Daily News from New York, New York • 247

i 5 Ktom ilsife to Jfejf Outstay his own office and the FBI are By WILLIAM FEDERICI Clarence Lee, 18-year-old eyewitness to the ambush slaying of two patrolmen in Harlem, withdrew his bid for freedom yesterday and has decided to remain in protec working closely with New York police on the ambush murders of tive custody because of fear for his life At the same time, it was learned, Lee was transferred to a hotel from Civil Jail, where he had been held since last Wednesday in $50,000 bail as a material witness. The youth will be protected around the clock in the hotel by teams of detectives. that "the publicity attending the case has made the youth fearful of release. His parents are worried that he will be killed or harmed." Possible Look-Alikea Lee, who has reportedly identified several possible look-alikes of the killers, was brought into the investigation by a Housing Authority cop hours after the shooting. The youth is reported to have been less than 20 feet away as the two killers came up behind Patrolmen Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini and fired into their backs.

The killers escaped with the patrolmen's guns, which they used to finish off the two cops. While top brass refused com Patrolmen Waverly Jones and Joseph A. Piagentini in Harlem.) New York State already has the death penalty for cop killers. Cops Sigh With Relief Lee's voluntary decision to remain under the cloak of protective custody brought sighs of relief from both police and District Attorney Frank Hogan. Lee's identity became known last Friday after Legal Aid lawyer Martin Gershon moved in Supreme Court to have the youth released.

In Gershon's writ of habeas corpus he said that Lee was not afraid and should be released. But yesterday Gershon said ment officially, sources close to that the crime was the work of any organized group. "More than likely," a high police source said, "it was a spontaneous action by two men trying to make a name for themselves in certain circles." (In Washington, Attorney General John N. Mitchell suggested yesterday that serious consideration should be given to imposing the death penalty on cop killers. He said that he and FBI Director J.

Edgar Hoover will meet tomorrow at the White House with President Nixon on the problem of mounting assaults on police. (Mitchell also disclosed that the investigation say that seV' eral hot leads are being checked. These disclosures came as Chief of Detectives Albert Seed-man reported no substantial progress in the nationwide hunt for the two killers. Seedman reported that a great number of leads and much information was pouring in from both New York residents and law enforcement agencies across the nation. Despite a warning from the two killers to young Lee "Cool it, baby, you've got nothing to worry about; we're only after cops" investigators reported last night that they do not believe 35( fa Cp GOIIoms Heads to EfaAeds mi Following announcement by THE NEWS of a special reward totaling $35,000, police received several hundred calls late Monday and yesterday with information on the ambush killing of two patrolmen, a spokesman for Chief of Detectives Albert Seedman reported.

The calls were made to the two special police numbers set up to handle the investigation into the Harlem murders of Patrolmen Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini. These numbers are (212) 368-0622 and 368-0623. Calls to Newspaper The News also received scores of calls at its Secret Witness Who EMenvtnii'el Until further notice, this is an offer to pay a $35,000 reward to any person or group of persons who furnish information that results in the arrest and conviction of the killers of Patrolmen Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini. The information may be given directly to the police through these special numbers: (212) 368-0622 or 368-0623, or transmitted to the police through The News Secret Witness. Phone (212) 883-1177 between 10 a.m.

and 10 p.m., or write: Secret Witness Editor, Post Office Box 3369, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y., 10017. desk, which has been set up to NEWS pnoto by Gordon Rynders Judy Beard checks prices before buying soap at Second Ave. supermarket. Unit pricing requiring stickers showing cost per pound, quart, pint or unit (see below) helped her save 17 cents on corn oil and nine cents on paper towels. provide a confidential channel of information for individuals who do not want to call the police.

Any informant can phone the Secret Witness desk between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. The number is (212) 883-1177. For those who prefer to put 27 isle? YOU PAY their information in writing, letters can be addressed to Secret Witness Editor, Post Office Box 8 IX 4900 Ol 3369, Grand Central btation, New POUND York, N.Y. 10017.

The identity of all informants 49 2 whether they phone or write A Sri A NULJ will be protected. In Washington, Attorney Gen eral John N. Mitchell commended The News for establishing the Secret Witness Desk and said: ladder top Bmhs Hunt hr Killer of 2 By PATRICK DOYLE and HARRY STATHOS A 31-year-old Orange, N.J., patrolman who nearly lost his life to a gunman seven months ago, said last night he wanted to add $1,000 to the $35,000 reward being offered by The News and other major firms for the arrest of the killers of two cops here last month. "I wholeheartedly endorse all programs such as that under taken by The Daily News which seek to enlist public assist ance in helping law enforcement agencies solve serious crimes. City's SEioppeirs Take It Bite With Shrug By ELLEN FLEYSHER and GENE SPAGNOLI The state sales tax went up a penny to four cents on the dollar yesterday it is now seven cents in the city, the highest in the nation but tax-numbed New Yorkers Mitchell also praised the initia tive of The News and major firms in setting up the $35,000 reward.

Patrolman Charles Cobbertt, 31, 1 of 378 Bradford who is now How Reward Began The special reward, announced in The News yesterday, began showed little noticeable re gun and fired two shots point-blank, hitting the cop in the left chest and left groin. Despite his wounds, Cobbertt struggled with the gunman, but the suspect escaped. Cobbertt drove himself to Orange Memo- (Continued on page 54, eol. J) ith pledges from the Chase Manhattan Bank, Consolidated Edison, the New York Telephone Co. and The News.

Other or ganizations, whether they are business firms or civic groups, on limited duty because of his wounds, called The News' Secret Witness desk last night to make the offer. "The New York Daily News is my favorite paper," Cobbertt said. "They're doing a wonderful thing. And I was inspired when I read about what they were doing. "If cops are killed, the country is going to go to the dogs.

As a policeman, I know how difficult it is today for the men in blue to do a thorough job. I'm going to give $1,000 for the arrest und conviction of the men responsible for killing the two patrolmen in New York." Cobbertt, who has been a cop for three years, was alone in a are invited to add to the total. Until further notice, the re idea for the every-day consumer with children. I don't really fit into that." Under the new city law, which received primary support from the Department of Consumer Affairs, stores doing $2 million worth of business annually are required to place stickers on shelves showing the cost per pound for items sold by weight, the price per unit for items sold by count and the price per pint or quart for items sold in gallons or fluid ounces. "I don't think people compare prices I know I rarely do," said Jim McMahan, an economics professor at Rutgers University who was doing his weekly grocery shopping yesterday.

McMahon said he looks for action. While the taxpayer was getting hit right where it hurts in the pocketbook a new city law which requires large food stores to display the price per measure of certain items praised by Consumer Affairs Commissioner Bess Myerson as "a major victory for the consumer." Despite yesterday's arrival of unit pricing, many shoppers couldn't care less. "I just see what I want and put it in the cart that's terrible, isn't it?" said Micki Allan of 305 E. 40th while shopping yesterday afternoon at the Bohack Supermarket, 2d Ave. at 40th St.

"I guess I'm a brand-name shopper," said the American Airlines stewardess, who added: "but I think unit pricing is a good IAIRDEX1 UNHEALTHFUL-UNSATISFACTORY iCCEPTABLE- ivs GOOD- I 24-hr PeriO! JL I I EasiKt 3 SO "r'V Testetriy. h- ward will be paid, to the individual, or divided equally among a group of individuals, who furnish information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the Jones-Piagentini killers. Informants reporting to the Secret Witness Editor also will be eligible. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association earlier offered a $5,000 vward, while the New York State Conservative Party and the Shields, a fraternal police order, each offered rewards of 2,500. patrol car investigating a suspicious person last Oct.

29. The TODAY: Pollution levels are expected to remain acceptable. Dept of Air Resources black officer spotted a man walking along Pierson St. in Orange. When he asked the man for identification.

pulled a (Continuati on) page 42, coll).