February 15, 1969

Workers stage gen strike; 3 persons killed, many hurt in clashes between rival groups backing and opposing strike called by coalition of opposition pol parties; incidents in Karachi, Lahore and Lyallpur detailed; econ life comes to virtual standstill during strike

Marks 56th birthday, Fed prison, Lewisburg, Pa; Mass Teamsters local hires plane to fly greetings banner over jail; illus

E Z Berman says when Sirhan killed Kennedy he was 'out of contact with reality, in trance,' opening statement; says he 'admired and loved' Kennedy; pictures him as 'immature, emotionally disturbed and mentally ill youth'; recounts his early yrs as Palestinian Arab; says he was uprooted by Palestinian war and emotionally scarred; says his life from then on was series of setbacks, rejections, large dreams and repeated failures; dwells on his 'fanatical obsessions of hatred, suspicion and distrust'; says when he read about Arab defeats in June '67 Arab-Israeli war, it 'triggered his spells'; says he got another 'heavy shock' in late May or early June '68 when Kennedy said he would, if Pres, send jets to Israel; says he then returned to 'mysticism'; says he never had thought to kill Kennedy; says there is no doubt Sirhan fired fatal shot but says killing was unplanned and 'product of sick and obsessed mind'; prosecution calls witnesses to prove, as it must despite Berman's concession, that Sirhan killed Kennedy

Mafia leader V Genovese dies in Fed prison, Springfield, Mo

Democratic and Republican primary fights for the mayoral nominations appeared assured last night with disclosures that Democratic City Councilman Robert A. Low and Republican State Senator John J. Marchi were ready to run.