The herald., 1837-03-23
London Club Morals.

The following is the principal evidence given on the
trial of libel on Lord De Roos, charged with gam
bling. What expose!
Mr.. Graham-I am the master of Grahams club
in st. James s-sreet. have been thrty-sx years
in the house. and conducted the house for more than
twenty-sx years. The cards were purchased of MIR.
Hunt and given to the walters to hand 10 the players
employ person named Turner l keep book OF
the gentlemen who play during the day IN the card
room. The waiter makes the entry If am not at
home. Lord De Roos has been member OF the CLUB
for eight ten years. Inthe month of February, last
year. Mr.. Higgins and Captain Alexander were mem
bers OF the club the latter was one OF the members
Of the committee. In February last communlca-
ton made by Captain Alexander. l. IN conse,
quence, preserved the cards that Lord De Roos hae
played with. On the following morning they We're
examined by myself and Captain Alexander: iOunu
them marked by small ndentahon on the side Oh lhe
card in the corner. | have them marked on
each side occasionally. The mark appeared to have
been made by the thumb nail. afterwards looked
at some cards which had been played with on the 18th
and 18th. The and kings were marked III the
same way as the cards examined on .he ioth mere
were other marks. ! continued 10 examine me
cards up TO the 23rd of that month. Lord DE Roos
PLAYED from the 18th the gath inclusive, except on
the Dist The cards were examined on the following
mornings and were found to be marked in the same
way | continued the examination during the whole
time his Lordship played at the club. He did not play
later than the s Of July In the latter part OF April
and May did not find any mark. His Lordship
only played eight or ten times IN May. In June the
De Roos played again, and | examined the cards.
1.-THE witness produced the cards Lord De Roos
played the 25th Of June, both in the morning and
evening The witness named the players IN the
morning. and produced the four packs with which
they had played. On the first of July was Ill, and
left the club, and left waiter, named Musgrave, who
has lived with me thirty years, to attend upon he
gentlemen. learned the next morning OF crcum-
stance that had occurred at the club. The cards,
which cannot produce were afterwards put INTO
private drawer. They were subsequently removed
by my father in my absence My father continues to
live with me: he is eight three years old. IL IS part
of my duty 10 be in attendance upon the gentlemen
playing: am consequently, in various parts of the
room and have an opportunity OF looking on at the
play.
In consequence Of communication in February,
i had been accustomed to notice Lord de Roos FL
ther in the latter end of April or commencement of
May, was standing looking over the table, and !
witnessed a circumstance had never witnessed be-
FORE and that was Lord de Rses moved the cards un-
der the table. knew not what was to be the effect
but the ace of diamonds was turned up. did not see
the bottom card but his Lordship coughed and moved
the cards in this way the witness described how and
the ace of diamonds was turned up. delivered two
packs OF the cards found marke! to Sir Wm lnglby.
The witnss stated that they had been marked on
June 30. Lord de Roos played both morning and
evening on that day. On no occasion, except when
Lord de Roos was one of the players did find the
cards marked rked.-Cross-examlned. The club has
chiefly been left to nay management, although there
was Rominally a committee. The resolution to dis
solve the club was about March last. came TO that
resolution myself The witness here explained that
he was determined to break up the club and organ
ize it on account of the high play, which had much
injared it, and consequently greatly affected his in
terests My object was not to exclude certain mem-
bers Of the club but 10 form a club that would
support me- and felt that in order 10 do that, must
exclude gentlemen who were fond Of high play.
had in my mind six eight gentlemen TO exclude.
There may have been ten members OF the old club ex-
cudcd. They put their names down as anxious to be
admitted into the new club but did not think it suit-
ad my into and
My club has not been going on prosperously for the
last five years Until 1896 there was no suspicion of
foul play. Lord De Roos has been member OF the
club since 1923. did not expect any thing wrong
until Captain Alexander spoke TO me. His Lordship
attended the club fiftyone days in 1885, but made
mention to him of the suspicious, nor did caution
my subscribers. paid Lord DE Roos at the end of
the season 630i 640i, his trimmings during ate
ffy-one days. l cannot say whether that IS the
largest amount that has been padlo subscriber for
those days. l have no doubt there were other men,
bers whose winnings amounted e more. i do not
think any gentleman won 2,000i in that season. In
former seasons members won 3000., but there has
been less play during this season. When saw the
of diamonds turned up by Lord DE- Roos did
not make any remark TO the players His Lordship
put the cards below the surface of the table. The
players may have his hands under the table, but
ii occupied very short tlme They made no remark,
and played on. In the season OF 1886, very few
members came TO the club at night. There has been
high play at the club lately and that greatly ncon-
veniences the master, and exposes him to confusion.
The reason OF II IS this, that gentlemen lose some
timss more than is agreeable, and then Withdraw
their names. The gentlemen whose names were left
out played deep did not omit any names from
pecting unfair play their parts An old member of
the house said he would pay me the subscription
had received if would dissolve the club at once. /
declined but had determined to close il if il were
not more prosperous. The fact OF the cards having
been marked influenced me, however, in my deter
mination, and agreed 10 close it. Captain Alexan-
der said he would leave the club if il were not closed
and he told me il only from the respect he had
for me and the time he had been member Of the club
that he las induced to continue member.
Hugh Higgins, Esq, examined-I am in the 18th
Dragons. became member OF Grahams cab
about Feb, 1897. was AT Brighton about Christmas,
1885. THERE'S club at Brighton which is free for
the members Of certain London clubs Isaw lord de
Roos there, and played at whist with him. l only
recollect three Of the partyLord de Roos Major Fan
court, and myself On one occasion Major Fancourt
was my partner, and Mr.. Holmes was betting with
MAJOR Fancort on the rub. When Lord dc Roos was
about 10 leal, observed him do something. Nv at
tenton had been previously called to his conduct.
saw very unusual motion with the cards and
Thought rom what had heard he had been rcyers-
ing the CT. saw them cut and lowered beneath the
table The card turned up was an honor Lord de
Roos won the game. Major Fancourt lost bv the
play of the day to Mr.. Holmes. When we had done
playing looked at the cards. and found ha, some Of
the higher honors were marked ] coumunicated M
the time 10 Mr. Holmes, what had seen, and ne re
fused to receive his bet also mentioned il TO Major