Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-14
Counsel Will Answer
Plea for Dismissal Of
Mrs. Ke|eher's Suit

Mrs. keIeher S Suit
Presentation of the evidence with
which Mrs. Anna T. Keleher, 81, of
Woodley Park Towers, hopes to get
a limited divorce from her husband.
John B. Blackjack" Keleher. St,
wealthy retired gambler, will end in
District Court this afternoon.
Mr. Keleher's attorney. Alvin New
myer. moved for dismissal of the
suit late yesterday, after James j.
Laughlin, attorney for Mrs. Kele-
her. rested his case. Mr.. Newmyer
said the evidence had failed to sup
port Mrs. Keleher's charges of
cruelty and misconduct.
II have never seen a case in all
my experience" Mr.. Newmyer said,
where there was less evidence of
cruelty. If there was any evidence
at all, 1t was of nature that the
court does not recognize as grounds
for divorce-it could be used only to
support charge that Mr. Keleher
was trying to kill his wife with
kindness
Cites Life of Luxury.
The evidence shows he gave her
every luxury man could give a
woman, including diamonds and
mink coats. He let her 60 where
she pleased. In every way he tried
to meet her every desire.
ekA T.;
train for Florida. had locksmith
change the locks on their apart
ment. rif1ed his safe deposit boxes
Of s80.000-all the money there
and then paid detectives about
$1,000 to trail him for three weeks
The failure of the detectives to APP
pear and testify as to any miscon-
duct on the part of MI. Keleher
is the best possible evidence that
there was none.
She made terrific mistake when
she walked out on this man."
Mr.. Newmyer also asked Judge
Edward A. Tamm to deny Mrs.
Keleher's plea for separate MAIN
tenance in the style to which she
has become accustomed.
She has never admitted that she
took more than $4,000 from her
husbands safe deposit boxes" Mr..
Newmyer said. For some reason,
she has concealed that there is
difference of almost $4,000 in cash
between the money In the bank
and money she took.
Spectator Elected.
That's mere ruse to create the
impression that she's destitute"
At this point, a woman specta-
tor who had waited hours to gain
entrance to the packed courtroom,
shouted:
Il object. sir She only took
s34 900. I was with her"
Judge Tamm ordered the woman
elected. and later Mrs. Keleher and
Mr.. Laughlin said they had never
seen her before. Mrs. Keleher said
she was alone when she went to
the safe deposit boxes.
Mr.. Newmyer denounced Mrs.
Keleher for charging that her hus-
band had been intimate with Mrs.
Dorothy Blake. "A, an attractive
divorce of the Dorcester House,
2400 block of Sixteenth street NV.
The law demands that there must
be clear and convincing proof be-
fore forever blasting regulations of
individuals with charge of this
kind" said Mr.. Newmyer in an angry
voice.
But the only proof of intimacy
between Mrs. Blake and Mr.. Keleher
produced here exists in the suspi-
cious mind of Mrs. Keleher."
New Keleher Suit Forecast.
Mr.. Newmyer told Judge Tamm
that. II Mrs Keleher's suit is dis
missed. he will move for dismissal,
without prejudice, of Mr.. Keleher's
cross suit for limited divorce. Mr.. /
Keleher will then file new suit for
absolute divorce on the grounds of
two years desertion, Mr.. Newmyer
said. When the pending suit was
filed, sufficient time had not elapsed
to support a claim for absolute
divorce. he said.
Judge Tamm told Mr.. Lau2hlin
he would have all the time he
needed to answer Mr.. Ncwmyer's
motion when the trial was resumed
at las pm. today.
Sensational disclosures by Mrs.
Keleher about her husbands gam
bling activities have overshadowed
the principal legal issues in the suit.
Mrs. Keleher charged that her hus-
band derives an income of about
$4,000 monthly from his gambling
activities and that his headquar-
tiers are in the 1900 block of Rhode
Island avenue. Mount Rainier, Md.
She said he boosted that he had
protection" in Prince Georges
County and had nothing to fear"
from County Police Chief Ralph
Brown or Police Chief Eugene
Plumer of Mount Rainier.
Chief Brown and Plumer were
subpoenaed yesterday, but Mr..
Laughlin would not call them, when
Judge Tamm refused to adjudge
them hostile" witness before they
took his stand.
Mr.. Keleher stoutly contended
that he retired from all gambling
activity In January, l948, and is no
longer associated with the Rhode
Island avenue establishment. He
said his income now averages about
a -