Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-11
WOMAN OFFERS
FIERY DEFENSE
OF GOOD NAME
Gambler. Atlanta Capt.
talist, Broke Off En-
gagement
Alleged Improper Conduct on
Part of New Orleans Woman
When She Was ChaperOne
General at Confederate Con-
venti0n - She Brand S
Charges Conspiracy

Atlanta. Ga. Oct. 10.-Mrs Onesi-
ma Debouchel of New Orleans,
whose enga gem&nt to marry Asa G.
Gambler. ST.. AWanta capitalist. was
announced some weeks ago. made
public here today a statement assert
ing that Mr.. Gambler broke the en-
gagement because of report
! brought to him rejecting upon her
character
Mrs. Debouchel said Mr.. Gambler
had refused and was still refusing to
furnish the names of the persons he
said accused her She issued her
statement after final conference be
tween her and Mr. Gambler here.
The charges against her. Mrs. De
Bouchel said had to do with alleged
conversations she had with two men
during the Confederate Reunion in
Atlanta three or four years ago. In
her statement she said
been married on the Goth of Septem-
Der. All arrangements were made.
clergymen engaged. cards of an
nouncement printed and we were to
be at home here in Atlanta on Oct.
10
"On Sept 10 he wrote me that 1t
would not be fair to marry me and
bring me here where / would be
sighted on account of reports circu-
lated here against me.
"These reports. according to him.
were that during Confederate re-
union in Atlanta three or four years
ago. when I had the supreme homer
of being chaperOne general and when
| was attended every moment l had
solicited two men to visit me at the
hotel at night
This hideous SANDER and Mr..
Gamblers reception Of 1t and his say
ing my future is ruined have broken
my heart but my will is not broken
and | have faith that God Will give
me courage to defend myself. / have
come here against all my framing
against all my instincts, but good
name is all that woman has, ana
I mean to put the dastards who have
contrived this despicable scheme to
DESTROY me behind the bars, IL there
is any justice in Georgia.
Il have always known that the
Gamblers opposed my marriage 10
Mr.. Gambler and he will not dehE
that twice after our engagement
long after. i offered to release nm.
ale vehemently refused and CRED
that I was cruel to suggest 1t.
who is cruel now?
1T was never necessary on that
count to put this foul dishonor on
me.
But they have blundered'
"This clumsy conspiracy fxes the
time SO fortunately for me that can
prove my innocence against all the
neriurcrs and hired assassins they
can bring.
II was chaperone general at the
reunion of Confederate veterans IN
, suite of rooms with other women
of unimpea enable character ana UNI
der conditions so highly honorable 10
mo that none but desperate, stppid
dolts, or people recklessly certain ol
their power in Atlanta Wouiu ever
conceive the idea Of making me out
n common degraded woman in the
vorv hour that I was crowned with
the very highest and most sacred
honor that can come to southern
woman.
"A woman's reputation to be stolen
and she to accept 1t and to re dls-
missed with a goody goody pat on
the shoulder.
Il sent an attorney to represent
to Mr.. Gambler the right to defend
myself from these slanderers, If there
were any such persons, which / had
then begun to doubt.
"The only satisfaction given the
attorney was that these solicited
visits were to be understood, rot as
mere social calls, but for improper
purposes; that one of the visitors
was q travelling salesman.
"Why was this brought against
me in Atlanta distant from my
home and friends, where the Gamblers
are SO powerful, that people call the
city of Candlerville?
already investigators and detec-
tives had combed my life in New
Orleans in vain.
Judge Gambler had gone there
early in the summer.
Immediately after that stream
Of ugly letters began to flow into At
lanta, it is said.
Il know he employed detectives.
My colored chauffeur, who had been
with me nine years, was SO bounded
by repeated visits of the detectives
to his home in the country. forty
miles from New Orleans, that the
poor boy was brought into suspicion