The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01

Islander against the people who had caught
him in the act OF playing unfairly ut
cards and who had attempted to hush
up the matter in just the same way as the
Comte dc Saint German and his fellow
members of the Paris Jockey Club had
acted with regard to lie Vavasseur. In
the Gordon Cumming case. however, the
unfair play was detected not in any
London club but at Tranby Croft. the
country seat OF Arthur Wilson. the great
ship owner Of Hull. King Edward. then
Prince Of Wales. being among tho guests
and also one Of the memorable card
party.
II was the hostess. that is to say Mrs
Arthur Wilson. and her children who
detected Sir William in the act Of cheat
ing during u game Of baccarat and who
then and there. unmindful of the presence
of the heir apparent. charged the Scotch
baronet with the offence. The charge
was supported by the other players.
among whom were the Earl OF Coventry
and the late Gen. Owen Williams. both
of them thorough men of the world and
on the committees OF several Of the best
clubs in London. These two at once
called attention to he necessity OF pre-
venting the affair from becoming public.
realizing the harm that would ensue IL
the name OF the Prince OF Wales should
be connected with the affair even In
directly. Accordingly all present bound
themselves to secrecy and undertook to
refrain from saying word about the
matter, extracting n pledge. however,
l. a. Ion, M tlU a
he would never in his life touch a card
again.
For several months the secret was well
kept. Then there was an indiscretion.
which was laid by rumor at the door OF
tho lady who is now Countess OF War
wick. then Lady Brooke Whether she
WAS really at fault i'll the matter or not
il IL difficult to say. For in spite Of all
that has been asserted to the contrary
she was not member OF the 1ranby
Croft house party for the Doncaster
races and never indeed crossed the
threshold OF Tranby Croft in her life.
II she gossipped about the matter in such
a MANNER a. to win for herself the name
of the babbling Brooke she must have
heard about Gordon Cummings offence
from some one who was actually present
at the game.
Anyhow the story became current in
London society to an extent that led the
officer, of Sir William Gordon Cummings
regiment, the Scots Guards. and the com
mitteos of the clubs to which he belonged
e. call upon him to clear himself Of the
inn utations against his honor. A refusal
t. do 81 would have been an admission
Of guilt 50 he was COMPELLED To bring
charges Of SANDER against the hostess
of the Tranhy Croft house party. namely
Mrs Arthur Wilson, a. being chiefly re-
sponsiblc for the injurious rimors con-
corning his character The case came into
court. and the various members of the
bacclrat party at which the cheating
was discovered were cited as witnesses,
among the number being the Prince of
Wales The latter. following Lord Cow
entry and Gen. Williams. took his place
ia the witness box like any ordinary citi-
zen. submitted to animation and cross
cxaHnation, his testimony. given most
reluctantly. being. like that Of Gen
Williams and of the others present at
the game, Of most dana ging nature 10
Sir William Gordon Cumming
The result was that the jury gave a YER
dict in favor Of Mrs Wilson and against
Gordon Cumming. which was equivalent
To the judicial esta hlishmCnt Of his guilt
of the charges of unfair play So AZ any
rate it was regarded 10y all the clubs to
which he belonged and which proceeded At
oner to drop his name from their roster
while few days aftorward the OficiGi
Guzstio contained a brief paragraph to the
effect that the Queen. having no further
use for his services, had deprived him
of his commission and had ordered his
removal from the list of the officers of
her army.
OF course the trial made an enormous
sensation of world wide character
most distressing in every way to the then
Prince of Wales, who was asSailed by the
purta meal element. both at home and
ahroad in the most savage fashion for
having taken part in so wicNed form of
gambling n hccarat. He foit il so
keenly indeed that h" was led to address