Daily camera., 1899-04-15
KING Is IN A SCRAPE.
BELGIAN RULER IN ANOTHER
SCANDAL.
Nay Figure In the Courts Leopold
Creates New Sensation by Protecting
His Partner In Opsrat of Gambling
helia.
Especial Letter.

Especial Letter.)
There never was fairy book king
who was such a picturesquely wicked
old monarch as Is Louis Philippe Maria
Victor Leopold H., king of Belgium,
sovereign of the Independent Congo
states. duke of Saxony, prince of sake
Coburg and Gotha. colonel of the
Twenty regiment OF imperial
infantry. German empire; chief OF the
Royal Prussian Dragons, squadron IA
knight OF the Garter, Knight OF the
Golden Fleece. and knight of the
Black Eagle. Besides these things h
has benign, fatherly beard and rec
ord OF scandals that would make even
the Princess Chimay blush. And now
there is a chance that he may add TO
the crowning glory TO his worthy
clreer by being tried on criminal
charges. At any rate. II he Is not
tried. 1t will be only because the Grim
inal courts dare not prosecute him.
Leopold's weakness for dancers and
other charming and entertaining but
expensive luxurles and dissipations has
been keeping him hard up for many
years. His greed and need for money
led him to go into the gambling hell
business with the devout hope OF
knocking out his royal colleague in
the south OF Europe the prince Of
Monaco. But something has gone
wrong with the old mans calculations,
His wonderful manipulation OF the af-
fairs connected with the gambling
his ears that deputy has announced
that he Will lay the case before the
criminal authorities and hale the dear
old royal offender before court to
answer charges OF fraud and bribery.
II all began with the kings chaste and
Gus watering place. resort equally
famous for its gambling facilities,
With the delightful complacence which
is his peculiarly he used the city prop
erty for the erection of the dens, and
they have municipal protection in the
shape OF policemen. who are posted
before them night and day like SEN
tries. The gambling places have been
enormously popular. SO much 30 that
Leopold has found II possible to add
several choice scandals to his collec
ton, which already was more complete
than that OF any other potentate. The
favorite game is Les Petits Chevau1.
Little Horses" which generally man
aged to get large horses on the persons
who staked their money. The man
who held the government leases for the
gambling privilege was Frenchmau.
warm friend OF the king. and sus-
ricious persons have said for years
that the two were in partnership. Del
loye was paying 36s, 900 francs an
nually for the privilege. This was
known to be a ridiculously low rental.
was ten millions a year. When his
lease ran out, few months ago, the
municipal council OF Ostend. which
has to take the first action on leases
o. this kind declined to renew at the
old figures. Delloye generously offered
ell was bullish. and demanded 600 900
francs. Delloye made a kick That
was foolish. Up bobhed another phi
lanthropist who was willing to pay
l,500.0 900 francs year for the Chris
tian privilege OF winning the money OF
his fellow-men and women. He pro-
duced excellent security for his offer.
but. TO the surprise OF all innocent folk
in Ostend, the virtuous city fathers de-
cllned TO consider the oder. The ex-
cuse was the rather lame one that II
would never do to accept 30 high
rental, as It would shock public opln-
ion to let 1t 90 abroad that the gam
bling privileges were worth 80 great q
sum. Then there began a hght be-
tween the rival gamblers. and the mat
ter was dragged before the house Of
representatives, which has Jurisdiction
over the acts OF municipal councils
The house ordered that the council ad-
vertise for bids. The council said II
would be degrading The house an
nounced that 1t would not let Ostend
gamble at all then. The council be-
gan to cajole. threaten. and. members
OF the house say. to Offer bribes But
syfiss---
,sS, .SSsH