BRUTAL MURDER OF U.S. OFFICIAL BY RUSSIANS

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1948, Page 5

BRUTAL MURDER OF U.S. OFFICIAL BY RUSSIANS

VIENNA, Oct 31.—United States and Austrian authorities reported that four Russian soldiers "most brutally murdered” Irving Ross, an American official of the European Economic Co-operation Administration, in Vienna. Mr. Ross held the third position below the chief of the European Economic Co-operation Administration. Unofficial reports said Mr. Ross was sitting in a car with a girl outside the south railway station in Vienna when four uniformed Russians broke into the car and forced him at pistolpoint to drive towards the Russian sector. The girl. Anna Sutkena, who apparently jumped from or was thrown out of the car, is in hospital with a skull fracture. She told the police that two of the four Russians beat Mr. Ross over the head with rifle butts, and also beat her. Austrian police found her lying on the road. An Austrian labourer going to work found Mr. Ross’ car in a field with its wheels removed and all the wires cut. Austrian police said that Mr Ross’ skull had been crushed by blows from rifle butts, and that there were wounds indicating that Ije was also bayonetted. They said Mr. Ross was so brutally hit over the head and shoulders that the body was hardly recognisable. Fraulein Sutkena’s condition is serious, but she is expected to live. Allied military police and United States investigators were permitted to visit the scene of the crime after the Russians had first attempted to prevent investigation. Russian, troops cordoned off the field in the Russian zone outside the city where the car was found, and allowed no one Io approach. Mr. Ross’ wife and three children, who live in Vermont, United States, were due to join him in Vienna early in November.