May 15, 1969

Franklin Natl Bank of LI (Mineola): Armed bandits holding his wife and children as hostages in their Huntington, NY, home force mgr of Bethpage branch to bring them $120,000 in bank funds; A, B and R Gordon, bros, arrested; some of ransom money recovered

Representative Adam Clayton Powell signed a certificate yesterday declining to run as a candidate for Mayor. He turned it over to a person active in the campaign of Robert F. Wagner with the understanding that it be filed today with the Board of Elections.

The reputed head of a $25-million-a-year policy ring that is said to have reaped profits from the poor of Harlem was indicted yesterday in charges of violating Federal gambling laws.

Los Angeles Times repts Justice Dept has evidence that Fortas agreed to receive $20,000 a yr for life from Wolfson Family Foundation; says documents held by dept, including statement from Wolfson, are being interpreted to mean that Fortas appeared to be willing to help Wolfson in SEC probe; repts FBI agents were told by Wolfson, in prison, that a written agreement with Fortas provided that Mrs Fortas would receive annual payments if Fortas should die; say Wolfson attempted to strike bargain with Fed agents before talking, presumably hopes his cooperation will result in reduction of a 2d sentence; Repr MacGregor urges HR Judiciary Com to hold preliminary hearings, invite Fortas and Mitchell to testify; Celler, in reply, discloses he has already agreed on course of action with Repr McCulloch; Fortas continues silence; his office releases statistics showing he has recd 1,000 communications which run 4 to 1 in his favor; he confs at his home with Justice Douglas and former law partner P A Porter; Sen Kennedy holds Mitchell should reveal whatever information he may have on Fortas; Justice Dept issues statement saying it would not object to actions against Fortas which are legally within HR prerogatives; move linked to dept irritation over suggestions that it encouraged moves against Fortas; Mitchell refuses to answer newsmen's questions as to whether or not he has met with Celler and McCulloch; ex-Atty Gen Clark says he had been informed on Nov 8, '68 about article on Fortas which Life planned to pub but ordered no probe because his office frequently recd unfounded accusations and saw no implication of impropriety; Celler and McCulloch illus

Sen endorses separate black and Puerto Rican studies program and urges new admissions policy that would stimulate recruitment of students from poor areas; also sets guidelines for faculty negotiators which call for empowering black and Puerto Rican studies program to set up its own criteria for admission, courses and granting of degrees; hundreds of white radicals go on rampage through campus bldgs; action follows Copeland s to white radical rally outside adm bldg; illus