Evening star., 1949-01-11
KeIeher Recalls
Checks Given by
Oil Millionaire
Divorce Trial Told
Of Texas Flight to
Get Tax information

Get Tax information
Questions raised by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue about his income
tax returns for 1945-6-7 sent him
flying to Texas in quest of Cancelled
checks from John L. Sullivan, mil
lionaire oil man and sportsman,
John E. (Blackjack) Keleher testi-
fed in District Court today.
The checks, totaling more than
$25 ZOO, had been made out to him,
Mr.. Keleher testified, but he refused
to tell what the money was for on
the ground that his answer might
incriminate him.
Mr.. Keleher, who is 81 and lives
at 2400 Sixteenth street NV, was
called to the stand in the trial of
the divorce suit filed for his wife,
Mrs. Anna T. Keleher, 81, by her
attorney, James j. Laughlin. Mrs.
Keleher has testified that her hus-
band derives an income of more
than 100000 month from a gam
bling establishment which she said
he operates in the 5000 block of
Rhode Island avenue, Mount
Rainier.
Intends to Prove Income.
MIR. Laughlin told Judge Edward
A. Tamm he intends to prove that
Mr.. Keleher is still operating as a
gambler despite his contention that
he retired from all connections with
gambling in January, 1948.
The question of Mr.. Keleher's
sources of income must be fully eX-
plored, Mr.. Laughlin said, for the
guidance of the court in determining
the amount of alimony Mrs. Kele-
her should receive if she wins her
suit.
Mr.. Laughlin confronted Mr.. Kele-
her with telephone receipts for
long-distance calls to Mr.. Sullivan
in Texas and New York which had
been made from the telephone of
Miss Dorothy Blake, brunette di-
vorcee, who lives in Dorchester
House, $500 block of Sixteenth street
NV. Mrs. Keleher has sued Miss
Blake for $250,000 for allegedly
alternating her husbands affections.
Miss Blake is % years younger than
MI. Keleher.
Refuses Details Of Conference.
Mr.. Keleher said that he, not Miss
Blake, had made the calls to Mr..
Sullivan from her apartment. He
said he frequently had breakfast at
Miss Blake's apartment and it was
more convenient" to place the long
distance calls there than from his
own residence.
He last saw Mr.. Sullivan, Mr..
Keleher testified. in November, 1913,
but refused to disclose the purpose
of their conference.
Did you see him about income
tax matters?" Mr.. Laughlin asked
NO"
"Then what was 1t about
II don't care to answer on the
grounds that it might incriminate
me-" ..
Called on Money Matters.
Mr.. Keleher likewise refused to
discuss his business relations with
Grant Thorn of Baltimore, whom he
identified as a wholesale tar dealer.
He admitted he had made long dis
tance calls 20 Mr.. Thorn from Miss
Blake's apartment in April, 1948,
and subsequently.
What were those calls about?"
Mr.. Laughlin asked.
NT @nY7,% %a
grounds it might incriminate me-"
Mr.. Keleher responded.
If you had been out of the
gambling business since January, as
you say you have been, how could it
incriminate you?" Mr.. Laughlin
asked.
''It was about money he owed me. :"
How much did he owe you?"
Tells of Check for $4,000.
II don't want to answer on the
grounds it might incriminate me-"
Mr.. Keleher said Mr.. Thorn had
sent him check for $4,000, but
still owed him "sizeable" amount.
Referring to a statement that his
gambling income was 100000 a
month, Mr.. Laughlin asked Mr..
Keleher if he made that much be-
fore he retired"
Definitely not" Mr.. Keleher said
Indignantly.
Pledges to Expose Situation.
Before calling Mr.. Keleher to
the stand, Mr.. Laughlin told Judge
Tamm he intended to show that
the witness is still operating q
gambling establishment, and that
George Pearson, identified by Mrs.
Keleher as her husbands key
man." is merely his employe. Mr..
Keleher testified yesterday that
when he retired he turned his busi-
ness over to Pearson.
Mr.. Keleher was the picture of
a man Of distinction as he sat
at ease in the witness chair, every
silvery hair in precise position. His
black eyebrows and his ruddy,
smooth complexion belied his age.
Mr.. Laughlin has introduced into
the trial pledge to expose "the
negligent failure of county police to
40 anything ABOUT extensive gam
bling operations in Prince Georges
County.
Questioning Blocked.
Earlier in the trial, Judge Tamm
had blocked Mr.. Laughlin's efforts
to develop, through testimony of
Mrs Keleher, his charges that Mr..
Keleher had boasted he could oper-
ate his gambling place unmolested"
and that he had had nothing to
fear from Police Chief Brown (of
Prince Georges County, or Police
DR.. Mann Gift
ZooGets Rare f