, 1922-10-10

action she would institute. II any. %
force a disclosure Of the Identity OF
those she said had refused her. Mrs
De Bouchel's statement follows:
MIR. Gambler and 7 were TO have
been married on tho goth OF Septem
her. All arrangements were made
clergyman engaged. cards OF an.
no%uncensent printed and We're TO be at
home here In Atlanta on October 10
"on September 10 lie wrote me thai
II would not bc lair 10 marry me and
bring me here where | would be slight
&c on rot Of reports circulated
here against me.
There according I % him.
were that during a confederate reun.
ion in Atlanta three or fou years ago,
when I had the supreme honor OF be
Ing c~haperonc general. and when
was attended every moment, I had so
licited we men to visit me at the no
tel Mt night.
These reports had been brought To
him. he said from sources he was
bound to believe. Just before he was
to take the train for our wedding
They would. he said. follow me wher
ever I might go. ! would never be
able to hold my head up again.
This hideous Islander and Mr.. Cand
ler's reception OF it and his saying my
future is ruined have broken my
heart; but my will is not broken ant
II have faith that God will give m,
courage 10 defend myself.
IT have come here against all m,
training. against all my instincts. bu
a good name is all that has
and I mean 10 put the dastards VIII,
have contrived this despIcable schem'
to destroy me behind the bars II Their,
is any Justice in Georgia.
81 have always known that the
Gamblers opposed my marriage to Mr.
Gambler and he Will not deny thai
twice after our engagement. long af
ter. I offered to release him.
He vehemently refused and cried
that l was cruel to suggest it.
who is cruel now?
"rt was lever necessary on that
count to put this oul dishonor on me
But they have Numbered.
This clumsy conspiracy fixes the
time so fortunately for me that I can
prove my innocence against all the
p~erjurers and hired assassins they can
bring.
81 was chaperone general at the re,
union of confederate veterans In a
suite Of rooms with other women OF
unlmpeschabie character and under
conditions so highly honorable to me
that none but desperate. stupid dolts.
or people recklessly certain of their
power in Atlanta would ever conceive
the idea of making me out a common
degraded woman in the very hour that
I was crowned with the very highest
and most sacred honor that Fan come
to n southern woman.
When l received MI. Gamblers let.
ter containing this abominable charge
and saying I could not come to Al.
lanta without insult. I Immediately
left for the south and came to Chattn
nooga for I was loath to come to At.
lanta.
from there I asked Mr.. Gambler
FOR the names of my and who
were his informants. He declined TO
give the Information and made the as
tonishing statement thai 1t was best
for me not to know.
"A woman's reputation TO he stolen
and h accept 1t and to he dismissed
with a eoody-goody pat on the Shout.
der!
81 sent an attorney 10 represent to
Mr. Gambler the right to defend my.
self from these s~landerers. IL there
We're any such persons, which I had
then begun TO doubt.
1T is unbelievable but he stIil re.
fused to divulge the names and seemed
10 expect ne to go quietly off in some
emot corner OF the world 20 hide
and leave him and his family tri,m.
phant here 10 sneer more u-nsuspect.
Ing women.
The only satisfaction given the at.
torney vas that these solicited ,,is,..
were to be understood, not as mere
social calls. but for improper PURPOSES.
that one Of the visitors was a travsi.
ing salesman.
/ DO not believe any men. or mar
has made any such statements nm, 4,