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Arrest Owner on- Charge Of Cruelty to Animals M. E. Gilbert, Jr., Is Alleged To Have Chained Duke-O-Balu HAVRE. DE GRACE, Md., May 22. Millard E. Gilbert, Jr., of Halethorpe, Md., owner and trainer of the five-year-old gelding, Duke-O-Balu, was arrested on a cruelty to animals charge shortly after the last race here yesterday. Gilbert was later released after posting a 00 bond pending a preliminary hearing before Magistrate S. S. Spencer of Harford County, slated for next Wednesday at Bel Air. The arrest of Gilbert followed the suspension by the stewards yesterday of both the trainer and" his negro groom, Walter Puller, for the alleged chaining of the thoroughbred Duke-O-Balu prior to a race here last Friday. The case was referred to the Maryland Racing Commission for further action. Sheriff Raymond A. Falker of Harford County, the arresting officer, said today that Puller also was being sought for arrest on a similar charge of cruelty to animals. Warrants for the arrest of Gilbert and- Puller were issued by Magistrate Spencer, according "to Falker, on the basis of information supplied by the Havre de Grace stewards and George P. Mahoney, state racing commission chairman. Duke-O-Balu finished next to last in a 12-horse field in last Fridays last race. The thoroughbred is alleged to have been "chained" earlier that day. According to the stewards ruling the alleged chaining was administered by Puller in the barn used to receive horses shipped in from neighboring tracks for a race. Gilbert, who only recently received a trainers license, said he had borrowed the grooms services from another trainer. He added that Duke-O-Balu was the only horse he owned.
