Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-04
England'S Great Card Scandal Now on
Trial Before the
Courts.
The Blue BlOOded Gamblers Tell Their
Stories and the Aristocracy
ThrOngS to Listen.
The Heir Apparent to the Throne Will
be Obliged to
Testify.

LONDON, June 1.-The famous card
scandal case was begun here today before
Lord Chief Justice Colridge and special
jury The story of the famous scandal is
briefly as follows: During the Doncaster
September meeting Mrs. Arthur Wilson,
the wife of well known millionaire of
London, invited the prince of Wales with
party of his friends to be her guests at
her Doncaster residence during the pro-
gress of the races. The invitation
was accepted and among those
who accompanied the prince in
his visit was the plaintiff in the present
case, Sir William Gordon Cumming, the
particular friend of the heir-apparent to
the British throne, lieutenant colonel of
the Scots guards, and the gentleman who
is engoged, it is said, to daughter of
the late William Garner, OF New York. 1t
was the fashion for the distinguished
party, housed in Mrs. Wilson's elegant
residence, to amuse themselves in the
evening after the races with play, baccarat
being, as a game, the prime favorite. It
came to pass in the fullness of time that
intimtions were made that certain
bets had. or had not been made. Later
on certain members of the party be-
came quite positive that there was a
painful lack of regularity in that respec
and that the particular, indeed only,
offender was the distinguished guards
man. The prince of Wales Immediately
insisted that an investigation should be
had. The investigation which followed
was conducted by Lord Coventry and
Gen. Owen Williams, and as result it
was found that Sir VIM. Gordon
Cummings plight was such as to suggest
that mercy to that gentleman would be
best exercised by dropping further in
quiry. The prince of Wales thereupon
exacted promise from the plaintiff that
he should in future abstain from playing
cards. This, however, did not
close the incident, for as the re-
suit of a quarrel among a num-
Der of aristocratic ladies, the whole mat
ter leaked out, and Sir William Gordon
was promptly conducted to the social pill
lory, where he has since remained In much
anguish of mind. Since the unfortunate
affair was first ventilated Sir William
Gordon Cummings has, by special and
pressing request, resigned his commission
In the army.
The present suit is brought for libel by
the suspected player. Considerable inter-
est is caused by the fact that the prince of
Wales is to be called as a witness. A great
crowd of interested spectators representing
the blue blood of England were present
and many who desired were unable to OBJ
tain admittance.
At the opening of the trial the method of
playing baccarat was explained to the
jury Sir William Gordon Cum
mings was then put ON the stand
and gave an occount of the circumstances
of the scandal. He then said he had no
reason to suspect malice on the part of
any of the defendants. Sir Charles
Russell then glanced at a paper and
turning towards the plaintiff continued
land does this express your opinion:
(reading), the worst of 1t is that | feel
thai: they are acting perfectly conscientious,
ly in the matter and they believed that
they did see me resort to foul play
Pardon me-" cried Mr.. Williams,
quickly drawing himself up, his eyes
sparkling and his whole manner denoting
from any letter of mine?' Sir Charles
Russell replied, Eyes: does it express
your feelings?"
EYES,, replied the plaintiff sharply.
Then Sir William under cross. examina-
ton explained at length several points in
regard to baccarat playing. He also said
he bad nothing before him on the table
while playing baccarat on the evening sof
September 9Th and 9th at Tranby Croft,
except a small piece Of paper and pencil
and possibly tumber.
Sir Charles Russell asked the plaintiff a
number of questions bearing upon various
points in the case, and cleverly sought to
obtain the admission that the baronet in
creased his stakes when he won, and from
questions put it was evident that the wit
ness would be accused of so doing after
seeing the cards Of his neighbo1s.
Plaintiff admitted that on the second
night of baccarat galas at Tranby Croft
the prince of Wales said, 81 wish that
people would put their stakes where they
could be SEEM, but the plaintiff added
that he did not think the remark applied
to him more than to any one else. The
baronet also admitted that he kept num-
Der of counters in his pocket. He never
ceased to regret that he had signed a
document agreeing never to play cards
again.