April 8, 1977

Fed grand jury indicts retired FBI supervisor John J Kearney on charges of ordering other agents to open mail and tap telephones in their search for Weatherman fugitives between '70-72; alleged offenses were carried out by Squad 47 of bur's NY field office, and directed at known associates of Weather group who were being sought for bombings and other terrorist activities; Atty Gen Bell releases statement asserting his 'overall respect' for bur; Jack B Solerwitz, atty for nearly 50 agents who were granted immunity in return for their testimony about superiors, deplores Kearney indictment (M)

Assassins riding motorcycle pull alongside limousine carrying chief prosectuor Siegfried Buback, 57, spray it with submachine-gun fire, killing him, driver and critically wounding another official; Buback had been leading proceedings against leaders of Baader-Meinhof gang, anarchist group, on trial in Stuttgart since May '75 for 2 bombings that killed 4 Amer servicemen in '72; news agency DPA says it recd calls from man saying shootings were work of Ulrike Meinhof Action Com; Govt offers $85,000 reward for arrest of assassins; illus (M)

Treas Sec W Michael Blumenthal predicts that Carter Adm welfare reform pkg will provide some financial relief for NYC (M)

PLAY BALL Catfish Hunter of the Yankees pitching against the Brewers in the first inning of season opener in Yankee Stadium yesterday. Below: Reggie Jackson, in his first regular season game with the Broni Bombers, The New York Times/Robert Walker connecting for a single in the fourth inning. The Yanks won, 3‐0, behind the pitching of Hunter and Sparky Lyle. In Chicago, the Mets beat the Cubs, 5‐3, as Tom Seaver won his sixth season opener in 10 tries. Details, page A17.

sharp rise in food prices causes 1.1% rise in Wholesale Price Index (S)