Robert Gamble Explains Why His Son Took His Children to Florida, Oct. 14, 1923

Gamble Abduction Case Made Public by Father Gamble. . . Mr. Gamble and Wife Had Private Agreement as to Custody of Children. . . Wife Married Again. . . Mrs. Gamble Intends Returning to Europe, Where Father Could Never See Children Again

By the Associated Press

Asheville, N.C., Oct. 13—“If my son were to publish all the facts in the case, the public would know that he was justified in taking his children to his home in Florida.”

This was the statement of Robert Gamble, father of Robert H. Gamble in a statement here today concerning the alleged kidnapping of the Gamble children from the home of Mrs. Virginia Loney Gamble, in New York.

Mr. Gamble stated that when in Paris last spring, Mrs. Gamble and his son had a verbal agreement regarding the future of their children, but that after the divorce decree was in effect, July 12, 1923, Mrs. Gamble refused to live up to the agreement and decided she would go to England shwere she had previously lived for about 15 years, taking the two children with her, the custody of the children not having been settled by the decree of divorce.

“Mrs. Gamble told my son,” said Mr. Gamble Sr., “that she was to be married again, giving the man’s name, this man having been in Paris most of the time Mrs. Gamble was there getting her divorce. Furthermore, the day Robert H. Gamble left New York with the children, he telegraphed Mrs. Gamble and upon his arrival in Jacksonville the following night he again telegraphed her that the children were well and in Jacksonville and that she could see them at any time. Many may not know that if the children are taken to England no power can bring them back to this country against Mrs. Gamble’s desire.”

Mr. Gamble said that Mr. Vandivar, one of Mrs. Gamble’s New York lawyers, then came to Jacksonville for a conference, which was granted, Mr. Vandivar stating that he had full authority to act for Mrs. Gamble. It was agreed in this meeting that the children should be given to each parent six months in the year and that Mrs. Gamble should have charge of their education. Mr. Vandivar was satisfied said Mr. Gamble, and he asserted that if this settlement were not accepted by Mrs. Gamble, he would withdraw from the case. John M. Cooper Jr., Mr. Gamble’s Jacksonville attorney, agreed with Mr. Vandeivar in accepting the understanding arrived at. But when Mr. Vandevar asked Mrs. Gamble over the telephone to New York for confirmation of the compromise, she refused to accept it and absolutely refused to allow the father to have his children at any time.

Mr. Gamble declared that his son wants a fair disposition of the children under jurisdiction of the court of law and he asked that the public suspend judgment in the case until the facts are presented in court.

From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, Oct. 14, 1923