Specific Details about King Abdullah's ['Abd Allāh] Assassination

19/11

Beirut 4/8/1951

Subject: Specific details about King Abdullah's assassination

A very reliable source told me the following yesterday: The investigation in Jordan into King Abdullah’s assassination has become a full-fledged accusation against Monsignor Eugene, Director of Terra Santa College in Jerusalem; Father Ibrahim 'Ayyad, adviser to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and secretary of the ecclesiastical court there; and Dr Mousa Abdullah al-Husseini. I also learned that a woman, believed to be German, arrived in Jerusalem from Cairo carrying a secret letter from former Jordanian Major Abdullah al-Tal, who had left Jordan and sought refuge in Egypt, to Dr Mousa Abdullah al-Husseini. The letter, which they found during a search of Dr Husseini’s home after his arrest, contained very dangerous information which helped investigators unravel the truth.

They learned that the revolver used in the assassination is a 'Half Colt' with a gilded mother-of-pearl handle.

Colonel Radi Ghiyab, Commander of the Jerusalem area, left the Government Hospital yesterday after his condition improved considerably from wounds he suffered during the King’s assassination. Major Mohammad al-Saadi and first lieutenant Naji Seid left the hospital today.

Khateeb, the former Jordanian Minister of Trade, was released after being detained for several days while he was under investigation.