St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-04
sLEIGHT OF HAND.
Young Mr.. Wilson Describes the
Baronet's Play.

LONDON, June 3.-A ripple of re-
newed interest was shown upon the part
of the always most attentive audience
gathered in the court of queens bench
to-day when Arthur Stanley Wilson. son
of the millionaire owner of Tranby-
croft, entered the witness box as the
first witness for the defense. Mr.. Will
son testified to the fact that on the first
night of the baccarat playing at Tranby-
croft, Sept. s, he saw red counter, rep
resenting 25, on piece of paper in
front of Sir William Gordon Cumming
on the latter's table. Sir William had
his hands in front of him, and he also
had another e5 counter in the palm of
his right hand. The baronet, ac-
cOrding to this witness, then looked
at Sir Edward Somerset's hand
and. seeing that he held a natural"
and court card, at once dropped the
e5 counter from his right hand, and was
paid on both of the counters he had
thus placed on the table. This eyi-
dence, given by Mr.. Wilson, without
any hesitation and in manner which
seemed to impress the jury, aud which
decidedly impressed the audience,
caused great sensation in the court
room. Continuing, Mr.. Wilson said
that he saw the same thing repeated by
Sir William the same evening, and that
he then told Mr.. Levett that the baronet
was cheating at cards. Mr.. levett said
that it was impossible, and that witness
must be mistaken. Mr.. Wilson added
that he then told Mr.. Levett to watch
Sir William. Mr.. Levett followed his
advice, and he also saw the baro-
net cheat in the manner already de-
scribed. Mr.. Levett, upon being con-
vinced by personal observation that
what Mr.. Wilson said was true. ex-
claimed THAT is TOO hot" Mr.. Wilson
said that he saw Sir William cheat
again. Cumming had G5 counter on
the table, and directly he discovered
that the card turned up was favorable
to him he pushed :e2 counter forward
with pencil which he held in his hand
and was paid e7.
Later on Mr.. Wilson said: II then
told my mother of what had been DONE"
and mother said: '.For goodness sake
don't have scandal here" | then told
her tt at would have proper table
prepared for baccarat playing so that a
repetition of the conduct we had
observed would be rendered i'm
possible. Referring to question
ON 1.-THE subject. Mr.. Wilson SAID that
there was absolutely no agreement to
watch Sir Williams play on the second
night. The table used on that occasion
was long pantry table covered with
green cloth. AS upon the previous
night, the Prince of Wales occupied
the position of banker, and Gen. Owen
Williams acted as croupier. The wit
ness believed that the player again had
some of his counters on the table. Sir
William staked q five-pound counter
and the Prince of Wales gave cards to
Lady Coventry, who took seven,
which was considered a good card,
from the pack. The plaintiff, accord
ing to the witness, looked over Lady
Coventry'S hand and the witness then
saw Sir Williams hand go out
and gradually advance towards the
white line marked on the bac-
carat table. Continuing, Mr.. Wilson
said, amid such breathless silence upon
the part of everybody else in the court
room that literally the dropping of
pin would have been heard, that it then
came round to the Prince OF Wales
turn to take card, and he took one and
said: II am baccarat," the card being
bad. Immediately upon hearing this
Sir William slowly pushed over the
line 9l0 counter. 1t was four inches
away from the original e5 counter. The
plaintiff won and the prince paid
"fyer," overlooking the other counter
which the plaintiff had pushed over the
line. Thereupon Sir William exclaimed,
"Beg pardon, sir, there is another ten
ner' here which you have forgotten.''
The Prince of-Wales said: Il wish
:, n. - =. ------