view raw text
Magruder Resigns Bowie And Marlboro Presidency All Directors at Former Track, Majority at Latter Also Quit BALTIMORE, Md., May 13.— M. Hampton Magruder, president of both the Bowie and Marlboro race tracks, has resigned along with all the directors of Bowie and three-quarters of the Marlboro directors, due to a squabble with the majority stockholders. Magruders resignation was announced late yesterday. Magruder, who has been president of the associations which have operated the two tracks for 33 years, said in a statement that the reason of the action was that the OHara and Farrell interests, which are allied with owners of a great majority of the stock, "have permitted the assistant manager, L. Edward "Eddie" OHara. who owns no stock at all, to usurp the authority of both the executive committee and the board of directors." Magruder also asserted that OHara, who is the nephew of one of the largest stockholders, "contrary to the positive orders and in defiance thereof, was expending the monies of the association as well as the racing fund without either their knowledge directors or consent as to the matter of spending." Six of the eight directors at Marlboro resigned at the same time for the same reason, it was said. In an interview yesterday, OHara and John W. Farrell, who is a large stockholder, stated the resignations of Magruder and the directors was because of personal difference between OHara and Magruder. It was pointed out that while OHara is assistant manager of the Marlboro track, he is treasurer and has been acting as general manager of both during the illness of Joseph A. Farrell, who has been hospitalized for over a year because of poor health. When OHara was reappointed to both offices last Wednesday by 95 per cent of the stockholders, they said, the resignation of Magruder and the others followed. New officers and directors of the two tracks are Joseph A. Farrell, president and general manager of both tracks; Mrs. Josephine OHara, daughter-in-law of one of Bowies founders, vice-president of both tracks; L. E. OHara, treasurer of Bowie and secretary-treasurer of Marlboro. Farrell also is general counsel of the tracks, a post formerly held by Magruder. New directors of Bowie are: Joseph A. Farrell, Mrs. OHara, Edward F. Farrell, Sr., Mary A. Farrell, L. E. OHara, Helen Boyle, M. Eleanor Farrell, John S. Con-roy, J. W. Farrell, Peter F. Conroy, Jr., Howard Pierce and Mrs. Mary L. Conroy. New directors at Marlboro are: Edward F. Farrell, Sr., John W. Farrell Mary A. Farrell, J. S. Conroy, Howard Pierce and Helen Boyle. The two incumbent directors at Marlboro are J. A. Farrell and Mrs. OHara.
