January 7, 1976

Bergen County (NJ) Prosecutor Joseph C Woodcock Jr reopens investigation into whether 9 or more patients were murdered over 10‐mo period in Riverdell Hosp, Oradell (1st of 2 articles); obtains ct order for exhumation of 3 bodies whose tissues will be examined by med experts for presence of curare, drug sometimes administered to relax muscles during surgery, but which can be lethal if improperly used; 2 other bodies are expected to be exhumed; ct order was granted by Superior Ct Judge Theodore Trautwein after Woodcock submitted opinion by Dr Michael Baden, leading forensic pathologist, that majority of 13 deaths involved in original unpublicized investigation by County Prosecutor's office in ‘66 was ‘not explainable by natural disease processes’ and was ‘consistent with death by respiratory depressant such as curare'; Woodcock's request for exhumation follows inquiry by NY Times into deaths at Riverdell and into course of investigation by then County Prosecutor Guy W Calissi; investigation detailed; Woodcock illus (L)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6— The Central Intelligence Agency has funneled at least 86 million in secret cash payments to individual anti‐Communist political leaders in Italy since Dec. 8 in an effort to prevent further Communist Party gains in national elections there, wellinformed sources said today.

Brit Govt to send reinforcements into South Armagh; announcement follows meeting between Prime Min Harold Wilson, N Ireland Sec of State Merlyn Rees, Min of State David Ennals and defense officials; illus (M)

article on NYCTA Strategic Crime Unit, new decoy squad that has made over 250 arrests in less than 3 mos that it has been in operation; Garelik says news repts of 3 recent incidents in which subway passengers were harassed were distorted and gave erroneous impression that danger in transit system had heightened; illus (M)

Stock prices soared yesterday for the second consecutive session in one of the heaviest trading days in history. The Dow Jones industrials climbed 12.99 points to 890.82 on a volume of 31.27 million shares. Page 55.