News In Brief

Chief prosecutor questioned by lawyers for Donovan

A procedural hearing in the fraud and larceny case against Labor Secretary Raymond J. Donovan has become an examination by defense lawyers of the state's charges against him. The turnabout stems from the appearance of the chief prosecutor, Stephen R. Bookin, as a witness in the hearing.

Under questioning, Mr. Bookin said that the state has no ''contemporaneous statement'' by Donovan linking him to a conspiracy. Bookin said evidence of Donovan's ''personal participation'' was a $200,000 check - part of the loan to Jopel - that he co-signed in March 1979. Donovan testified Wednesday that the payment was one of 90 to 120 checks he signed that day in his routine duty as Schiavone's executive vice president.