Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-06-05
BOLD BAD BACCARAT
England'S Great Card Scandal Now on
Trial Before the
Courts.
Ihe Blue Blooded Gamblers Tell Their
Stories and the AriStocracy
ThrongS to Listen.
The Heir Apparent to the Throne viii
be Obliged to
Testify.

LONDON. June 1.-The famous card
scandal case was begun here today before
| Lord Chief Justice ColridSe and special
! jury. The story Of the famous scandal Is
| briefly rs follows; During the DapcaSter
September meeting Mrs. Arthur Wilson.
the wife of awell known millionaire of
London, invited the prince of Wales with
/ a party of his friends to be her guests NJ
her DoncaSter residence during the pro
SreSS 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 %
the British throne, lieutenant. colonel of
the Scots guards, and the gentleman who
Is engoged, 1t Is said, to a daughter of
| the late William Garner. of New York. Ii
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 favorte. lt
came to pass in the fulueSS of time that
intimious were made that certain
bets had, or had not been made. Latter
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 10y Lord Coventry and
Gen. Owen Williams, and as result il
was found that Sir VIM. Gordon
Cummings plight was such as to suggest
that mercy TO that gentleman would be
best exercised 10y dropping further in
quiry, The prince of Wales taereupou
eXacted a promise from the plaintiff that
he should in future abstain from playing
cards. This, however, did not
close the incident, for rs the re
suit of a quarrel among num-
Der of arIStoCIatiC ladies', the whole uat-
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 aud
pressing request, resigned his commission
in the army.
The present suit is brought for libel by
the suspected player. Consideral .e inter
est is caused 10y the fact that the prince of
Wales is to be called aS 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 tine
juIy. Sir William Gordon Cum
mings was then put on tine stand
and gave an occouut 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 paper and
turning towards the plaintiff continued;
And does this express your opinion.
(reading), the worst of 1t is that feel
that they are acting pefectly 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 hts whole manner deuoting
considerable excitement, ''arc You reading
from any letter Of mine?' Sir Charles
Russell replied, Yes: does it express
your teelings?'
Yes, replied the plaintiff sharply
Then Sir William under Cross.cNamIua-
rion explained at length several points ia
regard to baccarat playing He also said
he bad nothing before him on the table
while playing baccarat on the evening .of
September Sth and 9th at Trauby Croft,
except small piece Of paper and pencil
and possibly Il tumbler
Sir Charles Russell asked the plaintiff
number of questions bearing upon yarions
points in the case, and cIeverly sought to
obtain the admission that the barouet 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 ueighbms.
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 seen, 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 "a NUM-
Der of counters in his pocket. An never
ceased to regret that be had signed a
document agreeing never to play cards
again.