Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 168

JOHN EDGAR HOOVER
      DIRECTOR

Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Department of Justice
Washington, D. C.

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2:45 p.m.

July 17, 1943

MEMORANDUM FOR Mr. D. M. LADD

                RE: SAVA KOSANOVICH
                     INTERNAL SECURITY (G)
                     CUSTODIAL DETENTION

At this time SA [REDUCTED] of the New York office telephoned, stating on the previous afternoon [REDUCTED] telephoned that office [REDUCTED] stated that she would like to be interviewed concerning certain information she possessed [REDUCTED]

Agent [REDUCTED] stated [REDUCTED] two teletypes which the New York office forwarded to the Bureau under dates of January 9 and 12, 1943, in the case entitled UNKNOWN SUBJECTS, EQUIPMENT, EXPEIMENTS AND RESEARCH OF NIKOLA TESLA,DECEASED, ESPIONAGE (Bureau file 100-2257). Briefly, the information contained in these teletypes is that shortly after Nikola Tesla, one of the world's outstanding scientists in the electrical field, died in his hotel, room at New York City on January 8, 1943, Sava Kosanovich, a distant relative, and other individuals entered his room and opened a safe, examining certain materials which he possessed. On January 8, Mr. L. M. C. Smith of the Department advised Mr. Tamm that he was concerned about the possibility of enemy agents confiscating some of the tracks of Tesla and that apparently the Alien Property Custodian was taking some action in this matter. Inasmuch as the matter was being handled by the Alien Property Custodian's office, the Bureau did not conduct any inquiries into this situation.

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