The critic., 1891-02-20
THAT BACCARAT SCANDAL.
Another Account of the Charge Against
Sir Gordon Cumming.

Sir Gordon Cumming.
NEW York, Feb. 20.--The Tribune this
morning publishes the following over the
signature Diplomats"
Ny knowledge of the career both in
London and OH the Nile of Sir William
Gordon-Cumming whose acquaintance
shall, at any rate for the present, con-
tinue to regard as an honor, convinces me
that Mr.. Yates has been Intentionally
inisinformed of the facts In the case and
that the following account, emanating
from member of what Is known in Lon
don as the Marlborough House set is
the correct version. According to the
latter the original charge against Sir Will
liam was to the effect that he had made
use of silver cigarette case with n highly
polished lid for the purpose of securing q
reflection therein of the face of the cards
which he was dealing out.
IL Is asserted that one of the persons OF
the party was ill-bred enough to be put out
Of temper by his losses. caught sight OF the
cigarette case in question, and gave vent
TO his ill-humor by bluntly requesting Sir
William to remove IL from the table. Sir
William is blessed with notoriously short
temper, and stormy scene ensued, which
resulted in the matter being submitted to
the arbitration of General Owen Williams
and Lord Coventry. The question which
they were called upon to decide was as to
whether Sir William had taken any UNI
fair advantage of the reflection of thecards
upon the polished lid of his cigarette case.
While, on the other hand, Sir William
had been an extensive winner on this
particular evening, IL must, on the other
hand, be borne in mind that he is a bach
elor, in possession of estates yielding him
net income of some 100000 or $4,000
year. II is difficult therefore, to under
tn, hat t,,I, In I'M nj
have had to cheat, least of all by so vulgar
and transparent method as ia poucette"
Had he been caught cheating in this man
ner, no question could have possibly
arisen as to his guilt, and he would long
ago have been dismissed the army and
expelled from the clubs.
The very fact that he still belongs to the
Marlborough and Guards clubs, and that
his name is still retained on the rolls OF
the army, is sufficient to prove that con-
siderable doubt exists as to his guilt. Up
to the present neither Lord Coventry nor
General Owen Williams the two arbitra-
tors, has made any public statement with
regard to the matter, nor has the Prince
of Wales. And II is manifestly in favor
of Sir Williams innocence that he should
have subpnnaed all three to testify in
brought against the persons to whose ma
levolence he has traced the rumors that
are current affecting his honor.
The names of these persons carry weight
only by reason of their wealth. which is,
indeed, the chief and almost only rais0n
Fctre of their acceptance by London
society. Sir William, who is the head of
one Of the most ancient families of Scot
land, and who has until now been known
as an officer of distinguished gallantry
and of the most unsullicd honor, very
justly asserts that his name and his past
consideration equal at least to that ac-
corded to his somewhat parvenu calum-
niators; and there is disposition, both on
the part of his brother officers and of the
London public in general, to regard HIM
as the victim of particularly malignant
SANDER