Evening star., 1955-02-22
ConfIictingTe
By Mrs. Natvig 10
Go 10 Grand Jury
BY the Assoeioied Press


A Federal grand jury is about
to look into the sharply con-
fiicting testimony of Mrs. Marie
Natvig, a grayina Miami Beach
Ella, divorcee who first linked
publisher broadcaster Edward
Lamb with Communism, but later
switched her story completely
around.
The latest development in the
complex Lamb case came late
yesterday with the announce
ment by Attorney General
Brownell that the Federal Com
municatlons Commission had
handed the Justice Department
a transcript of Mrs. Natvig's tes-
timony. Mr.. BroWnell said a
grand jury would begin an in
vestigation next Monday.
1t was learned that the grand
Jury investigation will revolve.
in part, about reports Mrs. Nat
Wig is alleged to have made to
the Federal Bureau of 1nvestiga-
ton before the Lamb hearings.
Olney in Charge.
]. Frank Cunningham. spe-
cial assistant to the Attorney
General, is expected to make the
presentation of evidence to the
grand jury, although Warren
Olney, Assistant Attorney Cen
eral in charge Of the Criminal
Division, has personal direction"
of the case.
Mr.. Brownell said nothing
about Kansas farmer Lowell
Watson, a second turnabout wit
ness in the Lamb case, which has
been before FEC Examiner Her.
bert Sharfman since last Septem-
ber. The FEC investigation OF
allegations that Mr.. Lamb had
past associations with Commu-
nists arose out of Mr., Lambs
application for renewal of IL
cense to operate TV Station
WICU at Erie, Pa.
Lamb Denies All Charges.
Mr. Lamb has denied all alle-
cations against his loyalty and
has termed the inquiry frame
up. He is Toledo (Ohio) lawyer.
Besides publishing the Erie Dis
patch, he owns radio and TV
properties in Florida and Ohio.
Like Mrs. Natvig, Mr.. Watson
testified against Mr.. Lamb during
the first phase of the FEC hear
ing last Fall, but now claims his
sworn testimony was false and
that he was coached" by COM
mission personnel.
Mrs. Natvig. described by Ex-
aminer Sharfman as "a COM
pletely incredible witness" was
released from subpoena as a wit
ness yesterday. Mr.. Sharfman
has said he would disregard all
her testimony.
At one point in her testimony
last fall, the 51-year-old woman
said she had been a Communist
in Columbus almost 20 years ago
and that Mr.. Lamb was intro
duced to her in 1896 as Com
rade Lamb from Toledo, who is
doing such an excellent job for
the party"
Accuses FEC Attorneyst ae
Recalled to the stand on Feb
ruary 9, Mrs. Natvig declared
she had lied in her earlier state
ments about Mr.. Lamb and her
claim to having been a Com
munist. Then she startled the
hearing with a charge that FEC
lawyers had "coerced' her into
lying and had frightened her
out of repudiating her anti
Lamb testimony sooner. In this
connection, she mentioned Wal
ter r. Powell, jr., who has left
the FEC and now is with the
National Association of Radio
and Television Broadcasters. Mr..
Powell has accused Mrs. Natvig
of uttering the baldest kind of
Justification"
On the stand yesterday. the
41st day Of the hearing. the tall.
bespectacled Mr.. Watson said II
wasn't testifying to the truth"
last fall when he gave evidence
against Mr.. Lamb. Mr.. Watson,
self-described former Com
munist in Ohio and West Vir-
ginia, told thes examiner last
Friday he was coached and con-
ditioned" by FEC personnel to
swear that Mr. Lamb had con-