The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-06
The Baccarat slander Suit.

Sir William Gordon Cumming, the plain
tiff in the bacccarat trial at London, is a
brother of Mr.. A. P. Gordon Cumming, OF
Freedom, this county. The trial involves the
first circles of England, and is attracting
attention throughout two continents, as the
Prince of Wales, the future King of Great
Britain, was an important witness.
At country house, called Tranby Croft,
last September, number Of ladies and gem
tlemen INDUCED in baccarat, game of cards,
and the Prince of Wales was banker. Some
of the players thought they detected Sir
William Gordon Cumming cheating The
matter was mentioned to him by several of
his friends. He Indignantly denied the accu-
sation, and his first impulse was TO publicly
insult his accusers. From this he was dis
suaded, and by advice of these friends, to
avoid connecting the Prince of Wales with
scandal, he signed paper declaring never
to play cards again, and his aceusers bound
themselves to secrecy in the matter. The
affair leaked out, and Sir William had to act.
Silence on his part would have been taken
as evidence of his guilt, and social ruin would
have resulted. He accordingly brought
suit for SANDER against Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur
Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Lycett Green and Mr..
Berkely Levett. Eminent counsel are engaged
on both sides, and the trial is attended by
ladies and gentlemen of distinction. The
scene is more like that at fashionable opera.
The persons of social distinction occupy the
court. but large crowds gather daily to
observe their entrance and exit.
Sir William is in an awkward position.
He is confronted by five witnesses who declare
that they saw him cheat and by the Prince of
Wales, who, though he did not witness the
alleged wrong doing, swore that he believed
Sir William guilty upon the testimony of those
who asserted that they did. If innocent, he
erred in signing the obligation never again to
play cards. Still, guilty man would scarcely
have brought suit and gone to trial in the
face of these facts, and his manly and coura-
geous course in defense of his honor has
attracted many sympathizers. No matter if
the verdict goes against him, as tits likely to-
public sentiment will be DIVIDED and there
will be as many convinced of his innocence
as of his guilt-perhaps more. Outside of
the Prince of Wales narrow circle, the
attendants at the trial are generally with Sir
William.
Sir William has stood high in social and
military circles, and won military distinction
in the recent campaign in Egypt. The first
men of Europe, including the heir-apparent,
called him friend, and it is to be regretted
that the enmity of lady should have started
, the scandal and brought him under cloud.
/ He was the eldest child, and succeeded to
/ his fathers title and estates His brother,
/ A. p. Gordon Cumming, of this county, is
next in line, and would succeed to both the
title and estates upon the death of his brother,
| if he left no male heirs Mr.. Gordon Cum
ming is highly esteemed by all who know
him in this county, and he is cordial and
sociable with ALI In Baltimore and Wash
ington, too, he is highly regarded, and his
many friends regret that his brother should
have become involved in such a controversy.
Even should the jury declare against Sir
William, public sentiment will be divided,
but there can be but one public verdict upon
the conduct of his accusers-that they vio-
lated their bond of honor to maintain secresy.