Evening star., 1949-01-11

Ke|eher Again Takes
Stand After Parryiing
Quiz on Gambling
John B. (Blackjack) Keleher. ST,
returned to the witness stand
in District Court today to match
the suave wit and lightning CAL
culation of a professional gambler
against the legal cunning of James
j. Laughlin, veteran lawyer, who
has vowed to expose police protec-
ton of gamblers in Prince Georges
County.
Mr.. Laughljn, representing Mrs
Anna T. Keleher in suit for di-
vorce, recalled Mr.. Keleher to the
satnd as a hostile" witness for his
client.
Mr.. Keleher was the picture o,
man of distinction as he sal
at ease in the witness chair, every
silvery hair in precise position. Hi
black eyebrows and his ruddy
smooth complexion belied his age.
The issues in the divorce case
that Mr. Keleher had been cruel
to his wife and more than friendly
with a shapely brunette divorce
% years his junior-had been showed
into the background by Mr.. Laugh.
| Inns telegram to Gov. Lane of Mary.
land. promising to expose the neg
tligent failure Of county police tt
do anything" about extensive gam.
bling operations in Prince George!
County.
Questioning Blocked.
Earlier in the tIial, Judge Tamn
had blocked Mr.. Laughlin's efforts
to develop, through testimony O.
Mrs. Keleher, his charges that Mr.
Keleher had boasted he could oper-
ate his gambling place unmolested
and that he had had nothing tt
fear from Police Chief Brown (o1
Prince Georges County, or Police
Chief Plummer of Mount Rainier.
Mrs. Keleher testified Mr.. Kelehel
spoke frequently to her about the
two police officials and as recently
as March, 1948, said he had giver
"the dickens" to one of his emplyes
for not taking as good care OF
Brown and Plummer as he did the
previous February"
Mai. Ralph Brown, superintendent
of Prince Georges County police
said that so far as he knew the
Establishment in the 5000 block OF
Rhode Island avenue, Mount Rainier
which Mrs. Keleher said her hus-
band operates, has been closed since
September, ls47.
LAS far as 1 know Keleher has
never been protected in Prince
Georges County," Maj. Brown said
THE Rhode Island avenue place has
been closed since we had a county
wide campaign against gambling
and knocked off a number of places
I had men investigate the address
yesterday and they reported it closed
KeIeher Cites Retirement.
1--WE do our best to keep such
places closed. If any one knows OF
gambling house operating in the
county and wants to see it closed
they have only to give us the in
formation and We'll knock it off,
Mr.. Keleher, after stating his
name, said he has no occupation
now because he is retired. Mr.
Laughlin asked what Mr.. Kelehel
did before he retired.
Il don't care to answer that, Mr.
Loughran," said Mr.. Keleher pleas
antly. He never did pronounce the
lawyers name correctly.
"Why not?" thundered the attor-
ney.
Because it might have tendency
to incriminate me, Mr.. Lockrum,
the witness replied.
Judge Tamm ruled he did not
have to answer the question.
Says He Employed Pearson.
Mr.. Keleher said he knew George
Pearson.
How do you know him?"
HE worked for me, Mr.. Loughran'
He answered the phones"
For what? Why did he answer
phones?"
Il really don't care to answer
that, Mr.. Lockrum. 1t might have
a tendency to incriminate me-
And SO it went. Everytime Mr..
Laughlin approached the question
of gambling, Mr.. Keleher turned
him away with a soft-voiced ex-
planation. He said he had been in
the Rhode Island avenue establish
ment many times, but he really
couldn't ten "Mr. Loughran" the
purpose of his visits-it might be
discriminating.
Mr.. Keleher said he lives now on
income received from his invest
ments. He receives $700 monthly
from United States Steel Co., he
said and $3.50 from property he