New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-22
RdCCdRJT AZ CT OBS.

case recently tried In the London courts
disclosed the existence of a la &c nu nber of
fashionable cunning club, at the West End. Ii
WAS AN action for SANDER brought by an army
officer named Alexander against an under
graduate of Cambridge named w ndham. They
were members of the Road Cub and played
baccarnt with party of friends. W hen the
Cambridge man had brcome indebted tn the
soldier 10 the extent of $3.50, he demanded
large increase of the stakes. Alexander hav-
ing refused tn risk all his gains in single
pool, the loser retired from the table and
charged his antagonist with having cheated ut
cards. This accusation having dimaged the
officers repu, atnn and forced him to withdraw
ii ON the club, he sued Wind IAN for defaDa-
ton of character. The evidences produced III
court consisted of statements of various MEM
bers of the club respecting the ordinary
methods of playing baccarat and the honesty
or dishonesty of Alexanders performances on
the night in question. Thus evidence was 80
conflicting that the jury were unable tn agree
upon verdict. Justice Denman in summing
up the case denounced the transaction as a low
and dirty one conducted in a disreputabe club
| existing for the purpose of promoting black
| guard gambling.
The testimony of the experts called in this
case proved that il was not an unusual thing
| for member of the Road Club, who had
neither income nor visible means OF support, to
| win So 500 in one evening. 1t also appeared
| that there were other West End clubs where
| $40. 900 could be carried of in a single night
| and that these clubs had country branches at
| Brighton and on the race-tracks where fnan-
| cial operations of this sort were conducted on
great scale. J.stce Denman's 1blackguard
gambling" apparently is one of the recognized
recrcations of the gilded youth of the West
End. University undergraduates are re gular
patrons of these baccarat cluos. and wards in
| chancery, like the unsophlsticated Wndham
are euticed into these fashionable dens and
systematically dipped and beggared The II.
| Jamess GaSette is led by the revelations of this
rial 10 denounce the fashionable clubs where
baccarat and similar games are played night
after night by professional card-sharpers OF
excellent social position who never lose at
table because they invariably cheat. These
Clubs are not suppressed by the police although
their character is we'll known. Their social
prestige Is so dazzling that the high-toned card
sharper is screened from molestation.
This subject has attract ed little attention in
London of late years because the powers of
Parliament have been already exercised in
legalizing the suppression of gamng-houses.
For thirty years the police have been author
lied by a special act to arrest the proprietors Of
| gaming establishments. The credulous public
has believed that loo and baccarat are abuses
of the past since the old-time gamng-houses
have disappeared. But "good society" has
succeeded in frustrating the purpose Of the
law makers by claiming the imrunties which
are ordinarily enjoyed by regularly organized
social clubs. The practical remedy is prosecu-
ton for card-sharpiug aud cheating as a
species Of swindIing, whether practsed in a
| professional gamin g-house or social club.