Evening star., 1951-09-14
Two Defense Lawyers
Want Gross Given
Psychiatric Test
By the A,,oeia,ed Press

NEW YORK, Sept. IA law
yer for two policemen accused in
Brooklyn's police graft scandal
said today that he will demand q |
psychiatric examination of the
prosecutions chief witness, Gam
bier Harry Gross.
Fred Kaplan announced in court |
that he will make such an applica-
ton to County Judge Samuel S.
Leibowitz after the selection Of a
jury in the mass graft trial of 18
policemen is completed.
Other defense counsel Indicated
they would join Mr.. Kaplan in the
request.
Gross, former head Of $40 mil
non-a-year gambling syndicate
and alleged briber Of policemen.
only yesterday was returned from
one-day runaway trip to Atlantic
City, N. j., for what he called q
walk in the SUM-"
Juror Selection Slow.
Mr.. Kaplan said gross behavior
Of the last few days Indicated
mental instability"
Meanwhile, the slow work of
picking jurors for the trial con-
tinued with the prospect that at
least one juror already selected
might be disqualified. Nine jurors
were selected in two days early
this week.
The question was raised in court
today whether the daughter of
the ninth juror was acquainted
with an employe in the district
attorneys Office.
Judge Leibowitz ordered that
the juror be quizzed on this point.
With at least three more Jurors
and two alternates still to be
chosen. the judge - apparently
convinced that it will be a lengthy
job-ordered the drawing of a
new pool of 100 talesmen.
Pool of rs Left.
There still remained on hand a
pool of Is to be questioned as
possible jurors, but Judge Lei
bowitz concluded that the needed
additional jurors might not be
found from among this group.
The jury selection was inter-
rupted for 48 hours after Gross
drove away Tuesday night from
his Atlantic Beach (N. " home.
and was the object of a Nation
wide hunt, Gross was picked up at
the Atlantic City race track
Wednesday afternoon. He was
brought back to Brooklyn early
Although technically free in
$500 bail, Gross had been in
protective custody when he eluded
two officers to gain his 18-hour
freedom" Gross, his wife and
two children have received threats
Of violence if the dapper, 35-year-
old ex-bookie takes the stand
during the trial.
Locked in Hotel Room.
Gross was locked up last night
In a Brooklyn hotel room under
24-hour guard of four detectives
from the staff of District Attor-
ney Miles F. Mcdonald.
Mr.. Mcdonald Spearheaded the
investigation which smashed the .
huge gambling ring and brought Is
grand jury evidence of police cor !
ruption and graft. Gross has told =
of paying 81 million year for !
protection.
Meanwhile, IN Westport, Conn, $
last night a spokesman for re- f
tired New York City Policeman q
James Reardon said he would ap- G
pear voluntarily as a trial wit Ii
ness. Il
Mr.. Reardon. a former plain 1t
clothesman. allegedly operated t
Gross bookie business while the +
latter took a trip out of town. Mr..
had quit the police force
before then.
COnferS With Counsel.
Mr.. Reardon, who had been un-
reported at his WeStport home for
a couple of days, said he had been
conferring with his attorney to
clear up in his own mind his role I
in the case.
The attorney. James M. Noun G
tain, said an agreement had been S
reached with Mr.. McDonald's of q
flee in New York, under which his
client will not be taken into Gus \
tody. r
The agreement also stipulates, I
Mr.. Mountain said. that Mr.. Rear /
don will not be held under bond I
when he arrives in Brooklyn. S