MRS. DAVID L. CHRIST.
Originator: CIA
Document date: 09/15/1960
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10111-10040

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

SUBJECT:

Mya. David k. Christ

On 15 September 1960, 3 ataff employees (David Christ, Thornton.

Anderson and Walter Szuminskl) were arrested by the Cuban G-2 while in-

stalling audio surveillance equipment agalnst the New China News Agency

up. All six were jailed.

Subsequently, Mra. (Nordio)and Neet were released

and deported.

06"

2.. The 3 staff employees were operating under allas identities which

have stood up to date (Daniel Carawell, Fustace Danbrunt, Edmund Taransky).

The staff employees and the stay-behind agent were trled on 17 December

1960. On 10 January 1961, the staff employees were sentenced to 10 yeara

in jail, and the stay-behind agent was ordered deported. The deportation

took placa shortly thereafter:

3. Following the arrest, the 3 Agency employees were firat detained

at the G-2 headquarters in Havana and shortly thereafter were moved to

the LaCabana prleon. It was possible to keep them supplied with food, ne-

cessities, radios, reading material, etc. On 23 January le spite of the

immediate appeal of the sentence filed by their lawyer. the 3 men were

moved to the Isle of Pines where living and sanitary conditions are in-

tolerable.. Prisoners are required to perform hard manual labor, and

there la an insufficiency of food..

4. With the asslotance of Mr. Hugh Kessler, a U.S. consular of-

ficial, close contact was kept with the 3 men until diplomatic relations

with Cuba were severed. Through a Washington attorney, James R.

Murphy, arrangementa were made with a Cuban lawyer, Di. Fernando

Colomar, to represent the 3 men in court. Colomar was not told of

any Agency interest in the operation. Through the jolnt services of

Messrs. Kessler and Colomar, the 3 men were supplied with pocket

money, food, clothing, tollet articles, etc. After diplomatic relations

were severed, Colomar continued to visit the men until they were trans-

ferred to the Isle of Pines.

2/p

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The 3 men have been held in the Modelo Prisos, Nueva Gerona.

Isle of Pines since January 1961. We have been successiul in getting money.

and supplies to them through the Washlugton Attorney to the Swise Embassy

Their last corres..

reagonably good health. The Swiss are attempting to verly a report that

3 Americans were transferred to the Boniato Prison in early November 1962.

6. It has been necessary in this case to conceal Government interest

in the 3 prisoners in order to avoid their execution and/or full debriefing on

the sensitive Information they possess..

7. The Washlagton Attorney has obtained associate counsel ln Mexico

City and la Chicago, Illnola. The Chicago Attorney, who ls unwitting of

Government interest, (Constantine N. Kangles) visited Havana in May/ June

1962 and as of November 22, 1962 recelved word that an soon as possible

he will be lavited back to Cuba to negotiate with Fldel Caatro on this case.

Kangles expects the release of the 3 men not later fan the firat week in

January 1963.

8. Other operational efforto to securè the release of the men are la

progreas. We have avolded keeping Mrs. Christ fully briefed on the spe-

cliles of the efforts being made, as she tenda to be critical of the Agency

and of the fact that she ls unaware of any significant interest in the case la '

the Executive Branch of the Government. She has prevlously seen Mesars.

Allen Dulles, General Cabell, General Maxwell Taylor, and General Carter.

%.

Mr. James Donovan, who has appeared in connection with negotia-

tions for the Playa Giros prisoners, has been made aware of the 22 Amerl-.

cans held in Cuba and of the Agency Iaterest In 3 of those prisoners.

He

has not been told their true names.

10. David Christ's wife, Wilms, and their siz children live in the

Washington area where they have been frequently visited by members of

the Agency. She has explained to neighbors that her husband in away on a

long TDY for the Government which has become a permanent assignment

and that in line with the new regulations on overseas travel of dependents,

she has not been allowed to follow him.. Wilma Christ has been paid her

husband's accumulated per diem and salary.

11. David Christ is 45 years old (his birthday was 20 January). He

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is a graduate of Pennsylvania State College with a degree of B.S. In Electrical

Engineering.

He worked before the war for the Atlas Powder Company and

was & lst Lt, In the USAAE from 1942 to 1946. Following the war, he la-

structed at Pennsylvanla State College until 1950 when he jolned the Agency:

12. Wilma Christ is 42 years old. There are 6 children in the family;

Thomas, age 18

Susan, age 9

Elaine, age 16

Stuart, age 5

Lada, age 12

Roger, ago 3

The 2 older children have been briefed on the situation and are aware of their

father'a predicament.

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