August 12, 2002

Christoph Mohn, great-great-grandson of founder of Bertelsmann AG, is thought to be most likely to take place of aging patriarch Reinhard Mohn as leader of family and business; Reinhard Mohn's wife, Liz, was instrumental in prodding Bertelsmann's board to dismiss company's chairman Thomas Middelhoff two weeks ago, reportedly because she feared his drive to take Bertelsmann public would erode her family's control over company; Christoph Mohn, 37, has rotated through many parts of Bertelsmann empire; his apprenticeship has exposed him to rich mix of high-brow and mass-market entertainment put out by Bertelsmann; photos (M)

This Week column: Works by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian will go on view at Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Tex; Jewish Theological Seminary will open exhibit of etchings and engravings documenting experience of Portuguese and Ashkenazic Jews in Amsterdam since end of 16th century; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will begin performances at Joyce Theater; harpsichordist Elaine Comparone and Queen's Chamber Band will conclude Hudson Festival Baroque 2002 with works by Johann Sebastian Bach and son, Johann Christian; photos (M)

Caryn James reviews Showtime's taped version of stage production of Sam Shepard play True West, starring Bruce Willis; photo (M)

Dr Steven J Hatfill, germ weapons expert, vigorously denies that he was involved in anthrax attacks that killed five people last year, and accuses federal authorities of engaging in smear campaign to make him 'fall guy' for that crime; Hatfill is among group of people federal law-enforcement authorities are focusing on because of their background in biochemistry; agents searched his apartment in June and returned with warrant for another search on Aug 1; Hatfill says FBI leaked his name to media, making him focus of attention and causing him to be fired from his job at Science Applications International Corp, contractor for Pentagon and CIA that helps government with germ defenses; says his specialty in viruses never crossed into research into anthrax; says he has never worked with anthrax; photo (M)

New York Yankees defeat Oakland Athletics, 8-5; photos (M)