life may be extended to permit further FOOTNOTE TO A FRAUD probe into perjury, subornation of per- jury and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Perjury arrests begin in tv quiz investigation An unconfirmed report was that names A sad little band of one time televi- on. Other complaints followed. In the of prominent lawyers had been men- sion quiz winners surrendered last week fall of that year Mr. Hogan began pre- tioned in the grand jury's investigation on indictments charging them with per- senting witnesses to a grand jury. In of subornation of perjury (urging a jury. all some 200 witnesses testified. witness to testify falsely). A year or two ago several of them In August 1959, the grand jury min- The Defendants The list of contest- were national celebrities. Last week they utes, then under lock and key by order ants who surrendered last week: were accused of misdemeanors carrying of a judge, were turned over by petition Charles Van Doren, 34, former maximum penalties, upon conviction, of to the House Legislative Oversight Sub- NBC -TV personality, winner of $129,- a year's imprisonment and $500 fine. committee, which climaxed its case 000 on Twenty-One and later a $50,- At the head of the defendants was when Mr. Doren confessed that his 14 000 -a -year NBC performer (fired after Charles Van Doren, whose confession appearances on NBC -TV's Twenty -One his confession); Elfrida Von Nardoff, a year ago killed the big -money quiz as were rigged. The Harris subcommittee 35, winner of $220,500 on Twenty- a television staple. His testimony Nov. heard 152 witnesses in 21 days. One; Hank Bloomgarden, 31, winner 2, 1959 before the House Oversight On the basis of the testimony de- of $98,000 on Twenty-One; Mrs. Subcommittee, ended the quiz era. livered in Washington, a new grand Vivienne Nearing, 35, winner of $5,500 Sixteen quiz participants surren- jury in New York this year took testi- on Twenty-One; Paul Bain, 43, winner dered in the office of New York Dis- mony from many of the same contest- of $2,500 on Twenty-One; Mrs. Henri- trict Attorney Frank S. Hogan last ants the original jury had heard in etta Dudley, 51, winner of $4,100 on week. They were indicted for second - 1958. This testimony convinced Mr. Tic Tac Dough; Richard Klein, 41, degree perjury, accused of lying when Hogan that some contestants had lied winner of $1,000 on Twenty -One and they denied knowledge of quiz rigging to the first grand jury. $2,000 on Tic Tac Dough; David during a New York grand jury investi- Several of the top money winners Mayer, 39, winner of $47,500 on gation in 1958 -59. when quiz programs were at their peak Twenty -One; Ruth Miller, 50, winner Others were expected to be arrested. were arrested last week. Among them of $2,500 on Twenty-One; Joseph The grand jury reportedly has returned were Elfrida Von Nardoff, Mr. Van Rosner, 46, winner of $1,700 on Tic more than 20 indictments (BROADCAST- Doren, Mrs. Vivienne Nearing, Hank Tac Dough; Mrs. Patricia Sullivan, 37, ING, Oct. 10). Bloomgarden and David Mayer. winner of $14,300 on Tic Tac Dough; Long Investigation The arrests last All defendants were paroled last Dr. Michael Truppin, 34, winner of week came 21/2 years after District At- week. Cases have been set for pleading $13,000 on Tic Tac Dough; Morton torney Hogan began investigating re- except that of Morton Harelik, a sales- Harelik, 37, salesman, winner of $500 ports that tv quizzes were rigged. man who won $500 on Tic Tac Dough on Tic Tac Dough; Timothy Horan, In the summer of 1958 a contestant and pleaded not guilty. His trial was set 39, winner of $4,800 in Tic Tac Dough. on Dotto, Edward Hilgemeier Jr., for Nov. 3. Mrs. Patricia Nance, winner of $5,800 notified the FCC and the New York The grand jury that charged the de- on Tic Tac Dough; Mrs. Ruth Klein district attorney that cheating was going fendants was to expire Oct. 28 but its winner of $2,200 on Tic Tac Dough.

Most famous of the quiz winners, Three feminine quiz winners were Dough); Elfrida Von Nardoff, New Charles Van Doren, was arraigned among group held by grand jury. Here York (Twenty -One). Miss Von Nardoff along with a dozen others by a New they are being booked in a New York was the biggest winner of those York grand jury that charged perjury police station. L to r: Ruth Miller, booked, getting a $220,500 prize for ap- by contestants. Offense carries $500 New York (Twenty -One); Mrs. Patricia pearing to sweat out answers to ques- maximum fine and one -year in prison. Sullivan, White Plains, N. Y. (Tic Tac tions during the program.

60 (THE MEDIA) BROADCASTING, October 24, 1960