28 SLEEP PILLS FELL THE WIFE OF U-2 PILOT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400080079-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: April 21, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

i :\V YORK
28 Sleep Pills
the, Wife
Fell ,
Pilot
By RICHARD, McGOWAN
Washington; April 20 (NEWS Bureau).,-,'A
heavy police contingent tonight guarded tTie bare
hospital room where the wife of U-2 piton, Francis
(nary Powers lay semi-cus frodose
of sleeping pills.
o , s,
Brunette Barbara P
her husband in l?ebkuary,after
prison, reportedly was ;`]responding satisfctor
NEws that the 28 Pills would b
ornough to "kill a hnrs~ ." unless
Francis Gary Powers and his wife, Barbara, at a party last week.
swallowing 28 nembutal tablets. Her physician, Dr. George
Shriner of Georgetown University Hospital, said the flier's
wife was. in very serious condition when she was admitted
to the hospital but was "pulling through."
The hospital reported tonight'
that her pulse, blood pressure
and respiration had improved
and that she is "ouk?of dahger."
The Powerses ha'. been living
in an apartment in nearby Alex-
andria, Va., since the C, al In-
telligenceAgency pilQt's.rnatic
return from Russia i ,exchange
for Soviet master spy Rtultelf Abel.
Taken by Ambalateice
Powers was with his wife when
she vas rushed by ambulance in
25X1A
his wife was suffering from
"acute indigestion."
However,. Washington Police
Lt. Nelson Rickey said records at
Alexandria Hospital. showed that
she had taken the 28 pills. Bar-
bara's stomach was pumped be-
fore she was transferred to
Georgetown Hospital.
A hospital source told THE
the taker had built up a tolersu e
to the drug through prior use.
Dr. Charles D. Shields. admin-
istrator of the hospital; said Mrs.
Powers was being given "diag-
nostic treatment" aimed at re-
lieving symptoms- "of unknown
cause." he refuses to elaborate
except to say that she has suf-
fered in the past from poor kid-
ney fucntion.
The police guard, hospital
sources said, was called in to pre-
vent reporters and curiosity-
seekers away from Powers' wife.
Her sixth-floor room, in what
is called the hospital's "Gold
Coast"_ because it is used pri-
marily for VIPs, is barren and in
need of a paint job. The private
room was due to be refinished)
this week. But because of th.?
serious condition of the pilot'-
wife, hospital authorities rushed
her into it.
Went to a Hideaway
Powers and his wife staved at
a secret hideaway for three'weoks
after hls return. to this count
Barbara the pilot's parents and
other merrtbers of - their families
i had been present in the bleak So-
viet eourtroonl'4n August ,z 1960, !
ferred to Georgetown. Pale and when Powers was sentenced to 10 1,
I
harried-lookin , accor$,ing to wit-
~' years in priso>rt for flying his spy
nesses, the pilot stayed at his plane over Russfa?
wife's bedside until 8:30 A.M. and After theilnf completed test!
them left. _ tumrp to the MA and Congres',
~Re eduld not be reached all about his flight,, crash and im
day, either by phone or through pri:ionment, the couple moved
his office at the- CU. int;u their Alexandria apartment.
IA spokesman refuse] to Powers is still employed by the
C
the pre-dawn hours to Alexan- said si I that Powers told him --
dria Ho~proweffoIrReleaserYJ00/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400080079-0
APR 2 1 1952
RDP75-0
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