The Pittsburgh Press (August 25, 1940)
TROTSKY DEATH PROBED BY U.S.
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Rhode Island ‘Mystery’ Cable Spurs Hunt
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By Edward P. Morgan, United Press Staff Writer
Mexico City, Aug. 24 –
It was reported reliably here tonight that American authorities were investigating United States ramifications of the slaying of Leon Trotsky.
It was understood that following the assassination of the Russian exile, a cable was received from Rhode Island by his confessed slayer, Frank Jackson, reading, “Congratulations,” and signed, “Fred.”
It was said that U.S. authorities were investigating to establish identity of the mysterious “Fred.”
Jackson, who drove a pickax into Trotsky’s head last Wednesday night at the exile’s suburban home, and Sylvia Ageloff, his companion, were placed at the disposal of the Federal District Attorney General’s office.
As yet no formal charges have been filed against the pair but they were detained at the Green Cross Hospital under guard. Jackson is recovering from a severe beating inflicted by Trotsky’s guards after the fatal attack. Miss Ageloff, a New York social worker, is suffering from hysteria and has taken little nourishment in the past 96 hours.
Trotsky’s followers have insisted the assassination was plotted by the OGPU, the Russian secret police.
An attempted assassination of Trotsky was made May 24. At that time a group of armed men fired machine-gun bullets into Trotsky’s bedroom and kidnapped Sheldon Harte, one of the guards. Trotsky escaped injury by lying on his bedroom floor but Harte’s body was found some time later.