The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-18
ASA |. CANDLER |S MADE DEFENDANT
 IN $500,000 SUIT
Mrs. 0. DeboucheI, Prominent Woman in New Orleans So- ciety, Alleges Breach of
 Promise in Suit

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 ATLANTA, Ga, Feb. 17--suit for s500.0o0. alleging breach of promise to marry and claiming aggravated damages, was filed in the federal representing Mrs. Onezima Debouchel of New Orleans, well known in social circles throughout the south, against Asa G. Candler Sr., of Atlanta. mill l lionaire founder of the Coca-Cola company.
 Mrs. Debouchel's suit declared that Mr Candler broke their engagement on the eve of what was to have been l their wedding date, telling her in a letter that he had reports concerning her from sources he was bound to believe" while she was attending the Confederate reunion in Atlanta in Oc- tober. 191s These charges. the peti- tion said, "are false"
 Defendant has persisted" the peti- tion said. "in his refusal to even di- vulge to plaintiff in response to her urgent request and demands, the names of the authors of said charges or those by whom said charges were conveyed to him.
 Your petitioner therefore brings this action for damages in order that the matters herein set out may be freely inquired into and determined l by a jury of said district"
 l Accompanying the petition was a I supporting affidavit by Mrs De bouchel. signed in Cook county. Hi nois, before Gladys l.. Harvey, a no- tary public and dated February 13 In her petition the plaintiff says she is a citizen and resident of Nevada.
 Mir Candler's answer is returnable at the March term and the case is ex- pected to come to trial at the Septem I Der ses on.
 Met During Reunion.
 The petition set forth that Mrs Debouchel and MT. Candler met dur l ing the Confederate reunion in At l lanta in 1919. at which time she was chaperon general for the Daughters of the Confederacy. At that time she was the recipient of many fayors and attentions from MT. Candler. the pe- tition asserted
 Their acquaintance ripened into | friendship and an intimate corre- spondence ensued the petition said 1 and "ultimately, in his letters to plaintiff, after 'acquainting her fully | with many circumstances of his pri- yate life and the vicissitudes of his public career, the defendant com merted on the loneliness of his hom ! life as a widower and urged plaintiff to become his bride"
 | Mrs. Debouchers petition said that MT. candler so conducted himself both preceding and during the term of courtship "as to win the respect and esteem of petitioner; that his protestations of affection were so earnest and his attentions so thoughtful, and so promising of fu- ture care and protection. that she was inspired with an honest affection for him. She believed that marriage with defendant would enable her to render material assistance in making the remaining years of defendant 5 life as happy as they had ever peen' and happier than his lonely condi- ton of widower could be. Plaintiff thereupon in good faith accepted de- fendant's offer of marriage"
 Family Opposed It.
 In subsequent correspondence, the petition continued, MT Candler toid Mrs. Debouchel that certain members ' of his family opposed their marriage, making it clear. however that the opposition was mot based upon his plan to marry plaintiff, but was based upon expressed opposition or said members of his family to his purpose to marry at all.'' She prompt iy informed Mir. Candler. the petition said, that she was unwilling to marry him in the face of such op- position, but that he persuaded her he would be able toS convince the family that his only hope for last ing peace, comfort and happiness
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