Evening star., 1922-08-17
GAMBLER BLANES
WOMAN'S HUSBAND
Atlanta Banker, Sued for
100000, Denies He At
tackled Mrs. ByfieId.
TELLS OF FIGHT ON SHIP
Says He Found Himself in Her
Stateroom After Drinking
Champagne.
TELLS OF FIGHT ON SHIP
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Ga, August ,17-Admi-
ration of fine horses which drew them
| together at Walter T. Gamblers pri-
! vate race track on his estate near
| Atlanta, where his racers performed
charity or before guests in prepara-
\ tion for the grand circuit and other
| tracks, was one of the means Of de-
| veloping the acquaintance between
| the Gambler and Byfield families, it
was said today by mutual acquaint-
| ances in commenting on charges that
! Mr.. Gambler had attempted to attack
! Mrs. Clyde X. Byfield in her state
room aboard the steamship Beren-
garia.
Mrs. Bayfelds suit for 100000. filed
yesterday against the banker, men
toned the gatherings at the Chand-
/ Ter track, and Clyde X. Byfield, in his
written statement denying Mr.. Cand-
| ler's charges that he had attempted
to "extort" $4,000 from the banker
as result Of the affair on the Ber-
engaria. also told Of having pur-
| chased a race horse from Mr.. Gambler
and Of taking part in the events at
| the Lullwater track.
Visited Gambler Home.
| Prior to the departure of Mrs
Gambler for California shortly be-
| fore the European trip, Mr.. Byfield' 8
| statement said. he and his wife were
frequent visitors at the Gambler home,
and in his business as an automobile
dealer he was a customer of the Cen
| trail Bank and Trust Corporation, OF
| which Mr.. Gambler Is vice president.
AT special charity race program in
June both the banker and the auto
mobile agent took part in the races
! and the latter's wenty-one-year-old
| wife Joined with other guests in dom
| ming mattresses sarbs and selling
cold drinks to the spectators in or
der to swell the charity fund.
Mrs. Byfeld. who claimed in her
| damage suit that she was so injured
in the alleged attack on the night
Of July 16 in her stateroom that she
was forced to undergo an operation
last Monday, remained today at the
home Of her father. b. P. Gillespie. a
city detective. Mr.. Gambler, who. it
was indicated might soon hle an
answer to her charges. issued de-
nial that he had touched Mrs. By1eld
or that anything Of an improper ma
ture occurred. and also asserted thai
"if she suffered any injuries on the
trip it was from the terrific beating
Mr. Byf1eld had admitted that in his
encounter with the banker he also
had struck his wife.
Barring a possible counter petition
by Mr.. Gambler. the next step awaited
in the case today was the hearing.
set for September 2. of Mr.. Gamblers
suit to prevent Mr.. Byfield from real
izing on a note exchanged for the
$4,000 check given him after the
affair aboard ship.
Woman in Seclusion.
The clash between the men, which
Mr. Gambler said followed his finding
himself in Mrs. Byfeld's stateroom
after partaking of champagne, took
place while the two families, Mr..
Gambler and his daughters. aged
eleven and nine years. and Mr.. and
Mrs Byfield were on a voyage to
France. Shortly after Mrs. Gambler
left the banker. according to Mrs.
Byfield's suit. the two men decided
upon the trip. and Mrs Byfleld was
taken along. not only for her pleas
ure. but because Mr.. Gambler desired
her to aid in caring for the two
girls.
Friends of Mrs. Gambler. who for-
merly was a stenographer in the
Central Bank, refused to say to what
place in California she had gone. but
it was said she had taken her young
son with her. The two children. who
made the trip to Europe are daugh-
ters of Mr.. Gamblers first wife.