Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 253

(5)(0)@) STANDARD FORM NO. 64 Office Memorandum TO FROM : : SUBJECT: MR. TOLSON L. B. NICHOLS ) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT elaxe) ALL IN HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED DATE 2.281 #241860 called yesterday and said he would J Mohr be in town for the next two or three days and wanted to see me. I told him I would be glad to see him late yesterday or today House at his convenience. He is coming in today at 2:30 p.. Tele, koom TON CONTAINED I asked him if there was anything special which would require my doing any checking. He stated there were two things he wanted to discuss. 1 President of International Later Corporation 1 DATE: Jan. 30, 1951 ков. BYSPIAGIOM 1. The case of Nikola Tesla and Abraham N. Spanel, Our files reflect that Nicola Tesla was one of the world's outstanding scientists and in fact designed the generators installed at Niagara Falls. He died in New York on January 7, 1943, and is supposed to have left details and plans for a 80called death ray. COPIES DESTROYED R94 J 1059 Our files also reflect that Colonel Erskine of Military Intelligence called us on January 9, 1943, advising that Tesla had died, that A Spanel had communicated with the War Depart ment regarding this death, that Tesla had a nephew named Sava Kosanovich who had taken possession of Tesla's papers and Spanel thought the papers might be used against our Government. del We made an immediate inquiry in New York and the first report was that Kosanovich and others entered Tesla's room with the aid of a locksmith, broke into a safe containing some of Tesla's valuable papers including formula. Toleon Ladd Chess, OMAVAD N1 Wo Ron Tracy Coincident with this, on January 8, L. M. C. Smith called Mr. Tamm regarding the death of Tesla and Snith stated he was talking to the Alien Property Custodian about seizing these items. FX. - 8 ever Tesla's We interviewed Spanel who expressed concern effects and Spanel stated that Kosanovich had turned over the effects of Tesla to the Alien Property Custodian. Spanel further stated the day before Tesla died, he tried to get in touch with the Far Department to make available certain pa 346930-1 5.0 4 1951 SEL1100 RECORDED - 18 B INDEXED-18 MAR 2 1951