Nikola Tesla FBI Files - Page 53

August 2, 1973     

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Dear [REDUCTED]

        Your letter, which was received on July 30th, has been reviewed and I would like to point out that FBI Agents were not involved in removal of papers from the safe of Dr. Nikola Tesla, nor did we at any time have custody of his property.

        I realize there have been some written accounts that our Agents acquired Dr. Tesla's belongings; however, these accounts are simply not true. You can be assured we were absolutely not responsible and there was no impersonation involved.

                                                       Sincerely yours,

                                                       Clarence M. Kelly
                                                            Director

NOTE: Correspondent had written in mid-July and asked about the effects of Dr. Tesla and he was advised that the Office of Alien Property had participated in removing his effects from his hotel room. A copy of his communication was referred to the Department of Justice. Bufiles indicate clearly that after Dr. Tesla's death some relatives opened the safe in his hotel room with the help of a locksmith and, thereafter, the Office of Alien Property confiscated all of his belongings. Bufile 100-2237 mentions that the FBI was advised of the existence of this property; however, inasmuch as the Office of Alien Property was handling Dr. Tesla's effects, the Bureau had absolutely no hand in the entire matter.

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