The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-27


ITSELF laooring under an International
reputation as handler and safer
gambling centre than the prlnc!pality of
Monaco. But even wose ;h3n this was
the discovery that the gambling hell
owners. In order 10 faci..ia their ne
faricus opera ions. had engaged in a
wholesale system of corruption. The
Independence Beige has charged many
mun.cip5 officers and men of high po-
litical and social standing with being In
tnt way of the ganDieis. A lavUrite
method of cor. upton has been TO buy
the services Of the public men mem
ber= of Parliament lawyers. Aldermen.
etc. a: presidents and cha!rmen of COM
mittees in The so-cal ed private clubs.
Generals in the army have been seen
presiding at annual baRQuets held By
these organizations. Last Noven ber
Independence Beige and LIE Petit Blue
commenced a camp3ign against this
public scandal ap'opos of n hill then
pending in the Senate proposing to i'm
pose tax CT half milton francs u
year upon al private clubs where gam
bling was carried on.
Very soon II was announced that ac-
ton had been initiated against the own
ers of Chaudsfontaire club for swindl-
ing and robbery In that they issued 25-
frame :harcs and sold them al ex.: ava
giant premiums upon the strength of the
most lying statements TGe acts oI
swindl!ng were alleged to have been
commt ted In the clubs themselves
Burgonas;er Burden was accu ed OF as
Sisting in foisting this club on IA laci-
oas public on the plea that Il was
good speculation for the municipality.
but really from motive: of self-inierest
These allegations were followed by the
serving upon LIE Peti; Blue wis for
libel by Burgomaster Burden, by NJ
Eansa Sire!ber.. one of the presidents of
the club named; BY Romulus De Mar
cell. managing director of the club
and finally by the English Chaudfon-
taine Club and Casino Complny. Bur
den claims 5000 franc: damages. and
he others each $1,000. There IS good
:easGn 10 believe that before these ac-
tions can be commenced. Ban:l S.re!-
beT. Marcelli and the others who are
connected With the management Of the
club Will be in prison for their criminal
actions, but Burdens suit WI doubt
les be tried In due course, and NJ. Harry
promises plenty of interesting reNeia-
t.on:.
AS for the English company. 1t is be
yond doubt bogus fair, formed solely
10 enable the issue of 25-franc share :.
hsure which is not allowed by eithe.
Belgian or French law The company
has never been registered in EngllId
and 1t: only London habitat;on is q
small room in back street. OF the c..y,
which nobody eve. seems 20 ue BY
way of a bluff. however. the company
has issued notices 20 lis sw!ndled share
holder; 20 attend meeting in London
next Monday. The meeting VII he the
hrzt ever held, but the meeting pl lce Is
not stated. |. can scarcely be held in
the small room aforesaid, because tina;
Ls not large enough TO swing cat in.
Despite his uncertainty however. a
number OF French and Belg.4n share
holde:. arrived in London to-day. ap-
paren;ly posses cd OF some vague hope
Of getting the directors OF the club ar
rested on the spot
AS TO the position OF affairs in Bel
gum itself, the Government has been
moved 10 take acton. Several cercles
prive: have been SUNNI lrily closed. and
their managers are awaiting the tIil
on various charges. 4 number Of for
e!Sners Of doubtful reputation have been
expelled from the country. and there has
been demonstration of feeling among
the m unic!pal officers implicated In the
scandals who e anxious to r.d them
'a'"es e all CONNER, i0n wnh The q
clubs. But great many more than this
Will have to be done If Belgium is to be
thoroughly pursed.
ANOTHER ROBBER RAID.
The Independent traders Of Liverpool
nave long been jellous of the exclusive
trading rights enjoyed by the Royal
Niger Company on the west coas; OF Az
rica. Th: feeling ha: found vent. In
various forms. and the la. est is a strong
y. est u LORD Salisbury against the
formid BILE expedition the Niger Com
pany has organized, and which Is nov
Ueen" mon1poi.zed at. Boany. This
q" 7uw ert reveal - authority nj Jane.
Pinnock. former director OF the Niger
Company. the real oujec; OF the eXpedl-
ton, aHoC'. which 50 much secrecy has
been m Unnamed. lie declares that the
goal of ;he expedition is the Nupe coun.
Try. and though the attack is being
made with the ostenslble objer: OF put
.ng dc'Sn slave y, IL Is more than hint
ed that the real obiac. is nothing short
r' rohher' rlid. repet!iinn of the
Jameson invasion of the Transvaal
s.DE .ns;eau OF The Boer it is the de-
spised negro who Is TO be attacked.
The Nupc country is a pan OF the c.ea
Cockaoo empire. in which the cavalry
10. ce alone amounts TO $4,000 men. while
me infantry are a.mo counties.
While on the river Win ,heir armed
ooa;s and MaXims. the Niger forces Will
be able 10 take care of themselves. bu:
should hey attempt 10 penetrate the
country and be attacked in broken
ground. then the complete annih!ll:!on
or the Niger men is clearly prophes!ed
by Mr.. Pinnock
There are twenty English Officers
serving with the expedition. and VIVA,
Liverpool Is asking IL these men are
wipe1 ou;, which seems probable. Is the
Engiish Government going to send an
aNcHe!hS expedition 10 holster up the
waning prestige of the Niger company?
mai some other thoughtful men out
.ide OF Live: pool are zskirE l.. If The