Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-08
Russian Officials
|'Rescue'Woman
From n. Y. Farm
Charge Teacher Due
To Return to Soviet
Was Kidnapped
Ry the Assoefoted Press

VALLEY COTTAGE, N. Y, Aug.
IA 52-year-old Russian woman
school teacher tonight became
the storm center of a Russian
tug-of-war that ranged from
here to the New York City So
Wet consulate with repercussions
in Washington.
The woman, identified as Oksana
Stepanovna Kosenkina, was driv-
en- away today from Reed Farm,
operated here by Countess Alex
andra Tolstoy. youngest daughter
of the Russian novelist, as White
Russian retreat.
In New York, Soviet Consul Cen
eral Jacob Lomakin said she had
been rescued" from the farm after
White Russians forcibly took her
there to keep her from returning
to the Soviet Union.
The woman, a chemistry teacher
at a school operated by the Soviet
Government for its United Nations
delegates, sat beside Mr.. Lomakin
and an aide in the consulate as
they told her story to reporters.
She occasionally answered questions
and they translated to the news
papermen.
But Countess Tolstoy said Mrs.
Kosenkina had come to Reed Farm
because she believed she was going
to be shot" and went back to New
York with the Russians today say
ing, If they shoot me, maybe it 10
the best way out" The countess
said Mrs. Kosenkina did not wish
to return to the Soviet Union.
Mundt Says FBI Is Investigating.
Later. in Washington. Represen-
tative Mundt, Republican. of South
Dakota, said the school teacher was
going to tell the House Committee
on Un-American Activities. of which
he is acting chairman, all about
Russian aggression.
Mr.. Mundt said she was being
held in the New York consulate
against her will and the FBI was
investigating to see If there was q
kidnapping.
However, Representative Hebert
Democrat, of Louisiana. a member
of the committee said in New York
when told of Mr.. Mundt's state
ment: Il never heard of the woman.
l never knew she was wanted for
questioning"
The FBI had no comment in New
York or Washington.
Mr.. Mundt said the State De-
partment had been asked whether
in this country we can have what
appears to be branch of the NKVD
(Soviet Secret Police picking some
one up at a private American home.
incarcerating them in the Soviet
consulate, putting them in seclusion
and keeping them under virtual
house arrest
Believes Others Still Held.
| Mr.. Lomakin said he would see
what he could do for other Rus
slams he indicated he believed are
still being detained at Reed Farm
against their will.
He said he would try to see New
York City Police Commissioner Ar
thur Wallander Monday about the
matter.
Asked if Mrs. Kosenkina would
be permitted to talk to the FBI,
MIR. Lomakin said:
| First of all, she must take rest"
He said he thought she might talk to
the FBI later.
He added that she still intended
20 return to Russia. At present, he
added, she would remain at the con-
sulate or at the Soviet rest home at
Glen Cove, N. Y.
! Earlier Soviet officials had said
that the woman originally planned
to sail July 81 on the vessel Pobeda
but the White Russian kidnapping
had prevented her sailing.
Call From Reed Farm.
:. The strange and conflicting stor-
les about Mrs. Kosenkina started
at pm. when local police said they
received a call from Reed Farm
saying the woman had been forcibly
taken away in car by an unidenti-
fed man.
. About five minutes later, accord
, ing to Clarkstown Police 1t. Ernest
Wiebecke, second call was received
The caller said station wagon
carrying a USSR diplomatic license
plate had driven up to the farm
Three men in the car, the caller
said, had demanded to see Mrs
Kosenkina.
The station wagon left the 200.
. acre estate after the men were in.
formed that the school teacher had
Just been taken away in car.
Later. police in Orangetown. NY,
said they had stopped the station
, wagon and found it registered In
. the name of Mr.. Lomakin.
They released the car, police said
(See RUSSIANS, Page A-4)
Arr