Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-16
ACCUSATIONS OF
BLACKMA|L. ARE
FALSE, ASSERTS
Clyde K. ByfieId, Georgian,
Denies Charges of Walter
T. Chandler, Son Of At
Ianta Capitalist.

AJldnld, bd'I AUS 1 o. -A' -
Sarah Byfield, whose husband was
charged by Walter T. Gambler with
having extracted $4,000 check
from him while the three were en-
route to Europe in July, was re-
ported today as seriously i'll at her
home here at the same time That
her husband, Clyde X. Byfield, y
local automobile dealer, issued a
statement denying the accusation OF
hlackmail.
Mr.. Gambler, in a petition filed
in superior court and made public
yesterday sought to restrain Mr.
Byfield from collecting a thirty
day note for $20,500, which Mr..
Gambler asserted he had given
along with certain cash in eX-
change for the check. Today Mr.
Gambler, son of Asa G, Gambler
Atlanta capitalist, issued state
ment declaring there were many
glaring misstatements' in the au-
tomobile dealers charges, He also
denied having struggled with Mr.
Byfield's 21-year-old wife, as the
husband alleged, and added AS
the case is to be tried in court.
will make no further statement"
Demanded $4,000.
Mr.. Gamblers petition alleges
that Mr.. Byfield demanded $4,000
of Mr.. Gambler, when he found the
latter in Mrs. Byfield's stateroom
and asked Mr.. Byfield be restrained
from realizing on a note for $2O,50G
which the petitioner said he had
given. with $1,000 in cash and BY
fields notes for S2,5OO, IN eN-
change for check for $25 900.
The statement referring to the
incident aboard ship mentioned
by Mr.. Gamblers petition said:
"The charge that when ! entered
the room | said: Now, have got
YOU and | have been suspecting
this for six months; you must pay
me $25.OOO,' is UNANIMOUSLY false"
Mr.. Byfield said he and Mrs. BY
field and MIR. Gambler dined with
other passengers on the night OF
July 16, and that while cham
pagne was served, neither myself
my wife nor Gambler became IN
toxicated," a..
Alleging he was attracted to his
wife's stateroom by her outcry, MS
statement said:
81 sprang to the statcroom and
oncncd the door. | saw Canuler
in struggle with my wife; the
he'd covering was stripped from
her and her night clothes were
disheveled. | was unarmed; dld
not have even a pocket khlle,
but with my naked hands ! ana
nv best to kill him. | lost all
rcason. all sense of right and
Justice and, to my shame, Tor
getting that my wife's cries had
called me to the room, as
saulted my wife as well as Cand-
Ter"
Combatants Separated
other people. it continued, in
tervened and separated the COM
batants.
Mr.. Byfield said he was in a
dazed condition, unused to foreign
travel, and short of funds when
they reached France, adding:
I'm this dazed and helpless con-
dition, Gambler himself came,
cringingly and cowardly, and beg
ged me to let him, as best he
could, make amends for his wrong
to me. He reminded me that, as
a result of the nights horror,
my business would inevitably sur
fer and that $4,000 would not
be more than just compensation,
He then made no denial or eX-
cuse for his conduct but freely
admitted it in the presence OF
one of the ships inspectors. In
an evil hour, dazed, hopeless and
desperate on the morning of the
outrage, / took a check for S25,-
OO0."
Two days later in Paris, the
statement says, the check was
exchanged for notes and GER
sain sum of money which enabled
them to get home. AT the same
time" the statement said, Il
signed the letter absolutely false)
generating Gambler. There was
no pretense by Gambler or any
one else that the letter was the
truth"
Letter Made Public
The letter eferred to by Mr.
Byfield which was made public
by Mr.. Gamblers attorneys, was
dated Paris, July 10, addressed
to Mr.. Walter T. Gambler" as
follows:
"In regard to our misunder'
standing | wish TO say to you tha'
/ want to withdraw the statement
| made against you in regard tt
my accusing you of being intimate
with my wife, Sarah Byfield, or
board the steamer Berengaria
These statements were made in
moment of anger, and l am writ
ing this letter to you in order
to do you justice, and all The
statements / made at the tins
and in the presence of Others
were not so. / am writing this
letter to you OF my own free
will and accord and without an!
intimidation.
yours truly.
&C. Is. BYFIELD."