Evening star., 1949-04-21
Laugh|in' 'sSuit
k'Just a joke
Bowie Declares
Recess Is Token by
Prince Georges Jury
Probing Gambling

roDIn9 SomDiin9
States Attorney A. Gwynl
Bowie Of Prince Georges Count,
said today he sees mo earthl,
reason" for crossing the Distric
line to accept service on a sui
fled by Attorney James J
Laughlin accusing Mr.. Bowie o
malicious prosecution and slander
Mr.. Laughlin, at the same, i
standing pat on his refusal no
to cross the District line int,
Maryland to be arrested TO
failure to appear last Monda.
before the Prince Georges Count.
grand jury In its gambling in
yestigation.
Brushing off Mr.. Laughlin'
S20S, 500 damage suit as lust ;
Joke" Mr.. Bowie said he is plan
ming to 60 into certain aspects
of his gambling investigation
more fully to be in better posi-
ton to inform the grand jur!
when 1t returns May 2.
Unexpected Recess.
The Prince Georges County
grand jury Unexpectedly asked
for the recess late yesterday. Ont
court official with SO years serv.
Ice said 1t was the first time ir
his memory that a grand jury
recessed before completing it.
work.
1t was the grand jury's gambling
investigation that precipitated tht
BowIe-Laughlin feud.
Mr.. Laughlin, during the divorce
trial of John B. (Blackjack) Kele.
her, said gambling was wide oper
in Prince Georges County. MIR
Bowie invited Mr.. Laughlin ane
his client, Mrs. Anna T. .Keleher
to appear before the grand jury
and tell what they knew.
Bowie Denies Statement.
Mr.. Laughlin, in his suit. de.
clared that Mr.. Bowie specifically
asked that nothing be said that
reflected on his administration OF
the Office Of States attorney"
:. Mr.. Bowie said that was "con.
temptible. malicious and unbound.
ed lie."
Mr.. LaughIin said he and Mrs
Keleher waited around the court.
house until lao pm. on April
and finally left. Later in the day
Mr.. laughing said in his suit
Mr.. Bowie called him and said:
II am in an awful spot here
you know what a mess it is ano
Fay's Office Omitted States At
torney George + Morris Fay has
me upset. Everybody seems to be
pm my neeka If you will agree tc
come out, I assure you that you
will be permitted to testify as
soon as you arrive"
Mr.. Bowie said only the last
sentence of that quotation was
true. He gave this version:
II never asked him to come
back a second time because he hao
told me he knew nothing to testi-
~ to. I wanted Mrs. Keleher
The conversation was solely con.
cerned with getting her back
From what she had told me. she
had facts. At that moment. I was
totally unconcerned with Laugh
ain.
! Wanted Jury to See Letters.
"He did agree to get her back
He came back with her on April
13 and took him into the grand
jury room although at that time
I honestly felt he had no informa-
tion or facts.
When he went in and testified
he made certain statements that
changed the picture. He indicated
he had certain letters and docu-
.ments in his possession. I fell
the grand jury should see these
things. r..
That's why subpoena was
served on him requiring him to
produce the papers,"
| Mr.. Laughlin said in his suit
that when the subpoena was
served requiring him to appear
and produce the letters on April
Il8. he said to MIR. Bowie:
"You know well. Mr.. Bowie, that
I am here by invitation and there
fore the law is well settled that
am immune from process unless
fail to leave Marlboro within q
reasonable time"
Attachment Issued.
| Mr.. Laughlin said Mr.. Bowie
Ireplied. well. I guess you are
right and in that case we will
take the subpoenas back"
Mr.. Bowie said today that re.
ported conversation was "abso.
Ilutely untrue and I have plenty ol
witnesses to clear that up"
When Mr.. Laughlin failed tt
appear last Monday. Judge Mar.
bury issued an attachment for him
ito be brought before the court tt
answer contempt charges.
MIR. Laughlin charged In his suit
that Mr.. Bowie. acting malicious.
lily, wilfully and with an intention
Ito injure plaintiff. falsely repre-
scented to the court that Mr.
ILaughlin had wilfully disobeyed 9
valid subpoena.
| The difference Of opinion be-
tween Mr.. L.aughlin and Mr..
Bowie overshadowed Mr.. Fay's
lantigambling crusade which cur
irently centerS on the legal results
Iof Mr.. Fay's request to the Chesa-
lpeake & Potomac Telephone Co.
to remove 324 telephones on
they were used for gambling.
grounds Of competent evidence"
| IN the first Injunction suit
IArgued To res<rosx. <hn falav,t1n,.s