Evening star., 1955-02-16
Mrs. Natgig Recalls
Weak Sister TAG
Laid 10 FEC Aide
BY m. Associated Pres.

BY ths Assoeiafed Press
Mrs. Marie Natvig testified to-
day that Federal Communities
tions Commission attorneys once
called the examiner In the Ed
ward Lamb case q weak sister" !"
The Miami Beach, Ella. turn
about witness told this directly
to the examiner himself. Herbert
Sharfman. MIR. Sharfman, lean-
ing back in his chair and re-
garding Mrs. Natyig gravely, re-
sponded:
They commission attorneys)
were just trying to calm you
down"
Ranging Far AfieId.
1t was Mrs. Natvig's contention
that the lawyers considered MIR.
Sharfman weak because they
felt he was permitting Lamb ats
torney Russell Morton Brown to
60 too far in his cross-examina-
tion Of her. She said they
thought he was ranging too far
afield in questioning her about
her multiple marriages" and
other issues they considered un-
related.
Mrs. Natvig said even the
Communications Commi S 10 n
members were alarmed that Mr..
Sharfman had been picked. She
testified one Government lawyer
told her a commissioner tried to
get Mr.. Sharfman of the case.
Mr.. Sharfman has been pre-
siding at the 37-day hearing on
Mr.. Lambs attempt to renew his
license for television station
WICU, Erie. Pa, listening to al
legations that Mr.. Lamb once
associated with Communists.
Mr.. Lamb denied this.
Mrs. Natvig, who has repudi-
ated her testimony Of last fall
that MIR. Lamb was linked to
Reds in 1880 in Ohio. was testify
ing today about what she said
commission lawyers told her
while she was testifying last
fall.
"Buzzing All Over"
She said the communications
commissioners were "buzzing all |
over the place" when they
heard Mr.. Sharfman had come
up in rotation for the Lamb
hearing.
She quoted one commissioner
as saying: MY God, that's that |
important Lamb case" She said |
one commissioner asked an
other to try to get Sharfman on |
the Lamb case"
Under questioning by Com
mission lawyer Joseph M. Kitt-
ner, she also said she told Gov
ernment lawyers last fall that
she was undergoing brutal"
cross examination by Mr.. Brown.
She said she told the Govern
ment lawyers: "It's obvious you
are no match for Mr.. Brown.
They said that was true.
She said they also told her,
"his (Mr. Brown's) tactics are
the same as they were on the
only other important case he
ever prosecuted, which was the
defense Of burlesque strip
teaSer." 81
Didn't Recall Case.
Mr.. Brown spoke up at this
point and said he knew nothing I,
about his ever defending a bur
lesque queen"
Mrs. Natvig also testified the
Government lawyers told her
they were trying to get the
Commission to revoke Mr..
Browns license" to practice in
Commission hearings. The Com
issues no formal licenses
to lawyers.
AS the hearing resumed after
q long week end recess, Senator
Monroney. Democrat, of Okla
homa, said the investigation
might set a pattern for putting
other television station owners
through meat grinder"
The commissions Lamb in
quiry. Senator Monroney said,
shows the need for some one on
The commission to make sure
only reliable witnesses are
picked to testify against those
TV license renewals.
Otherwise. he said, the COM
is apt to spend all its
lime Investigating renau,alc