The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-08 00:00:00

COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.)

HOLDSWORTH V. GIBSON AND OTHERS.
On the opening of the Court, the evidence on behalf
of the defendants was proceeded with.
Major Ford, an officer in the army, examined—l was
in Plymouth in 1845, and was then a temporary member
of the Royal Western Yacht Club. I saw Dr. Holds-
worth and Mr. M`Donald there at the club. I was in
Plymouth three months. I recollect meeting Dr. Holds-
worth and Mr. M`Donald one night in July, when I went
from the club in company with them and some others.
We were invited to sup at Mr. M`Donald's lodgings.
We had an excellent supper, and we played both before
and after supper. We did not play very high before
supper, but we did after. We played at made, which
Has proposed by Mr. M`Donald. The latter played
against me the wholo evening ; and Dr. Holdsworth
t always bet on Mr. M•Donald's side. The stakes got
higher as the evening advanced. As far a
Us, the
cards were the same throughout the evening,s I k
won everything. Dr. Holdsworth move il d
about
ta
good deal, but he mainly stood behind my back,
and could see my cards if he desired. The
king is considered a capital card at ecarte. If a person
has a king. he is sure to win every game. On that oc-
casion M4Donald turned up a king almost every time,
and I remarked I never saw such turning up before.
We played till early in the morning.. My losses to both
were about 1,075/. Shortly afterwards I paid it.
Cross-examined by Sir F. THESIGER—I paid the
money by letter. lam rather fond of a game of cards,
but not of gambling. I never played for such large
stakes before or atter. The largest stakes I have ever
bet on any other occasion was 51. The largest loss I
have had otherwise at cards was 1001. I am not very
lacky at cards generally. I do not know how much I
may have lost in my lifetime, apart from the evening in
question ; but I do not think that the losses have been
2,0001. in the aggregate. I have since played st
cards, but it has been whist, at Is. or 2s. 6d. a game,
never higher. I had seen Dr. Holdsworth at the
club before, and played, I think, a game or two at
ecarte with him. We commenced at Si. a game,
and run it up to as much as 400/. We had only one
game at the latter sum, which I lost, being 200/. to
sPDonald for the game, and 2001. to Dr. Holdsworth as
a bet. I lost 5051. to Dr. Holdsworth, and the re-
mainder to Mr. M'Donald. There was a Mr. Craigie
present and another person, Mr. Ayre, I believe.
Re-examined—We played about three and a half
hours after supper. I never was a winner during that

time.
Walter Lormer, secretary to the Royal Western Yacht
Club, examined—l have been secretary nine years.
There are in it 312 members at present. It consists of
a number of noblemen and gentlemen, who take a plea-
sure in yachting. It is a rule of the club to allow any
member to introduce a visitor for a month, at the end of
which they must be elected or give up attendance. I
recollect seeing Dr. Holdsworth and Mr. M`Donald in
1845, at the club. According to the books of the club
Dr. Holdsworth was introduced by Mr. Ayre, as a
visitor, on the 10th of June. I had not known Dr.
Holdsworth before. It is necessary to give
the residence of visitors introduced. On this
occasion Tours was given as Dr. Holdworth's
residence. On the 25th of the same month, E. M'Donald,
Esq., was introduced as a gentleman from France. On
the 11th of July both were elected members. Captain
Atkinson and Mr. Ayres were the proposers and
seconders. They were on this occasion described on
rcsehiprea,pearnsd as Dr. rA.l,l)Hoonldasidw,orotfh,sotofn
Lt heei notice papers as Dr. Holdsworth of Whitehall,
Leice sottei
Wehohuitseeh.
recollect on the 17th of August Mr. Fitzgerald O'Brien,
of Ballycannon, Ireland, being admitted as a visitor in-
troduced by Dr. Holdsworth. He was balloted for on
10th of October, when 25 voted ; 13 were
against him.
One in seven black balls excluded. At the
general
meeting of the members which followed, some rumours
were afloat about these gentlemen, and in consequence I
wrote a letter to Guernsey. I received a letter In
answer, which was submitted in the first instance to the
committee, and afterwards laid before a general meeting.
In accordance with the instructions of the committee, I
wrote a letter to Dr. Holdsworth. (The letter was here
put in and read, which set forth that they (the commit-
tee) had heard certain statements about his conduct
at Tours, which would compel them to bring the matter
before a general meeting, and therefore they wished him
to withdraw from being a member of the club. An
answer from Dr. Holdsworth was received, denying that
he had done anything dishonourable while at Tours,
and hoping they would specify any charge they had to
make against him. Another letter was sent by witness
on the 29th of January, intimating that a general meet-
ing would take place on the following Thursday, at
which the eonnexion of the plaintiff with Connolty's
gambling transactions at Tours would be investigated.
A general meeting in consequence took place, specially
convened for the purpose. On the 31st, Dr. Holds-
worth sent another note, denying all connexion with
Connolty's gambling affair, and declaring the statement
of the Tours correspondent to be a " tissue of mali-
cious fals• hood." The meeting was held on the
sth of February, and was very fully attended.
More than ninety members were present. Mr.
'locker was in the chair. The letters received from
Guernsey were laid before the meeting; the corre-
spond, rice already referred was also read. Neither Dr.
Holdsworth, nor Mr. M'Donald were present. Mr.
Beer, an attorney, was present on their behalf, but it
was decided they could not hear him as their profes-
sional adviser. They wished Dr. Holdsworth and Mr.
O'Brien to attend and make their own explanations.
The latter gentleman was sent for, End the club waited
for more than an hour, but he did not come.
The Guernsey letters were then read, which were in
terms the same as what is given in the alleged libel
already published with the addition of recommend-
ing Mr. Lormer to apply to Colonel Lane of the
Guernsey United Service Club, if further information
was required, as he knew all about these " bucks." The
ballot then took place, when Dr. Holdsworth had for
him two white balls ; against him, 50 ; for Mr.
M'l)onald, 1 white ball ; against him, 51. I returned
Dr. Holdsworth's subscription for the year. Dr. Holds-
worth since then had never remonstrated against the

decision.
Cross-examined—l allowed Mr. Latimer to take a
copy of the letters for insertion' in' the newsPsper, • I