St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-15

Wilson's Would have resulted in
physical encounter between Gordon
Cumming and his accuser. but for the
presence of the Prince of Wales. Sir
William is a powerfully built High
lander, who has seen plenty OF active
service in Afghanistan. ZuluIand, Egypt
and the Soudan, and is a tough Gus
toner in a fight. He Is man of hot
temper. and it required great effort 10
restrain him from thrashing his acenser
on the spot. The latest version of tho
affair differs very much from that al
ready published. Sir William has
very handsome silver cigarette case
which is as bright as mirror. He
laid it on the table in front of
him, and nobody noticed the fact until
he had been winning heavily for some
time. Then one of the losers, VINO was
in bad humor, noticed that as Gordon
Cumming dealt the faces of the
cards were reflected in the cigarette
case. Putting one thing with another he
associated the reflection and the Win
ming together in his own mind and rather
testify asked the colonel of the Scots
FusillerS TO remove it. The scene that
followed is said to have been very dra-
matte. The prince having appealed for
peace for his sake, committee was ap-
pointed 10 investigate and eXoner-
ated the colonel from all blame.
But the Scotchman was so shocked.
it is said, at the imputatOn on his CHAR
acter that he swore in the presence OF
the whole party that he would never
play card again. Absolute secrecy
was enjOined on all concerned, but
nearly every one told somebody
else and it was soon the talk
of the London clubs. Then
Sir William sought redress in a libel
suit and had the prince OF Wales sum-
moned as one of his witnesses. The
heaven and earth for an amicable settle
ment, and present appearances favor
the belief that the suit will not be
tried.
These aristocratic scandals about
cheating at cards and on the race track
are becoming almost as common as
those about women. George Russell
was cousin of the late duke of Bedford,
and son-in-law of the duke of RoX-
burgh, a well-known man ABOUT town,
and a rising Tory politician. Being
secretary of the board of public works
he had control of the government parks
and awaited himself of his power To turn
the keepers lodges into gambling dens.
which he fitted up luXuriously at
the public cost. He realized
handsome profit and finally was caught
cheating at cards at the Turf club and
had to go abroad. He is now in Brus-
sells. where he gives entertainments to
select parties of English ariStocrats who
pass that way. Lord Arthur Somerset,
eX-officer of the guards and eX-equerry
OF the Prince of Wales, son OF the
Duke Of Beaufort, and descendant OF
the Plantagenets, who had to fly
from London on account Of the Cleveland
street scandal, is one Of those who tig-
ure at these parties. The dowager
Duchess of Manchester, who is suOn TO
become Marchioness of Harrington and
later Duchess of Devonshire, when the
husband she left twenty years ago shall
have been dead long enough to save
appearances, says she once caught Rus
sell in the act of cheating. The only
thing that prevented her exposing MIN
at the time was that IL occurred during
the royal visit to KimboltOn.
Another case is that of Walter Hart
ford, brother of Lord Suflield and SON
in-law of the Duke of Grafton. He was
cashiered from the Seventh HusSarS by
the queen for cheating at cards at Nice.
He keeps an elegant country house
at the Croft, WaltOn-On Thames,
and often has for his guests
some or the cream of the
British aristocracy. He obtained large
fortune with his first wife. Sir Will
lam Gordon-Cumming has an income of
912, 900 a year and is bachelor, so that
the wealth of the individual does not
any more than the blue blood prevent
charges of cheating from being made
and believed by social equals.