Prospective jurors in the fraud trial of Imelda Marcos said they did not know very much about the former Philippine first lady - except that she owned more than 1,000 pairs of shoes.

"I heard about the shoes, she bought a lot of shoes, and that's about it," said David Gong, a 26-year-old graduate student who was among 10 people who passed the first test on Tuesday as jury selection began in U.S. District Court.In Washington, meanwhile, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said President Bush had received a letter from Marcos. Fitzwater would not elaborate, saying only that the president could not respond for legal reasons pertaining to the trial.

Marcos' attorney, Gerry Spence, said Marcos wrote to offer Bush her help in finding funds allegedly stolen from the Manila government, on condition the money be used for Philippine charities, and that Bush help to arrange for her husband's body to be sent home. Spence said she had not received an answer.

Judge John F. Keenan began screening the first 25 of 150 prospective jurors who had filled out a preliminary questionnaire about their eligibility for service.

Marcos, 60, is accused of participating in the illegal transfer of more than $160 million from the Philippines treasury to buy Manhattan real estate, and of defrauding banking institutions of another $165 million to finance the deals.

Also on trial is Saudi financier Adnan Khashoggi, accused of helping Marcos and her late husband, Philippines President Ferdinand E. Marcos, conceal their ownership of the real estate.

The former president was named in the October 1988 indictment but died Sept. 28 in exile in Hawaii.

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