Evening star., 1949-01-12
Ke|eher Alters
Story on Calls
From Old Office
Confused, He Says;
Restutes Retirement
From Gambling

Restutes Retirement
From Gambling
John B. {Blackjack) Keleher, ST,
today repudiated testimony he gave
IN District Court yesterday and re-
tterated that he retired from all
connection with gambling in Janu-
ary, 194s.
The silver-haired sportsman,
testifying in the trial of a divorce
suit brought by his wife, Mrs. Anna
I. keleher, said his memory played
him false yesterday when he ad-
mitted making four long distance
calls to Paterson, N. j., last month.
James j. Laughlin. attorney for
Mrs. Keleher, has contended that
the calls were made from Mr.. Kele-
hers gambling headquarters in the
$500 block Of Rhode Island avenue,
Mount Rainier, to the headquarters
OF a gambling syndicate headed by
Frank Erickson. reporCedly the
wealthiest bookmaker in the United
States.
Confused" in Questioning.
Under questioning by his attorney,
Alvin Newmyer, Mr.. Keleher said he
was confused" when Mr.. Laughlin
questioned him about telephone calls
made last December and thought he
was testifying about calls made in
1947.
Mr.. Keleher said he has not been
in the Rhode Island avenue estab-
lishment for year and, therefore,
could not possibly have made the
calls under discussion yesterday.
The question Of Mr.. Keleher's
gambling operations has over
shadowed all other issues in the
trial of Mrs. Keleher's suit for
divorce and alimony and her hus-
bands counter suit for divorce.
Mr.. Laughlin first called Mr.. Kele-
her to the witness stand Monday
afternoon. Thereafter. with bulldog
tenacity. the attorney has chung to
the gambling issue.
Until late yesterday Mr.. Keleher
had been master of the situation,
turning away all potentially dam
aging questions with a softly mod
ulated Il really can't remember, Mr..
Lockrum" or I'D prefer not to an
swer that on the grounds that it
might incriminate me, Mr.. Lough-
ran" He has not yet pronounced
Mr.. Laughlin's name correctly.
Without letup, however, Mr..
Laughlin continued to hammer
away. Each rebuff brought a fresh
question and Mr. Keleher, who looks
Is years younger than his age, be-
gan to show signs of WEAKNESS.
All day he had been looking at
telephone company receipts for long
distance calls. Some he admitted
making from the apartment Of his
good friend" Mrs. Dorothy Blake,
attractive 44-year- divorce, who
has been named by Mrs. Keleher in
a separate alienation Of affections
suit; some he admitted making from
his own apartment at 2400 Sixteenth
street; many others he could not
remember.
1AuhAso NAohA1l8 Ou1 SoASs
Mr.. Laughlin handed the witness
nine slips for calls made to and
from Paterson, N. j. Mr.. Keleher
selected four and said he had made
those calls. Gently, Mr.. Laughlin
pointed out that the calls were made
on December 4 and IA, and two on
December II, 194S. Was the witness
sure he had made them. Yes, said
Mr.. Keleher, he was sure.
Still gently, Mr.. Laughlin pointed
out the calls were made from the
Rhode Island avenue address and
Mr.. Keleher agreed that that was
right.
Next Mr. Keleher admitted that
John ]. Sullivan, wealthy Texas oil
man and reputed client" of the
Keleher establishment, had tele-
phoned him at the Rhode Island
avenue address in December, 1948.
Then Mr.. Keleher," said Mr..
Laughlin gently, you did have
connection with the Rhode Island
avenue establishment in Deem
ber, 194S"
Eyes, sir" responded Mr.. Keleher
"The same connection as I've had
all the way"
Refer to 10 Calls.
"You had the same connection
with that business in December,
1948, as you've had all along?
Yes, sir, that is right"
Mr.. Laughlin could no longer con-
ceal his elation.
Then Mr.. Keleher," he thun-
dered, III show you these slips
representing 10 collect calls Mr..
Sullivan made to the Rhode Island
avenue establishment in November,
1948, and ask you If you received
them"
Too late, Mr.. Keleher caught the
meaning of the dates.
If they were made before Janu-
ary 80, 194S, I received them," he
said weakly. Il haven't been con-
nected with the place since then"
Keleher Says He Was Tricked.
When he stepped from the stand
during brief recess, Mr.. Keleher
said he thought Mr.. Laughlin had
shown him slips for December, 1947,
not December, 1913.
He tricked me-" Mr.. Keleher told
Mr.. Newmyer. The matter can be
corrected under cross-examination,
MIR. Newmyer said.
This was the lines of questioning
when Mr. Keleher submitted to
cross ss-examination today.
Mr.. Laughlin yesterday said he
would show that the calls to and
from Paterson, N j., linked the
Rhode Island avenue establishment
with the biggest "lay-off" center in
the East for professional gamblers.
A %ay-off" center, he told reporters
during recess, receives bets from
bookmakers whose books have be-
come overloaded with wagers on a
particular horse or particular
race.