Evening star., 1924-02-01
GAMBLER CLOSES.
DEFENSE IN SUIT
Letters of "SWeetum" to
"DarIing," Last of Evidence,
Read Into Record.
By the Associated Press.

Dy Tue Askocldle0 FFeb1.
ATLANTA, February /. Reading
of letters from Mrs Onezima de
Bouche1 to Asa G. Gambler, ST.. was
completed shortly after court con-
vened here today and defense an
nounced its case was closed in the
suit for $500,0oo brought by the New
Orleans society leader against the
Atlanta capitalist. They were term
ed pursuit letters by Mr.. Gamblers s
attorneys.
Mr.. Gambler, the elderly soft drink
king, according to letters read. was
Darling and Mrs. de BoucheI. prom
inent in New Orleans society. was
"Sweetum."
Describing the inner secret Of her
heart, her growing attachment for
divorce in Reno from Adolph Rocquet
of New Orleans, her pangs of lonelf-
ness while "sojourning' the required
time in Nevada-a series of twenty
one letters written by Mrs. de Bou-
chel to the Atlanta capitalist-were
read into the record yesterday.
The letters were written at IN
tervals over a period which began
shortly after the meeting of Mrs. De
Bouchel and Mr.. Gambler. or several
months Sne Is Sdlu 10 nave
taken steps TO secure a divorce.
VIII Attack Divorce.
Mr. Gamblers attorneys have indi-
Gated that the defense will attack
the divorce granted Mrs. De Bouchel
centering around the contention that
the engagement broken by Mr.
Gambler was null and void because
she still was the wife of Rocquet
when she contracted to marry him.
and. should the attack on the legal
ity OF the Reno decree fail, that they
would hold that 1t would not be
recognized in Georgia, since 1t was
obtained on grounds Of support
|-insufticient: they say. in this state
Early in 1920 the romance had de-
veloped from the very best of good
wishes" stage to where Mrs De
Bouchel, in writing of her intentions
to come to Atlanta, stated: II shall
stop off at Atlanta for a day or SO
for the sole purpose of seeing you
and. of course, 1 expert your undi-
vIded attention, you gay Lothario.' -
Four days later a letter addressed d
to MY Dear Mr.. Gambler" declare d
ii was impossible for her to go abroad
without telling him goodbye. She
stated, 'Since the mountain won't
come to Mahomet, Mahomet will 20 to
the mountain"
Gets "Hfs Sweet Letter..
From New York, after her return
from abroad. she penned "My Darest
Friend: The beautiful little ring ar
rived today, your sweet let
ter also came today. It was the dear
est you have ever written me-" Mrs.
IA ~
plans to go to Reno. and deplored the
fact that she would be unable to see
Mr.. Gambler prior to her departure.
stating that Il intend to devote my
life to your happiness and comfort.
Twelve months is long. long time,
isn't 1t? you must never for
get you belong to sweet one"
In Denver. between trains" for
Reno. the romance reached the MY
Darling" stage, and Mrs. De Bouchel
wrote Of an attempt "to be frightened
out of my. purpose by a cowardly.
contemplate blackmailer. /
must and shall be free"
Another letter to MY Darling
written in Reno, stated: 81 had hoped
that by now all financial troubles
would have automatically readjusted
themselves.
She Distrusted Republicans.
"The sum the government is trying
to extract from you really sounds
unreasonable-and a democratic gov
ernment at that-what will the in
coming republicans do next year?''
On September IS, 1922, a letter to
Mrs. De Bouchel from Mr. Gambler,
without salutation, found the writer
"in a state Of great perpIexity." He
informed her that he had heard
two men living in Atlanta claimed
to have visited her by invitation at
night in her hotel room. ITO marry
you with these reports in force could
not in any case be right or fair TO
either Of u.s." he wrote. Even though
they be untrue"
Thirteen days later Mrs. De Bouchel i
wrote to Mr.. Gambler: my attorney
informs me that yesterday you re-
fused to divulge the names of the
men in Atlanta who, you say, claim
to have visited me there in my rooms
for improper purposes. Do, you ex-
pect me to let this hideous SANDER
go 'unpunished? I'll publish it to
the whole world"