Evening star., 1951-08-26
Mrs. KeIeher BaIks
Al Telling Officials
About Rackefeerinu
By J. |. MiehoeI

Mrs. Anna T. Dolly Keleher,
estranged wife Of John (Black-
jack Keleher, gambling kingpin,
yesterday refused to tell Prince
Georges County authorities what
she knows about racketeering in
the county.
But she promised to tell her
story before the grand jury in Oc-
tober.,
She had agreed to meet the
Prince Georges officials at Marl-
boro yesterday after testifying
Friday in Annapolis before closed
hearing of the Maryland Legisla-
lures Crime Commission.
When she showed up an hour
late at the Office of States At
torney Carlyle ]. Lancaster, she
told the assembled officials that
she had changed her mind.
Hughes Is Surprised.
Prince Georges Delegate William
R. Hughes who arranged for her
appearance Friday and yesterday
took her back to Washington,
where she said she lives with
friends.
1T was a complete surprise to
me-" Mr.. Hughes said later, Mrs.
Keleher had talked it over with
me and had promised to tell her
story"
Mrs. Keleher's exercise of her
feminine prerogative was the Sec
ond act in drama which had its
prologue before the Maryland
Committee Friday.
After she had been introduced to
the committee by Mr.. Hughes. she
said she was ready to relate de-
tails Of big-time gambling opera
tionS she claimed are being con-
Quoted in Prince Georges County.
Will Await Grand JurieS.
The committee, explaining that
her testimony might tip off racke-
teers, heard her story behind
closed doors. Later Senator Croth-
ers. chairman of the Legislative
Councils probing subcommittee,
said Mrs. Kelehers had agreed to
make her revelations to Prince
Georges and Baltimore City pros
ecutors. He said it was logical to
deduce that she had named Balti-
more gamblers at the executive
hearing.
Mrs. Keleher said last night
that she will testify before grand
juries in Prince Georges County
and in Baltimore but will not talk
before they convene. A new grand
jury will be impaneled in the
county when the October circuit
court term begins October /.
States Attorney Lancaster set
the stage for Mrs. Keleher's ap-
pearance yesterday at Upper Marl-
boro. The prosecutor, with Sheriff
Carlton c. Beall and Police Chief |
F. Allen Richards, expected her
at II am. Also present were Chief
Deputy Sheriff Ellis G. Duley, jr.,
Deputy Thomas E. Marcos and De-
tective Sgt. John w. Siddall.
DislikeS Show of Force,
In the conference room. it was
learned, was a wire-recorder.
Mr.. Lancaster said he had the
officers at hand ready to speed
out on raids if Mrs. Keleher dis /
closed names and places.
It was the show of force, Mrs.
Keleher said last night, that
caused her to refuse to talk.
'The place was loaded for
bear" she asserted. what do
they think I am, a sap? I agreed
to talk only to the States At
torney and sheriff"
Anyway" she declared, 81 had
been legally advised not to talk ex-
cept under oath before a grand
jury"
Says He Got Brush-Off.
Mrs. Keleher charged that she
got a "brush-off" from Maryland
probers Friday and that a Senate
Crime Investigating Committee
member showed no interest when
she volunteered to testify before
his committee. She refused to-
name the Senator.
Both groups are phonies," she
declared.
Mrs. Keleher'S actions are the
latest developments in an expose
of alleged racketeering in the
District. and nearby Maryland
and Virginia which began with
the testimany Of Charles E. Nell
son before the Senate's crime
probers.