[1]DARAAN
[2]\104-10326-10046 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[4]SECRET
[5]SENSIND: EO RYBAT
[7]ACTION: EUR/GAEXT (227) INFO: EUDORECORD, EUR/LGL, EYESONLY, MDSX, ODPD,
[8]RYBAT, FILE, DDO (2/W)
[10]96 5328306 ASR PAGE 001 IN 5328306
[12]TOR: 0911052 SEP 96 VIEN 42162
[14]SECRET 0910572 SEP 96 STAFF
[16]CITE VIENNA 42162 (EVESON ACTING)
[18]TO: DIRECTOR.
[20]FOR: LIMIT EUR/GAEXT INFO EUR/LGL, OGC/OFLD, OGC/OSD
[22]SLUGS: WNINTEL RYBAT
[24]SUBJECT: EYES ONLY. - MEETING WITH JOHN WHITTEN
[28]A. DIRECTOR 931349 96 5315663
[29]B. 6 SEP STU-III BETWEEN ACOS/LOCHT
[31]TEXT :
[33]1. ACTION REQUIRED: FOR THE RECORD. ALSO PLEASE ADVISE IF WE
[34]NEED TO TAKE ANY FURTHER STEPS SUCH AS ALERTING RSO AND/OR CONGEN ON
[35]WHITTEN'S STATE OF MIND AND. INTENTIONS.
[37]2. FOR THE RECORD, C/O NOBLEHORSE WAS MOST RECENTLY CONTACTED
[38]BY JOHN WHITTEN ON 26 AUGUST 1996. (C/O FIRST BECAME ACQUAINTED
[39]' WITH WHITTEN IN NOV 95 WHEN ACTING AS LIAISON BETWEEN WHITTEN AND
[40]*HQS CONCERNING<JFK ASSASSINATION>BOARD MATTERS.) WHITTEN, OBVIOUSLY
[41]VERY UPSET, INFORMED C/O THAT .HIS WIFE OF 55 YEARS HAD DESERTED HIM
[42]AND MOVED BACK TO THE U.S., THAT SHE WAS. SUING HIM FOR ONE-THIRD OF
[43]EVERYTHING HE. OWNED AS SUPPORT, AND THAT SHE WAS ACCUSING HIM OF
[44]THEFT OF PROPERTY (JEWELRY). HE REMARKED FURTHER THAT HIS CHILDREN
[45]HAD TURNED AGAINST HIM AND SIDED WITH HIS WIFE, AND THAT HIS HEALTH
[46]WAS CONTINUING TO DETERIORATE. WHITTEN ALSO SAID THAT HIS WIFE WAS
[47]NOT PLANNING ON SUING HIM FOR DIVORCE AS SHE WOULD LOSE ALL OF THE
[48]MEDICAL BENEFITS THAT SHE NOW HAS BY VIRTUE OF HIS RETIREMENT
[49]‘STATUS. WHEN C/O ASKED HOW HE COULD HELP, WHITTEN SAID THAT HE
[50]WOULD LIKE TO SEE C/O EITHER IN C/O’S OFFICE OR HAVE C/O DROP BY FOR
[51]A VISIT. WHEN C/O BRIEFLY HESITATED, WHITTEN QUICKLY ADDED THAT HE
[52]-HAD SOME INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG WHICH C/O "MAY OR MAY NOT BE
[53]INTERESTED IN, BUT PROBABLY NOT," BUT THAT THIS WAS THE MAIN REASON .
[54]FOR HIS CALL. C/O SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK HIS SCHEDULE AND
[55]’ WOULD GET BACK TO HIM IN A DAY OR TWO.
[56]‘ 3. RECOGNIZING A NEED TO EXTRICATE C/O AND STATION FROM
[57]FURTHER UNNECESSARY CONTACT (AFTER INITIAL CONTACT IN NOV 95,
[58]WHITTEN CALLED C/O ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND LOCAL DATT ONCE, TO
[59]&§ OFFER DATED AND SKETCHY INFORMATION; HE ALSO ONCE REFERRED TO NOBLE
[60]. HORSE AS A "CASE OFFICER" ON THE PHONE ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT LATER
[62]13-00000
[64]SECRET
[65]SENSIND: EO RYBAT
[66]REMEMBER IT), IT WAS DECIDED THAT C/O SHOULD VISIT WHITTEN AT HIS ~
[68]HOME, HEAR HIM OUT AND THEN INFORM HIM THAT CONTACT SHOULD BE
[70]DROPPED FOR BOTH HIS AND C/O’S SECURITY UNLESS AN EMERGENCY AROSE.
[72]FURTHER, C/O WAS TO TRY AND PUT WHITTEN IN CONTACT WITH THE EMBASSY
[74]CONSULAR SECTION. AFTER MAKING ARRANGEMENTS, C/O VISITED WHITTEN‘’S
[76]HOME ON THE MORNING OF 28 AUGUST. DURING A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL
[78]TWO-HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTE DISCUSSION, WHITTEN RECOUNTED ALL OF
[80]THE DETAILS OF HIS DOMESTIC: PROBLEMS, MANY OF THEM QUITE PERSONAL
[82]AND INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS AND COUNTER-
[84]ACCUSATIONS INVOLVING HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN, REMINISCED ON HIS
[86]PAST WORK EXPERIENCES, AND SPOKE OF HIS RESOLVE TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
[88]‘AS IT TURNS OUT, HE DROVE HIMSELF WITH.GREAT DIFFICULTY TO THE
[90]NETHERLANDS IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR WITH THE INTENT OF HAVING
[92]HIMSELF EUTHANATISED. .HE CHANGED HIS MIND, HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING
[94]REALIZED THAT HE HAD, IN FACT, MADE THE TRIP BY HIMSELF; WHEN HE
[96]RETURNED HOME, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN HE AND HIS SPOUSE BEGAN
[98]IN EARNEST (SHE, APPARENTLY, DID NOT APPROVE OF THE EUTHANASIA PLAN) .
[100]4. DURING THE DISCUSSION, IN WHICH WHITTEN BROKE DOWN IN TEARS
[101]SEVERAL TIMES, HE ALSO EXPRESSED HIS DETERMINATION NOT TO MOVE BACK
[102]TO THE U.S. ACCORDING TO HIM, SHOULD HE DO SO HIS FAMILY WOULD HAVE
[103]HIM PLACED IN A NURSING HOME - A FATE WHICH HE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT
[104]WILLING TO ACCEPT; AS AN ALTERNATIVE, HIS WIFE HAS INDICATED TO HIM
[105]THAT HIS FAMILY MAY INSTEAD BE ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR A SMALL APARTMENT
[106]FOR HIM IN WHICH TO LIVE, BUT THAT SHE WOULD PAY ONLY OCCASIONAL
[107]VISITS AND WOULD NOT LIVE WITH HIM. (THE LATTER REMARKS WERE MADE
[108]BY HIS WIFE DURING AN UNANNOUNCED TRIP BACK TO AUSTRIA IN CA. JUNE
[109]96.. .AT THAT TIME, THE WIFE DID NOT INFORM WHITTEN OF HER PRESENCE
[110]IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WHITTEN LEARNED OF IT THROUGH A FAMILY FRIEND.
[111]AFTER A CONFRONTATION IN WHICH WHITTEN BEGGED HER TO STAY, HIS WIFE
[112]BROKE DOWN, TOOK SOME MOMENTOS FROM THE APARTMENT AND LEFT.) THIS
[113]SECOND ARRANGEMENT WAS ALSO NOT SUITABLE TO WHITTEN.
[115]Faire a ine
[117]5. AFTER COLLECTING THE INFORMATION THAT WHITTEN HAD (WHICH
[118]STATION BELIEVES WILL BE OF LITTLE OR NO USEFUL VALUE), C/O .
[119]EXPLAINED TO WHITTEN THAT FOR SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS, IT WOULD BE
[120]BEST IF HE NO LONGER CONTACTED C/O EXCEPT IN THE EVENT OF AN EM
[121]ERGENCY, BUT.INSTEAD DEALT WITH EMBASSY CONSULAR SECTION. C/O SAID
[122]THAT HE WAS SORRY HE HAD TO DO THIS AS HE HAD ENJOYED GETTING TO
[123]KNOW WHITTEN, BUT THAT THE CONSULAR SECTION WAS BETTER EQUIPPED TO
[124]‘DEAL WITH THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WHITTEN RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT
[125]C/O NEED GO NO FURTHER IN TALKING ABOUT SECURITY AS HE HIMSELF WAS A
[126]"STICKLER" ON THE SUBJECT DURING HIS CAREER AND COMPLETELY
[127]UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF C/O‘'S REMARKS. THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, HE
[128]INDICATED THAT THE CONSULAR SECTION HAD ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
[129]HIM REGARDING THE JEWELRY THEFT AT THE REQUEST OF WHITTEN’S
[130]DAUGHTER. ALTHOUGH THE DEPUTY THERE HAD INFURIATED WHITTEN BY
[131]MAKING CERTAIN REMARKS TO HIS DAUGHTER, WHITTEN HAS APPARENTLY
[132]ALREADY ESTABLISHED SOME RAPPORT WITH THE CONGEN AND HAD AN
[133]APPOINTMENT TO SEE HIM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
[135]6. WHITTEN WAS CONCERNED, HOWEVER, THAT HE MAY HAVE MORE
[136]"CONFIDENTIAL" INFORMATION TO PASS ALONG, AND ASKED WHAT ACTIONS HE
[137]* SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT HE HAS SOMETHING OF VALUE FOR STATION. AT
[138]\\ HIS OWN SUGGESTION, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD CONTACT LOCAL RSO AS WAS
[140]e SECRET
[144]13-00000
[146]MHFNO: 96-5328306
[148]SECRET
[149]SENSIND: EO RYBAT
[151]EMBASSY PROCEDURE "IN HIS DAY" AND PASS IT TO THEIR OFFICE. HE SAID
[152]THAT WHILE HE WOULD NOT ASK FOR C/O BY NAME, IF HE HAD SOMETHING
[153]IMPORTANT HE WOULD DEMAND THAT IT BE PASSED TO STATION.
[155]7.: TURNING ONCE AGAIN TO DOMESTIC ISSUES, WHITTEN INDICATED
[156]THAT HE WAS DETERMINED TO COMMIT SUICIDE AS HIS HEALTH IS MISERABLE,
[157]HE IS IN A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF PAIN AND HE NO LONGER HAS ANYTHING
[158]FOR WHICH TO LIVE; HOWEVER, HE SAID HE NOW PLANS ON WAITING FOR A
[159]TRIAL DURING WHICH HE WILL PERSONALLY CONDUCT SOME EXAMINATIONS IN
[160]ORDER TO DIRECTLY CONFRONT HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN AN EFFORT TO GET
[161]THEM TO "ADMIT TO THEIR LIES." SHOULD ANY TRIAL OR AGREEMENT END IN
[162]JUDGMENT IN HIS WIFE’S FAVOR, WHITTEN CLAIMED HE WOULD NO LONGER BE
[163]IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN AUSTRIA. WHITTEN
[164]SPOKE OFTEN OF SUICIDE AS A WAY TO END BOTH HIS PHYSICAL AND
[165]EMOTIONAL PAIN. C/O WAS LEFT WITH. THE CLEAR IMPRESSION THAT HIS
[166]RESOLVE ON THIS MATTER IS FIRM; WHETHER HE WAITS FOR TRIAL OR NOT IS
[167]A MATTER OF PURE SPECULATION. C/O TRIED TO REMIND WHITTEN THAT
[168]WHILE HIS BODY MAY NO LONGER FUNCTION SO WELL, HIS MIND WAS
[169]OBVIOUSLY STILL SHARP. C/O THEN ASKED, NOT IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY
[170]BUT AS ONE HUMAN BEING TO ANOTHER, THAT SHOULD WHITTEN: EVER
[171]SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE, HE DIRECTLY CONTACT C/O FIRST.
[172]WHITTEN. COUNTERED BY SAYING THAT C/O MAY BE ABLE TO DISCERN WHEN THE
[173]TIME HAS COME. HE SAID HE HAS KEPT ALL OF HIS DIARIES FROM WWII
[174]THROUGH 1953, HAVING INTENDED TO SOMEDAY WRITE HIS MEMOIRS. WANTING
[175]TO KEEP ANY FUTURE PROFITS FROM HIS FAMILY, HE SAID HE NO LONGER HAS
[176]PLANS TO DO SO BUT THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO DIE WITH THEM LEFT FOR
[177]THE AUSTRIANS TO FIND; THEREFORE, HE WOULD PASS THEM THROUGH THE
[178]RSO. IN THE EVENT. THAT THIS OCCURS, THIS WILL BE A SIGNAL THAT HE
[179]INTENDS TO GO THROUGH WITH THE SUICIDE. :
[181]8. AS C/O GOT UP TO LEAVE, WHITTEN, AGAIN IN TEARS, THANKED
[182]C/O FOR HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND HIS HELP, AND. REMINDED C/O THAT HE
[183]HAD ENTERED INTO A MOST HONORABLE PROFESSION. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE
[184]HAD BEEN MOST HIGHLY IMPRESSED WITH REF IDEN, WHOM HE ALSO
[185]CONSIDERED A TRUE PROFESSIONAL. HE ASKED THAT C/O PASS ALONG A
[186]*SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS AS THE OUTCOME OF THE<JFK>MATTER HAD
[187]"RESTORED HIS FAITH IN THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM." WHITTEN BADE
[188]HIS FAREWELL BY NOTING IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME THAT THE TWO WOULD
[189]MEET, AND WISHED C/O A GOOD LIFE.
[191]9. FYI, REF INFORMATION THAT WHITTEN WAS STILL SEEKING AN
[192]ATTORNEY RUNS COUNTER TO A STATEMENT HE MADE TO C/O. ACCORDING TO
[193]WHITTEN, BOTH HE AND HIS WIFE WERE RETAINING LAWYERS IN FLORIDA
[194]WHERE SHE IS NOW RESIDENT. FURTHER, AS OF THE DATE OF THE ABOVE
[195]MEETING, SERVICE OF WHITTEN REGARDING THE SUPPORT MATTER HAD NOT YET
[196]BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE WAS EXPECTING THE PAPERWORK AT
[197]ANY TIME. WHITTEN DID SPEAK OF MAKING A PAYMENT, BUT IT IS NOT
[198]CLEAR WHETHER THE MONEY WAS INTENDED AS A RETAINER FEE OR AS A
[199]PAYMENT TO HIS WIFE. HE HAS JUST PURCHASED A FAX MACHINE TO MORE
[200]QUICKLY DEAL WITH LEGAL MATTERS, AND THE DAY PRIOR TO C/O'S MEETING
[201]HAD LIQUIDATED MANY OF HIS FINANCIAL HOLDINGS TO KEEP HIS FAMILY
[202]FROM THEM. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT A VIENNESE SOCIAL WORKER
[203]VISITS WHITTEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO CLEAN AND RUN ERRANDS AND THAT
[204]WHITTEN GETS HIS MEALS FROM THE AUSTRIAN EQUIVALENT OF
[205]MEALS-ON-WHEELS; THUS, WHILE HE HIMSELF IS VIRTUALLY IMMOBILE, HIS
[206]SECRET
[209]13-00000
[211]SECRET
[212]SENSIND: EO RYBAT
[213]APARTMENT REMAINS LIVABLE AND HE DOES NOT. “APPEAR: TO BE IN DANGER OF
[214]STARVATION. THE GREATEST THREAT TO WHITTEN MAY BE BURGLARY;
[215]ACCORDING TO HIM, THE JEWEL HEIST WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY THREE SLOVAK
[216]YOUTHS. WHILE HE SLEPT. WHITTEN CLAIMED THAT WHILE THE AUSTRIAN -
[217]POLICE HAVE MADE AN APPREHENSION, HIS. FAMILY SIMPLY REFUSES TO
[218]. BELIEVE THIS AS NONE OF THE STOLEN GOODS WERE RECOVERED AND NO
[219]OFFICIAL CHARGES HAVE YET BEEN FILED.
[221]10. FILE:
[222]CL BY: 618711
[223]CL REASON: 1.5(C)
[224]DECL ON: X1 :
[225]DRV FROM: HUM 4- 82.
[227]785-120-034.
[229]. END OF MESSAGE . SECRET
[231]SECRET