainly would commu-
number of crank letters from people
giving advice or who assure her that
they have knowledge of Van TasselIs
movements or whereabouts
The police noted today that Van
TasselfS medicine case.s which was re-
covered by Mrs. Olsen of West Berke-
ley on the beach near Ashby avenue,
was marked with a spot that resembled
blood stains. Mrs Olsen was asked
about these stains and replied that her
little boy cut his finger and, while
handling the medicine bag, smeared a
bit of blood on the leather.
The Woodmen Of the World have is
sued the following circular. on which
is printed photograph Of Van Tassell.
and have sent thousands OF copies
throughout the state:
ON Thursday evening MAY 80 Dr. Fred f.
Van Tassell left his home az 2S04 Grove street,
Berkeley. Cal. presumably In answer to ca1
in the vicinity OF Ashby and San Pablo avenues.
Since that time no trace Of him is to be found-
DR.. Van TasselI Is 2S years Of age. about 5 feet
inches high. weight about las pounds. light
conplex1on smooth shaven and when last seen
wore black derby hat, long. black overcoat:
dark plaid suit; ring with opal in c; three
rubies each side o. He is member OF Bay
View camp No. 1926. Modern Woodmen OF Amer
lea and camp physician
Any Information concerning him NAV be sent
to W. r. Starr. 303S Benvenue avenue. Berkeley,
or August Vellmer. city marshal Berkeley. Cal.
Chief VOllmer has received a tele-
gram from c. Gritsmacher, chief of po-
lice of Portland. Ore, saying that he
had man in custody there who re-
sembled Van Tassell. Chief Vollmer
has forwarded detailed description OF
the missing man to the Portland
authorities.