Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-19
Comeback Bets
Put at S214,OOO
In Bowie Trial
Case in Second Day;
Defense Contends
Activities Were Legal

The Bowie race track trial goes
into its second day today in Up
per Marlboro, with testimony al
ready on the record that 1914, 900
IN comeback" bets was placed
during the tracks fall meeting.
Three former track officials and
three betting agents, on trial on
charges of conspiring to violate
Maryland gambling laws, will base
their defense on claims that their
activities were legal. Their at
torneys contended yesterday the
defendants troubles stem from
wrangling among stockholders Of
the Southern Maryland Agricul-
tural Association.
One-tme track officials named
in the indictment are General
Manager l.. Edmund O'Hara, his
brother, Thomas j. O'Hara, in
charge of pari-mutuels. and CASH :
Ter Raymond c. Kohlhepp. Alleged
agents for outside bookmakerS are
Norman Helwig, Paul (Coney Is
land) Eckert and Richard Remer.
Association Secretary Testifies.
Testimony on the comeback"
betting came from Howard S.
Pierce. secretary of the Agricul-
Itural Association which operates
the track.
/ He told the court he had COM
Iplained to officials of the track
about allowing comeback bettors
to use telephones at Bowie.
He defined comeback" betting
as money laid off by bookmakers
away from the track on horses on
which they are trying to control
the odds, or to cover what they
consider excessive betting on
particular horse in an effort to
reduce losses if heavily backed
horse wins"
Relating details of association
quarrelS, Mr.. Pierce said L. Ed
mund O'Hara admitted at a
meeting OF the State Racing Com
mission last January 8 that he
had aided bookie agents "for the
good OF the track" Mr.. Pierce
said he and Association President
John w. Farrell and others of his
group opposed the practice be-
cause they considered it "dyna-
mite"
jury of IL Men and Woman.
i Defense attorneys disclosed their
strategy when the trial began be-
fore Judge j. Dudley Digges and
, a jury OF II men and one woman.
Inc panel was sworn in after the
State challenged So persons and
the defense 135 to set what court
attaches believe is a record for
Prince Georges County.
Defense counsel, in outlining
their claims, asserted that pro-
tracted pickering between the
small group of shareholders of the
association was responsible for the
court-ordered receivership which
now controls the tracks affairs.
This entire situation results
from attempts to wrest control of
Bowie race track from the former
management" Douglas N. Shar-
retts. counsel for the OHara
brothers and Mr.. Kohlhepp de-
clared in an opening statement.
Deposited Large Sums.
My client" asserted Joseph G..
Finnerty. Mr.. Helwig's attorney.
lis also a victim of this feud." He
described Mr.. Helwig as a former
telegrapher who three years ago
became an agent for a big-time
Midwest betting commissioner. He
did not identify the employer.
! Outlining the prosecutions case.
State Attorney Carlyle j. Lam
caster told the jurors that track
Officials conspired with the agents
by providing them telephones, en-
ployes' badges and other facilities.
Mr.. Lancaster said the bookie
agents deposited large sums with
track officials and were permitted
to place bets in pari-mutuel ma
chimes merely by handing slips of
paper to ticket sellers.