THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS	Local Thursday, June 19, 1997

After listening to testimony from a group of Einhorn's respected friends, Judge William M. Marutani set bail at $40,000. Among those who testified on Einhorn's behalf:

Stephen J. Harmelin, a Center City attorney, testified that he had known Einhorn since the mid-1950s, when both attended Central High School. He testified that Einhorn's character was ``excellent.''

``Everything nice I had to say about Ira I said under oath 18 years ago,'' Harmelin said yesterday. ``I did it on the assumption he would remain to face trial . . . I was shocked, disappointed and felt somewhat betrayed that he left . . . I would like to see whoever murdered [ Holly ] be found and punished, and right now there's a lot of evidence that supports the position that it's Ira. I can't say that beyond a reasonable doubt because I don't know enough. But he should come back . . . ''

Judy Wicks, then owner of Einhorn's favorite hangout, La Terrasse, now owns the White Dog Cafe, West Philadelphia. Wicks said: ``I don't have the time to talk about it. I don't see any use to talk about it.''

Rev. David Gracie, then an Episcopal minister, now runs a peace-education program at American Friends Services. In testimony, Gracie described Einhorn's character as ``excellent . . . a man of nonviolence.'' He was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Stuart Samuels, then a Penn history lecturer, most recently a documentary-film producer. Samuels testified Einhorn was like a part of his family. The Daily News could not locate him yesterday.

Samuels' wife, Julie, who described herself at the hearing as a free-lance skin analyst, said then Einhorn was like family. ``We have two children, three cats, a dog and Ira.'' She also could not be located.

Edward Mahler, then vice president at Bell Telephone, most recently an executive with Goodwill. Mahler testified that Einhorn was ``very reliable, very dependable, very helpful and very people-oriented.'' The Daily News was unable to locate him.

Other witnesses:

Thomas Newton Bissinger, then a Pottstown theatrical producer, was not available for comment yesterday.

Curtis Kubiak, an architect, could not be located.

Carter Henderson, then a self-employed economist from Princeton, N.J., could not be located.

Theodore Fink, a seafood exporter, could not be located.

Rev. Ralph Moore Jr., then co-director of the University of Pennsylvania Christian Association, could not be located.

Robert Moss, an Einhorn family friend, now a lawyer and financial planner who helped arrange the witnesses who vouched for Einhorn's character, said yesterday:

``We all believed he was innocent and we all believed he would show up for trial. When he skipped, we were all disappointed.'' Now, ``I have doubts that he is guilty, but less than before he fled the country.

Philadelphia Online -- Philadelphia Daily News -- Local News Copyright Thursday, June 19, 1997