July 28, 1970

25,000 commuters on Penn Central New Haven, Hudson and Harlem divs are delayed up to 3 hrs during morning rush by fire caused by short-circuited 3d rail near Park Av and 96th St tunnel entrance; over 1,000 commuters are stranded for at least 45 mins on 2 trains inside tunnel amid thick smoke and shooting sparks; dozens of commuters complain that they were badly frightened by smoke that forced many of them to floor in order to breathe more easily and by failure of rr personnel to let them know what was happening; illus

Several thousand youths battle police for over 6 hrs in riot which begins at free rock concert in Grant Pk, Chicago, when featured performers, Sly and the Family Stone, refuse to play after some youths swarm onto the stage; youths roam into Loop business dist and smash windows; at least 3 youths shot by police seeking to drive off attacking rioters; rioters burn 2 cars; 150 arrested; at least 100, including 24 policemen, treated at hosps for injuries; map; illus

US Sec Laird backs Rogers efforts, news conf

Atty Gen Mitchell announces he will consult Amer Bar Assn leaders before recommending possible Ct nominees to Pres Nixon; decision represents turnabout by Adm; Mitchell says he will submit names of possible appointees to assn's com on Fed judiciary with understanding that com will make every effort to keep names confidential, lr to assn pres B G Segal and com chmn L E Walsh; ADA vice chmn J L Rauh Jr scores agreement as 'weak-kneed capitulation to one of the most reactionary forces in America'; says Pres should exclude assn from judicial selection process entirely; Walsh hails agreement, indicates that only preliminary inquiry by com can be kept completely confidential; says time has passed when nominees can be 'sprung by surprise' on public; agreement seen a result of legal profession unhappiness over assn's role in Haynsworth and Carswell nominations

party chmn C Hampton dies from wound recd in gun battle; R B Haile Jr, white SDS member, and Negroes J Coward and F Sparkman Jr were wounded; police raid on party hq following battle uncovers several firearms and quantity of ammunition; shooting incident followed arrest of 2 youths who were carrying guns near hq; also followed apparent challenge from black militants who reptdly secured block in Negro sec and threatened to shoot any ptl who entered area; Police Chief Short rejected threat; Justice Dept says it plans no Fed probe of shootings; party demands for black community listed