Arthur Hassel

Arthur Hassel (1772-1828) was a Brunanter politician and Mayor of Koningstad.

Biography
Hassel was born to an upper-class family in Koningstad; his grandfather had made a fortune as a merchant and his family were well respected. Hassel went to the Royal University of Koningstad and briefly studied law. Opening up a practice in 1803, he became a "popular" lawyer, serving the poor. In 1816 he became a public lawyer for the Koningstad Court. In 1825, he was elected Mayor of Koningstad; the majority of his votes came from the lower and middle classes. Hassel was a serial womanizer and his opponents claimed he spent more time in bed than at work. In 1828 he became involved in a relationship with Martha Haver. Her husband, Emmanuel Haver, was a member of Congress and when he found out became quite furious. He challenged Hassel to a duel. On March 27, 1828 the two gentlemen and their assistants met at the Central Park at 7 in the morning. There are not precise accounts of actual duel, but Haver was the first to fire his gun, which hit Hassel squarely in the chest. The mayor dropped to the floor and was taken to a nearby house, when he died that evening. Haver was imprisoned for 3 years on charges of murder.