The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-10-11
.CdndLer Declines
To Name AcCuSerS
Of Intended Bride
Information Given In Confidence
Declares Aged Millionaire
COca-COIa King
STILL LOVES HER, HE TELLS
WOMAN IN HOTEL MEETING
Assures Her He Does Not Believe
Hideous Slander, Says Mrs.
DeBOuchel's Statement.
CIV The Associated Frsss>

(gV The Associated Frsssl
ATLANTA, Oct. Johannes
of persons who furnished Asa
G. Gambler, Sr., Atlanta capital
ist, with the information that
prompted his decision to break
his engagement to marry Mrs.
Onezima DeBouchel will not be
divulged, according to a state
ment issued here early tonight
by counsel for Mr.. Gambler.
The statement, made public by w. D.
Thomson, personal attorney for Mr..
Gambler followed one given out earlier
in the day by Mrs. DeBouchel. whose en-
gagement to the wealthy manufacturer
and banker was announced several weeks
ago. In her statement. Mrs. DeBouchel
severely criticised what she termed this
clumsy conspiracy" and "hideous SLAM
der and Mr.. Candler's refusal to divulge
sources of information reflecting upon her
character, which, she stated, he gave as
reasons for his failure to proceed with
original plans for their marriage.
Regrets Publicity
"Mr. Gambler sincerely regrets that Mrs.
DeBouchel should have given such pub
Hcity to an unfortunate private affair."
the statement issued by Mr.. Thomson
read. Certain friends brought him In
formation in confidence, which made it
impossible for a marriage between them
to have been q happy one. He communi-
Gated this to Mrs. DeBouchel He has not
and would not disclose it to anyone else.
He feels it would be unfair for him to
disclose the names of his friends, and
thereby shift to them responsibility
which he alone will bear, unless these
friends at the proper time and proper
place volunteer to repeat what they told
to him"
Says Statements False
''The statements of Mr.. Gamblers friends
are utterly unfounded and untrue and
/ do not believe they are even believed
by him." Mrs. DeBouchel said in reply
to the statement issued by Mr.. Thomson.
"At any rate, his first statement in his
letters to me before I came to Atlanta
accused me of receiving men in my room
during the Confederate reunion here in
1919. This / disporved in the presence of
Mr. Gambler and his son. They then
charged me with pleading with a travel
ing saleman to come and see me in my
L
allowing him to leave me on his promise
to come and see me in New Orleans"
Mrs. DeBouchel had a two hours con-
ference with Mr.. Gambler and his son.
Asa, Jr., soon after her arrival in Atlanta
Sunday from Chattanooga and Marietta,
Ga.
Demands Retraction
Mrs. DeBouchel stated that she would
demand and A'woud have a retraction OF
slanderous charges against her character,
and the names Of the persons responsible
: for their dissemination in Atlanta and
elsewhere"
All arrangements had been completed
for the wedding to take place at o'clock
on the evening of September 90. Mrs. De-
Bouchel said. Mutual friends had obtained
! the promise of the only Methodist minister
in Reno to remain over from a vacation
in order to perform the ceremony in
, compliance with Mr.. Gamblers wishes.
Friday before the date set for the we'd
ding, she received Mr.. Candler's first
telegram stating his inability to fill the
| engagement. She then planned to again
| postpone it because he had written her
! that he was busily engaged in complet-
! ing a bank merger and wanted to finish
, it before leaving on the Philippine honey
moon they had planned.
Engagement Definitely Broken
| In a second telegram definitely break
! ing the engagement. she said. he stated
that he was writing full particulars. The
letter told of the charge which had been
made against her character.
Mrs DeBouchel came to Atlanta last
l night from Marietta, having reached there
! on Monday from Chattanooga. Before
leaving Marietta, she said that she called
Mr.. Gambler over the telephone and asked
him to see her. On. reaching Atlanta she
said she engaged a suite of rooms at a
, local hotel and informed Mr.. Gambler over
the phone OF her arrival.
Mr. Gambler and his son. Asa Gambler.
Jr., It was declared. came to the hotel
and were in conference with Mrs. De-
B0uchel for nearly two hours.
Mr. Gambler was very much broken
up." Mrs DeBouchel said. Il felt sorry
for him. He told me he still loves me
and wants to marry me, and that he does
not believe this hideous slander which
has been taken to him, and yet he re-
fused to give me the name Of the man
or men who accused me. | cannot under
stand his attitude. he told me he was
! fired and unhappy and did not care
whether he lived or died. He said he would
(continuee en- Page p