DRUG-RELATED DEATH OF HAROLD BLAUER WITH ATTACHED MEMO TITLED "CHEMICAL CORPS" DATED 29 JANUARY 1954

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00146161
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 17, 2024
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: August 13, 1975

�
13 August 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: Legislative Counsel
SUBJECT : Drug-Related Death of Harold Blauer
The Offices of the General Counsel, Inspector General,
Security and Technical Services have searched their files for
any evidence of a CIA association with the death on 8 January
1953 of Harold Blauer while a patient at the New York State
Psychiatric Institute. The results of the search were negative
except for the attached Memorandum for the Record, dated --
29 January 1954. The Army Inspector General informed me
that the Army's Special Operations Division, Fort Dietrick.
(the unit that Frank Olson was in) had a contract for twosears
with the Psychiatric Institute (1952-53) to test various mescaline-
related and other drugs that the Army was interested in. 131auer
died 2-1/2 hours after an injection of an apparent overdose of 450
milligrams of EA 1298. The estate sued New York State for .
$500 K; it was settled out of court for $125 K. If there is any
Agency connection at all, it would involve possible Army use
for the settlement of funds CIA transferred to the Army on an
annual basis starting in FY 1953 in support of a mutual program.
We did not require an accounting by the Army for the use of these
funds. See the attached memorandum to the DCI from the IG,
dated 20 May 1975.
Attachments a/s
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Donald F. Chamberlain
Inspector General
Up()
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EZMOaAN3a: FCR: Th3 Record
SUBJECT: Chemical Corps
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S03-198.
29 January 1954
Ireceived a telephone call frora
.. j aerci\ � al ;Cs..orps ;tie eurity Officer lecateci in tho Pentagon. -
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IdIskedi -lir he had heard 'pat the Chp.mical Corns va
in s
be.:; :d? ' 1-the sl.,,it
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leFi II asked 0
. ,...� � lreu out o., -lansFed, "No." I: then an incident that occurred a.little over aLyear agor statect
that it did.
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3. Facts of the referenced incident as reported by_
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Prior to DD/WT3S�taking both an active ard financial irit4rtez*t.in otr.etain
.activities corriuct,-:.-d by C.:IC:35.0 al Corps relative to ex-p.:...riz.-.ents irr:olYing th,.-!
of Chemical Coz.count_131 the Chiemical Corp hcd a contract with the NSII ..frgr 2: i .
I . ....
PSYC h J. atr IC Inatittzl.e which is affilictr.d. with"Colez.bia Vniversity. Al .
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� . i.ras the -Institute 7s principal invcstitor. EC was catrying.outexpri:-,ents . -
-.involving the injection of Kescalin derivatives Into patients. In this per:tieulcr
cas's the patient died. Relatives cf tho deceased (mme unkhovn) have broo4ht-the
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-action.
00.,19 January 195-'4_ �
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71 had boon advised of. the facts by, civilian
employee of the Yedical Laboratory, Army Chemied.Centicr,, F,dgewood., 11.ry1ani..
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�Dard
-... __ )both advised ""we had no funds ihvolved
norxerc we involved in anyway n; however, the Cheadeal Corps was keepinj TSS
....inforTfl...d of their various activities alon?, these lines. At no time hs..d TSS
�Ts:It:este& this extxrria.-e.nt. Cheizical Corps 7 eontract is for approx. 'iza..taly
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I 4:e took a \finaneial interest in this phase of
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reseeraround 2ZiFebruary 19531 after the referenced incident cocurrO.
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was contac Led by7 Ion the 20th and advised hi:a
.
-..w.'s !did not want the AFT:ncyle, J...),an-:e..:centi.o:;ied in connection with the case s5n-ne
we vere in no ,..,�ay invo2.ved. .advised he hz-ed been so informed and
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that he ncv knewthe AT,encyx.fls not cocted or involved in this case. Ee
fur:t.......;r, is S V-ree. ' \that the kscr:zr.f would not be mentioned and that
he-v.,:j.rji keep u:1-iriforncd in event C2-4-.:.4ee.1 Cora were to receive -- ..�
. � . --. e_n
urdue,-,Nblicity. Further inf:cr:t4',-;) nunr.a.ir:-: hy . wan that the
-.
irt,.;:,-.-!:: -..,!�:-; it t-.*1.2itt.ry non, (r;recu:n-11.0.:,- rt :-�.-:-...--.-e officer) z-::-/.1 hz:d. leen ativ;:laci
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