Evening star., 1950-04-18
Ford Te||sCourt
What He Did
%
With S6,45O
Misuse of Funds
Denied by Ex-Attorney
For Mrs. KeIeher


told District Court jury what
he did with the $6,450 that Mrs
Anna T. Kelleher has accused him
Of misappropriating while he was
her attorney.
Testifying in a low, even voice
Mr.. Ford said he turned over So
500 Of the money to Mrs. Keleher's
former husband. John B. (Black-
jack) Keleher, with her approval
AS for the rest of it, Mr.. Ford
contended. Mrs. Keleher owed him
more than that for legal fees.
While he was representing her
In February and March, 1916, Mr.
Ford said, he got calls from her
almost daily from her home here,
from New York or Florida.
100 Hours on Telephone.
The attorney estimated he spent
100 to 120 hours in these tele-
phone conversations and personal
interviews, talking about her
marital difficulties.
Mr.. Keleher recently got a di-
vorce from Mrs. Keleher on
grounds of desertion.
Mrs. Keleher said earlier in the
current suit to recover the $6,450
from Mr.. Ford that she had not
authorized him to turn over money
to Mr.. Keleher.
Mr.. Ford testified today that
he had suggested to Mrs. Keleher
that she turn over a sum of money
to MI. Keleher after the latter
had pleaded he needed cash-that
he might have to pay off some bets.
Mr.. Ford said this came about
after Mrs. Keleher had told him
Of removing funds jointly owned
by her and Mr.. Keleher from safe
deposit boxes.
Estimated at S65,O00.
Mr.. Ford testified that Mrs
Keleher estimated the jointly
owned funds removed at about
$65,000.
Mr.. Ford said he has suggested
10 Mrs. Keleher that she turn over
sum of money to Mr.. KeleheI
SO the latter could continue in
business and make money. The
attorney testified to discussing
with Mrs. Keleher in 1916 the
possibility of a reconciliation and
property settlement.
AS, for his own fee, Mr.. Ford
said that when Mrs. Keleher first
informed him she no longer
needed his services that he and
she had raised their voices during
a discussion and that he at that
time told her he wanted $4,000
for his services. Mr.. Ford testi-
fed today that he now feels that
sum would be too high and that
he thought $4,000 would be fair
sum.
Mr.. Ford, who is represented by
Attorney Leo A. Rover, was sched-
uled to be cross examined during
the afternoon by Attorney James
j. Laughlin. representing Mrs.
Keleher in her suit.
On direct examination yester-
day. Mrs. Keleher declared she
entrusted $8,050 to Mr.. Ford when
she began her divorce action
against her husband. In recent
countersuit, Mr.. Keleher won a
divorce from her, but he had to
pay $4,000 alimony as we'll as
Mr.. Laughlin's fees in that case.
Mrs. Keleher charged that,
without any authorization from
her. Mr.. Ford handed $500 of
her money to Mr.. Keleher, and
then kept $2,950 of the balance,
claiming it as part of his fees.
"Antagonized My Case"
And he never did anything for
me-" she declared. HE antago-
nized my case more than anything
else"
Mrs. Keleher admitted that Mr.
Ford returned $1,000 to her.
Under Attorney Rover's cross
examination, she grew hazy in her
recollection of specific times she
had approached Mr.. Ford about
the return of her money. At one
point. she burst into tears, as she
had often done during the earlier
divorce litigation.
Her husband took the stand as
a defense witness and testified he
received the $4,000 which Mr.
Ford's records showed were paid
from Mrs. Keleher's $8,050.