The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
sTANHoPE EXPLAINS.
Defends the Course of the Prince In the
BscenrRt Scandal

Defends the Course of the Prince in tha
BscenrRt Scandal
LONDON, June 15.-The Hon. Edward
stanhope, secretary of state for war, re-,
plying today in the house of commons to
a question put by Mr.. William Summers
Gladstone liberaI) in regard to the bacca-,
rat scandal, said Sir William Gordon
Cumming was the chief person who had
broken faith, because he did not report the,
case to his commanding officer. If an offs
fense was committed by any other person
it could only have consisted in advising
and pressing him to take q diferent
course than laid down by the army reguls-
tions. OF the three officers concurring.
Gen. Owen Williams was q retired officer
of the army and was therefore not subject
to the regulations, but the other two, field
marshal the prince of Wales and Lieut.
Berkely Levett, undoubtedly were. The
regulations had never been specially
brought to the notice OF the prince OF
Wales, but when they were brought to his
notice and looking back at all the circum-
stances of the case the prince OF Wales
saw the error of judgment which he had
committed in not requiring Sir William
Gordon Cumming to Immediately report
the matter to his commanding officer. Mr..
Stanhope added: "In this view of the
case concur, but / should like to express
my own personal opinion that had any
one else suddenly heard that one OF his
friends who had greatly distinguished
himself in the service had been accused as
Sir William Gordon Cumming was ac-
cused he certainly would have hesitated
q "
would Immediately and irretrievably
blight his whole future career"
Lieut.. Berkely Levett, on the other
hand, continued he, had written letter
TO his commanding officer expressing deep
regret that he had not acted In accord
ance with army regulation, consequently.
said the secretary of war in conclusion, 10
was not proposed to take any further ac-
tion In the matter.
Mr.. Henry Peyton Cobb, member for
the Rugby division of Warwickshire. who
had announced his intention OF question:
ing the secretary of war as to what action
he intended to take in regard to the
prince of Wales, Gen. Owen Williams and
Lieut.. Berkely Levett for signing the
document which allowed Sir William Cor
don Cumming to remain an officer IN the
British army although be was believed to
view OF Mr.. Stanhope's statement, put the
question he had prepared.
The Daily AelCs continues TO defend the
prince of Wales. 1t says: "The sugges-
ton that the prince should have played
the part of an informer and peach upon
his old friends when in trouble is utterly
preposterous. No such duty should be
cast upon men of honor, and certainly the
queens regulations do not call for it. The
imputation is that the prince of Wales and
Gen. Owen Williams conspired to conceal.
not a crime. but an accusation which 10
was for Col William Gordon Cumming
himself to bring under the notice of hla
commanding officer"
The Daily NeCs thinks the case would be
met if the duke of Cambridge, as com.
mander-in-chief of the army. had signihed
his disapproval of the document signed az
Tranby Croft. The paper blames Lord
Coventry for dragging the prince into the
scandal instead, as was dis duty, of keeps
ing him out of it.