The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-09
THE BACCARAT CASE.

The proceedings in this singular case are
full cf surprises for Americans. It appears
to be pretty c0nclusiyely established that
Sir William Gordon Cumming did cheat at
cards. by holding part Of his stake in his
hand, and only dropping it on the cloth
when he saw that he was going to win; but
we are told that The sympathy of the ladies
in London is with him. Must it be inferred
that the cream of the cream of London So
cety applauGs cheating at cards, and sees
nothing out Of the way in the conduct of a
blackleg?
A gain, the wife of the Chief Justice who
Is trying the case takes a seat by the side Of
her lord, and amuses herself by writing
notes to friends whom she recognizes in the
courtroom. American respect for the sex
is pTOYer6ial; it fills us with anguish TO part
with the dear creatures even for an hour;
but really, if the wife Of a Judge who was
trying a case in one of our courts should
take a seat on the bench, and divert the
minds of the Jurors and witnesses by carry
ing on a cOTreSp ondence with friends while
proceedings were on, the public would be
greatly shocked There are few spots that
a lovely woman is not fitted TO adOTn, but
the bench during a trial is not one Of them.
l. appears 10 American observers that
this man Cumming, having been detected in
conduct which will ensure his expulsion
from the clubs of which he is a member, is
trying to pull everybody down with HIN.
He has put the Wilson's In a position which
has provoked painful inquiry into their an
tecedents. He has made young Wilson
ridiculous. He has imputed falsehoOd to
two persons who assume to be men Of
honor. And be tries to create the impress
sion that the Prince OF Wales, when he
visits his friends, takes a set Of gambling
counters with him as part Of his baggage,
just as John Oakhurst carried round a faro
layout for use IN Arcadian communities.
Conduct Of this sort can only be described
bY one epithet: it is contemplate. That
any one should sympathize with a man who
so behaves passes ordinary understanding.
But it may be followed by serious con5e-
quences. Tue British public at large are
not likely TO be moved by the pisintiye ap-
pcals; but there are lots OF people in En-
gland who do not object to game at whist,
and yet whose sense of decency will be
shocked by the revelation that Queen Vie
t0ria'S successor is so inyeterate a gambler
that he carries round the tools of the trade
So painful a disclosure cannot fail to recall
to memory the half-forgotten scandals Of
the times of George tie Fourth. He, too,
was an irrepress BILE gambler; a large pro-
portion Of the moneys which Parliament
had to vote him from time to time passed
over the green cloth. 1t was the knowledge
Of that and other current scandals which
made him, in spite OF his remarkable intelii-
gence and his generous instincts, the most
unpopular monarch that had rejgned in En-
gland since James the Second.
The world has not yet begun to realize
the effects Of this trial. Everybody is hold
ing his judgment in suspense until the
ends, the chances are that a clamOr will
arise that may assume political proportions.
In one of those books in which that we'll
intentioned lady, Queen Victoria, has IN
b0somed herself to the world, she gives it as
her opinion that no question involving a
grant Of money or rank to a member of the
royal family should ever be made a party
question, but that. before laying the matter
before Parliament, the Prime Minister of
the day should have an understanding with
the leader of the Opposition. in order to
obviate discussion which might lacerate
the sOyereiga's feelings. In accordance
with this doctrine. before Lord Salisbury
introduces his bill for the grant which the
Prince Of Wales wants. he will have to take
counsel with Mr.. Gladstone. 1t will be
curious to observe how that stalwart En-
glishman will explain to Parliament the
reasons why gentlemen should carry round
baCcarat counters.