The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-16

suit. For another person involved. Sir
William Gordon Cumming. It was trag-
edy. He was really victim Of a woman's
spite, the woman being member of the
Wilson family.
The names Of Lady Norreys and Of Lady
Brooke, now countess OF Warwick. have
been frequently connected with this case.
But the part which they played in bring
ing about the social ruin OF Sir William
was inferior in every respect TO that OF
Mrs. Lycett Green. daughter OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur Wilson. For neither Lady
Brooke nor Lady Norreys was member
OF the house party az Tranby Croft al the
time OF the famous game. Lady Brooke
having been prevented at the last moment
from accepting the invitation by the death
OF her stepfather. the Earl of Rosslyn.
Mrs Lycett Green about three years
prior 10 the scandal made herself some
what conspicuous In London by her fir
tations with Sir William Gordon Cumming.
Suddenly the intimacy ceased. Sir William
was no longer seen az her house or in her
company and report had it that the inter-
ruption was due TO his fiekleness. InGg-
nant beyond measure al his deseruon and
also at what she believed TO be lack OF DIS
erection on the part OF Sir William in al
luding at his club TO the affair de occur.
she succeeded in persuading her husband.
parvenu like herself. TO share her re-
sentiment. Mr.. Green is the eldest son and
heir TO Sir Edward Green. an engineer,
whose fortune and title are due TO his in
vention OF patent.
Neither the wilson's nor the Greens were
on terms of personal friendship with the
Prince Of Wales at the time, and 1t has
been stated that Sir Williams quarrel with
Mrs. Green was owing TO his objection 10
make use Of his intimacy with the Prince
TO induct them into the so-called MARI
borough house set
From the moment Mrs. Lycett Green,
her husband, her mother and her brother
were sworn enemies Of Sir William. They
were determined TO get even with him for
the slight which he had put upon them,
as well as for the supercillousness OF hts
attitude toward them. The action of the
Prince Of Wales in inviting him to ac-
company him to Cranky Croft-for he was
the Princes guest. not Mrs. Wilson's
gave them theirs opportunity and their re-
venge took the form most certain 10 be
effective.
When Mrs. Green, her husband. her mo-
Their, her brother and Mr.. Berkeley Levett
declared that they had seen the Baronet
cheating, his position became an unenvi-
able one The statements OF these preju-
diced persons were accepted by the Prince
of Wales, Lord Coventry and General
Owen Williams, in preference to the in
dignant denial Of Sir William, and his fate
was sealed.
How little sure the Prince, the Earl and
the General were OF the truth is shown
by the fact that they bound the entire
house party to secrecy and offered no OBJ
lection TO Sir Williams continuing in the
army, to which they belong, or to the clubs
where they met day after day. ust as if
nothing had happened. Unfortunately
some one-it is generally believed the
Prince OF Wales himself-mentioned the
affair to Lady Brooke, whose fondness for
gossip is sufficiently known by her nick
name OF 'Ba.bbling Brooke" and she. in
turn seems 70 have told her intimate friend
Lady Norreys.
Neither lady liked Sir William, who was
a good soldier, but not of agreeable man
ners, and the consequence was that the in
cident at Tranby Croft soon became TO
such an extent the talk of the town that
the Wilson's and the Greens were called
upon for information, and, unmindful Of
their promise Of secrecy, related the whole
affair. This compelled Sir William Cor
don Cumming 10 bring a suit for libel
against the Wilson's and the Lycett Greens
and it was the fact Of this suit being
thrown out OF court and a verdict render
ed by the ury in favor of tibet defendants
that led TO his social ostracism.
II is doubtful, however. whether he
would ever have been subjected TO social
ostracism had it not been for the attitude
of the Prince of Wales in the mattre. The
Prince OF Wales is the arbiter OF Eng
nsh society, and any one on whom he
frowns is socially dead
Sir William has received many testimon-
ias Of regard and esteem since the 6ac-
carat scandal. His brother-in-Iaw, Lord
Middleton. petr Of unblemished honor
and sterling principle, has stuck 70 him
through thick and thin; a lovely American
girl. Miss Florence Garner, well provided
with dollars, was impelled by a spirit Of
to become his wife at a moment
when marriage seemed nothing but a part
in his disgrace. and when he re-
turned to his native town all his fellow |
citizens turned out en- masse TO assure him |
OF their undiminIshed confidence and re- |
gard