Evening star., 1955-01-25
President Of George S
Denies Robbery Tale,
Asks Lie Detector
Demund Causes Recess
At TriuI, but Judge
Rules Out Action
BY Joseph 3. Byrnes

George Wasserman, president
Of Georges Radio g. Television
Co., ended his testimony in a
Federal Court safe-cracking case
today by making a dramatic bid
for q lie detector test.
His request was a reply to
testimony given yesterday BY a
New York ex-convict. Arthur A.
Mills. ~, who said Mr.. Wasser-
man and q blond mystery wonn-
an hired him to loot the radio
firms strongbox last September.
Also a defendant in the case
is Frederick Reiner. 81, of New
York, q well-known safecracker.
After Mr.. Wasserman's request
Judge Edward M. Curran sum-
moned Mills lawyer. John Dwy-
er; H. Clifford Alder, attorney
for Reiner, and Prosecutor Ar
thur Mclaughlin to the bench.
Request for Detector Repeated.
Turning to Mr.. Wasserman,
the Judge asked if the radio firm
ofIicial had requested a lie de-
tector test. Mr.. Wassefman re-
piled, Eyes, and I want Mills
and his lawyer to take one also
to prove who Is lying and who
is not"
Mr.. Dwyer asked Mills if he
was willing to undergo the test.
The safecracker said he was, but
Mr.. Dwyer then informed Judge
Curran he would refuse to per-
NIT his client to do so.
Earlier, Mr.. Wasserman had
asked Judge Curran II he could
not make a voluntary statement
from the witness stand "in order
to clear my name"
At the bench conference. Mr.,
WaSSerman said he wanted Mills
and Mr.. Dwyer to take the test
because he mfr. Wasserman)
had been informed by another
lawyer, who had heard the story
from q third party. that testi-
mony given by Mills had been
cooked up by the ex-convict
while awaiting trial In District
Jail.
Trial Recess Ordered.
~
Judge Curran ordered an inn
mediate recess Of trial and
called Mr.. Wasserman, the two
defense lawyers, Prosecutor Nc
Laughlin, the two defendants
and the court reporter into his
chambers for a conference.
He also ordered the lawyer
mentioned by Mr.. Wasserman to
report Immediately to his office.
A half hour later. all parties
returned to court. and 1t was
learned Judge Curran had de-
clined to order anyone to take
the lie detector test.
Earlier, Mr.. Wasserman fatty
denied ever having seen Mills
before the trial or Of having
hired him to rob the safe at
the Georges Offices In an eighth
floor suite at 03O r street NV.
Mr.. Wasserman denied know
ing Mills, the blond intermedi-
ary. Helen Elizabeth Long. or of
ever having been in the Cross
roads Restaurant in Times
Square. New York.
Prisoner Testified Opposite.
! Mills had testified that through
the blond he met MIR. Wasser-
man in the restaurant where
arrangements were made for
Mills to crack the safe.
He said he did the job on the
Labor Day week end and was
supposed to keep $2,500 he would
lfind IN the strong box. Instead
J Of that amount. Mills testified.
| he found only $500 and q plat
llnuIn ring mounting he later
hocked.
Mr.. wasserman reported to
police that $4,000 In company
cash and $500 In jeweIry, his
personal property. was taken
from the safe.
Earlier testimony BY Cy Freed
man, an insurance broker. and
Wessermails father-tn-law. re-
vealed $4,000 of the amotNt was
! covered by insurance. -