New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-08
ROYAL BOARD OF GREEN CLOTH.

The ONCE of Lord Steward of the Household is,
though not the highest in rank, yet the most i'm
portant at the Court of St Jamess, and dates from
the reign of the first of the Norman kings. when
the Lord Steward bore the title Of Grand Senescha
Of the Palace. He receives his charge Immediately
from the sovereign in person, and by virtue OF his
office takes precedence of all dukes who do not
happen to be princes Of the reigning house His
insignia of office is a white wand staff, which
ne carries in the presence of the sovereign, but
which on state occasions, when the monarch is not
present is carried before him by footman, bare
headed. At the death of the sovereign from whom
he has received the white staff he breaks it over
the royal bier at close of the obsequies to ndi-
cate that his office has ceased and that all the Off
cals under him are relieved Of their duties.
The immediate direction of the royal household
below stairs'-that IS TO say the kitchens, the
domestic servants, etc-is in his hands. He is re-
sponsible for the expenditures. for the supplies
etc. and has as his assistants tie Treasurer, the
Controller and the Master Of the Royal Household
who are members of his staff. But virtually his
authority extends the entire court. even over
the chamber the chapel and the stable. since ne
has authority administer Justice over all the
members Of the court and of the royal household
Indeed the so-called Board of Green Cloth, OF
which he is president exercises jurisdiction IN
6enendent of the ordinary tribunals of the land
over all the inmates of the royal palaces and over
the people connected herewith. Indeed ne has the
rights of life and death over offenders and the
mower of selecting jury from among the servants
o
In these modern times It is doubtful whether the
Lord Steward of the Household would be willing
to exercise this prerogatve of sitting in judgment
upon case of felony. such as, for instance, a
murder committed within the precincts of Buck
ingham Palace or of Windsor Castle, and he would
nrobably delegate his authority to of the judges
of the High Court of Justice TO deal with the case.
In fact, he does something of the KIND at the
Ascot races The Ascot race course. as everybody
knows forms part OF the royal domain of Wind
cor and since il has become popular as a race
,,aetinp during the Ascot week, in midsummer II
has been found necessary to devise some means
~ commissioning summary Justice on the spot.
accordingly the Lord Steward of the Household
each wear secures the services of the senior ponce
,,oqietrate OF the metropolis for the Ascot week
"a the MAGISTRATE in question by virtue or the
authority delegated him by the Lord steward
&C +ba Household, holds court in his name in
room provided for the purpose beneath the Srdhu-
s+apd and infcts penalties upon the thieves ana
+o,,ebs who are brought before him charged with
offences committed along the race course
The last occasion on which the Lord Steward
department had to deal with a case OF horllcloe
80 when the mysterious death of Senlis, the
Swiss valet the Duke Of Cumberland alter"''iiS
FIRST King of Hanover, took place IN 81 James
palace The duke the subject OF such general
axecration that public sentiment ola not hesitate
~ Law the crime the door of this most unpopular
IN Of George III But the cOroners jury, recruited
~, the Lord Steward Of the Household from among
no Kings servants, absoved the duke oil all re-
orsibilitv and rendered verdict of murder by
unknown persons.