The Washington times., 1922-08-18
Gambler Accused of Offering Bribe
To Hush Up Scandal on Big Liner

Coca Cola Kings Son Alleged
To Have Been Wiling to Pay
$4,000 for Silence Over
Incident.
BY Cosmopolitan News Service.
NEW YORK, Aug. 16.-August
Dreyer, a New York attorney,
says he was a passenger on the
steamship Berengaria at the time
Of the trouble between Clyde BY
field, Atlanta auto man, and
Walter T. Gambler, son Of the
Coca Cola king. Mrs. Byfield has
accused Gambler of attacking her.
In the evening Of July 16 and
morning Of July II q wine party
was in full swing on the ship and
Dreyer was among those present.
Pair Found In Bed.
About 3 a. m. Mrs. Byfield became
a bit faint and was escorted to her
stateroom by her husband, who at
once returned to the party, which
continued.
Shortly afterward Gambler disap-
peared from the party and did not
return. Dreyer says that according
to a story which ran about among
the passengers and which came to
him in that way. this Is what hap.
pened:
Byfield went to his stateroom, and
opening the door. saw his wife In
bed and Gambler beside her. When
the door opened. the story ran.
Gambler rolled off the bed. face
down. onto the floor and pretended
to be intoxicated.
Byfield Immediately became violent.
ly enraged. stormed about and then
he fell to beating Gambler. The
Noise Of the affair, penetrating the
bulkheads Of the stateroom to the
deck outside. brought a throng Of
the curious. including the night
watchman and the ships steward.
Gambler became sober and he
sought everybody to keep quite.
assuring Byfieid he had made a mis-
take and wanted to pay for the
trouble caused by his intrusion.
Gambler, according to the story re.
lated by Dreyer. made out a check
for $685. 900 on his bank In Atlanta.
which he gave to Byfield, who took
II, saying IL was not SO much that
he wanted the money as that he
wanted to get evidence as TO what
Gambler had been doing.
Subsequently Gambler, having
learned Dreyer was an attorney,
came to him and besought him to
get back the check, saying he could
not afford to have a check for so
large an amount pass through his
bank to Byfield in Atlanta, where
both were so well known.
Dreyer said he did succeed In get
ting Byfield to agree TO return the
check to Gambler, but on condition
that the banker give him some cash,
as he did not have any money with
which to return to the United States.
Dreyer said Gambler agreed TO give
Byfield a draft for 81, 900 and notes
aggregating $20,500 II Byfield would
write a letter generating Gambler
OF the implication OF intimacy with
Mrs. Byfield.
Dreyer declared Byfield did write
such a letter, but II was under pro-
test, witnessed by Dreyer, and that
Dreyer could attest its falsity and
would so swear II ever he was called
on In court to testify concerning the
matter.
He said he had not been retained
as attorney by either Of the parties.
The lawyer says that after the
stateroom incident, Gambler, learn.
ing he was a lawyer, summoned him
and exclaimed, MY God. man, I've
got to get that s25. 200 check back.
1t In on my bank IN Atlanta, where
Byfield and I are both well known.
and I can't afford to have a check
for that amount going through my
bank to Byfield."
Letter Retracts.
The letter follows:
Carlton Hotel. Champs Elyssee.
Paris. July 10, 1922.
"Mr. Walter T. Gambler.
Dear Sir:
I'm regard to our misunderstood.
ing, l wish to say to you that want
to withdraw the statements I made
against you In regard to my accusing
you OF being intimate with my wife,
Sarah Byfield. on board the steamer
Berengaria. These statements were
made In a moment of anger. and
am writing this letter to you in order
to do you Justice, and all the state
ments made at the time and in the
presence Of others were not so. I am
writing this letter to you Of my own
free will and accord and without any
intimidation.
yours truly,
tsigned) &C. X. BYFIELD."
LONDON, Aug. 1s.-officials OF