Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-28
LADY eRooKE's REVENGE.
How She Came to Disclose the Gordon
Cumming Tale.


The inheritance of this Gordon-Cum-
ming case is mainly that il illustrates so
well phase of the social life Of the period
and the character Of the men and women
who compose the Prince Of Males's set
saws London cable dispatch. Thus it is
important because it discloses-frst,
the weakness of the character of the
Prince of Wales in preiudgng q man
whose whole life up 10 the mo-
ment Of accusation was not only with
out public blcmish, but which had been
illustrated by conspicuous acts or gGi-
lautry, rewarded at the time with univer-
sal approval by the bestowal Of " orders OF
merit" man who was not only received
every where. but who was sought after as
one who lent distinction 10 any gathering;
man OF independent fortune, far re-
moved from the temptation of WIN
ming a few paltry pounds by the
tricks Of q blackIeg; a member OF
many exclusive clubs, habituauy play;
inc cards with experienced gentlemen. and
never suspected Of any act the least bit
shady. Bu. 1t is still more important be
cause it is q well-known fact-lithough II
is doubtful If this fact will be brought ont
IN the trial-that tho Prince is responsible
for the disclosure of the secret which was
made Of the occurrence IN order 20 save
him from horrible scandal aud which
compelled Colonel Gordon Cumming to
make an almost "forlorn-hope fight to
vindicate his besmirched reputation.
soIt must be remembered that the Prince
was made the custodian Of the document
which he signed along with the others.
and in which each and all were pledged
upon their honors to preserve the silence
OF the grave and yet ne was the one who
broke his plichted faith. Admitting that
Colonel Gordon Cumming was guilty of
cheating a. cards, and. being detected.
virtually admitted. by signing the famous
paper. his guilt, still II is beyond question
that tho Prince. 20 prevent horrible
scandal" not only became party TO
solemn engagement 10 conceal all tine
factq. but was one of sclf-COnstituted
court of honor ID 50 iii pos OF the affair,
and then gave ont tho story. Which ~
the two deserves 70 be most cOnsplcuOusly
pil,ored N public est!matlong
AZ ANCIENT FLAME.
Not long after the Princes return from
Scotland whittier he went from Iranby
Croft. he met Lady Brooke, took luncheon
with her, and told her over wine the whole
particulars of the occurrences at Iranby
Croft. This LADY Brooke was an ancient
flame of Colonel SIR William GOr6On-Cum-
ming, and had come TO feel that she had
been scornej by a lover TO whom she had not
stinted her favors. and like the fury
Shakespeare describes ~ being without
counterpart in "sLeOl," was not coutont
with rolling under her tongue the rich
morsel Of her whIlom lovers Disgrace, but
set about. with more than satanic ingenul-
~. the spreading abroad OF the " horrible
scandal" Ii was first limited in certain
CIRCLES IN Paris. and by degrees filtered
through divers channels Of London high
life society.
And thi. woman IS adaily spectator in the
courtroom, glo9tiuc on the ruin she has
wrought ike o yerItable he'll cat. And
that Consideration which doth hedge n
kim about" m thi- Old World society. in
q court of Justice, N the minds OF special
urvmen, will prevent the mOnstrous
facts-the very kcrnal of the whole truth
from being brought ont.
Tho gr at difficulty Of the plaintiffs
ca-e is the fact that the Prince of Wales
while nOminaly one of h's witnesses Is
the real defendant and the nominal de
fendauts ere nero fgurc-hcads. They are
responsible for the charge made ut Granhy
Croft that Colonel Sir William Gordon
Cumming cheated az cards. and the man
ncr in which they conducted them
selves then aud there was Disgrace
fully inhcspitablo and decidedly cqd-likc.
but the Prince Of Wales, Lord Cow
entry. and General owen Williams 10 pre-
compouu the alleged offence and make "A
secret of tie occurrence. They confessed
" brought pressure 90 bear on the alleged
cuplit 10 -i2u paper which was tacit
confession of guilt. and they persuaded
yaung Nr. Lycett Green, who was
aching for n row with n distinguished
Guest, 70 fore-o that distinction by
pointing out that if the accused signed
the paper II would be tantamount 10
confession. The nominal defendants, how
ever conscious they may have been OF
added importance through being made par
tie, 10 such "semi-oilcilln secret which
involved tho honor Of an important MEM
Der of high society, and nearly concerned
the first gentleman Of the realm" rell-
giously kept faith and neither by word nor
inuuendo gave sign" But the Prince
of Wales on tho first occasion Of
meeting woman who would not
have been an ornament Of the
Court Of Charles II, although admirably
qualified therefor IN Oro respect, blabbed
the story TO her Hence, having through
his indiscretion. TO say nothing OF n more
serious fault. made horrible scandal
out of the occurrences at Tranby Croft, 1t
became of the utmost importance to him
when the victim turned at bay and deter
mined to fight for his life. Ito smite him
hip and thigh. a. u. GIBSON.