Nieman Prospect Killed in Greece

Newsman George Polk, whose bullet-pierced body was found floating in Salonika Bay, Greece, Sunday, would have been a Nieman Fellow here this fall.

Nieman Curator Louis M. Lyons said yesterday that Polk was a leading candidate for the fellowship, and was "one of the best applicants the Foundation has ever had."

Polk himself had planned to embark for the United States next week, after two years of reporting in the Middle East. One week before his murder, the CBS broadcaster told friends he hoped to get a secret interview with guerrilla chieftain Markos Vifiades before he left.

Greek police are currently quizzing top Communists over the murder, since Polk would have had to deal with them before getting through to Vifiades.