The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-11
ONE SALESMAN SHOWS UP.
Wilbur Legette Declares Story At
tributed to Gambler Is q Lie.

Los Angeles, Oct 11.-wilbur
.Legette, formerly of Atlanta, Ga, now
living here, volunteered the statement
today that he was the travelling sales
man mentioned by Asa G. Gambler in
the statements published by Mrs.
Onezima de Bouchel, involved in the
alleged reports of visits to her rooms
in Atlanta during a Confederate re-
union in 1919.
1.-THE story attributed to Gambler IS
la lie," asserted Legette. 1T is a fabri-
cation of scandal mongers. There is
no finer woman on earth than Mrs.
de BoucheL"
Legette said that he had not seen
Mrs. de Bouchel for more than a year.
the last meeting being in New York,
when Mrs. Legette and he met her at
a hotel prior to her departure for
reported charge against her charac-
ter. he said, came to him yesterday
upon reading a local newspaper.
Il met Mrs. de Bouchel in Atlanta
on the first day of the Confederate
reunion some time in the fall of 1919,
having been introduced by a young
4 lady from Virginia. he said. Upon
reading the newspaper statements of
Mrs. de Bouchel that Gambler accused
her of receiving attentions of two men
in her room, realized that must be
the salesman referred to.
''Mr. Gambler and 1 were the only
| two men who could be mentioned as
spending time with Mrs. De BoucheI
during that convention, and she was
constantly in my company, she being
chaperon- general of the convention,
and entertaining delegates, and there
were always several young ladies
present.
Never Alone With Her.
But never at a single time was she
lNNrff h oil Ia4 a,
she informed me that she had an
engagement with Gambler for lunch
con. The young ladies and myself &C
companied her to the Piedmont hotel
and on that occasion I first met
Gambler.
Later the whole party left the
hotel to inspect new piano in a
store at which was engaged as sales
man. While in the store Gambler
made an engagement with Mrs. de
Bouchel to go to his home that eve
ming. 1 was at the hotel that same
night when Mrs. de BoucheI returned
from Gamblers home with several OF
the girls.
ct was not her sweetheartLfar
from it. I almost played the part OF
a chauffeur for her. She made q
practice during the convention of load
ing old soldiers into my car and TAX
ing them on q sightseeing tour Of
Atlanta.
''And want TO say in defense of the
finest woman have ever met that il
was practically an impossibility fol
her to entertain gentlemen in hei
rooms except in the presence of the
girls she chaperoned and during this
whole convention she was kept busy
from nine in the morning until two
the next da-5
Conducted Herself as Lady.
''If there were any men associatint
with Mrs. de- Bouchel outside of my.
tself and Mr. Gambler. they had to 90
some. Mrs. de Pouchel was a pleas
ing and beautiful character. She al
ways conducted herself as a lady and
never gave al man an opportunity
for making unconventional advances
Legette said that he had not com
municated viii any one in Atlanta
since readino of the statements b,
Mrs. de Bouchel. but had immediatel!
sought newspapers to say what ht
could to clear charges against Mrs
de Bouchel. He said the charges were
astounding to any one who knew Mrs
de Bouchel ID that he was prepared
/ to go to Atlanta at any time to "de
fend the honor of an insulted woman
such as becomes southern gentle
man."