The attorneys for Lee and Sword aren't talking about specific tactics they may employ.

But an exclusive Crimson interview with Lee, as well as his attorney's statements at the arraignments, may provide some clues about how he will defend himself.

In the interview, which was conducted last summer, Lee said he had decided not to make a donation to the fund. He said the organization had to use the money to pay off $50,000 in longstanding debts and other expenses.

"This year, I decided to forego the donation," Lee said at the time. "When I decided to forego the donation, I didn't think about them. Instead, I was thinking about getting the show going."

Still, the co-chair presented Jimmy Fund director Mike Andrews with a dummy check for more than $100,000. The real money never arrived, though.

In last summer's interview, Lee apologized for not notifying the Jimmy Fund about his decision.

"I didn't communicate clearly to them," he said. "That's my fault."

Some of the unpaid debts included money owed WGBH-TV, which had supplied a producer, Susie Dangel, for the show, Lee said.

Lee also said at the time that the $160,000 figure number sounded "a little high." Lee said he informed the 1993 co-chairs of his decision to forego the payments that spring.

Asked if his client would stick to his original story, Lee attorney James W. Lawson said: "I'd rather not comment."

But during his unsuccessful argument for no bail on August 11, Lawson tried to paint Lee as a model citizen. He said Lee participated in many service-oriented activities at Harvard, such as the Big Brother program and working in Lamount Library and Memorial Church.

Lawson gave the court two letter: which he said affirmed his client's good character. Lee's mother and church pastor wrote the letters.

In interviews after the arraignment, Lawson also focused on his client's character.

"At issue in this case, of course, is the Commonwealth's allegation that he did certain things in a certain position throughout a certain period of time," Lawson said.

"But that small period of time, that small window of time, is not the whole of this young man's life. He has worked very hard, he has achieved is some noteworthy ways, he's a decent person.

"This is a life worth watching and a life worth saving.