The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-04-16
THE sAccARAr TRIAL.

One of the most sensational of the
social trials in recent years was that
of the baccarat scandal, which stirred
all Europe during the summer of 1891,
owing to the prominence of those con-
cerned. Even his Royal Highness the
Prince Of Wales. afterwards King Ed
ward VII, appeared in court and testi-
fed.
London society had been rolling I'M
der its tongue as a sweet morsel of
gossip the adventures at the gaming
table of members Of the English aris-
tocracy, which eliminated in suit for
SANDER. The baccarat case was Off
cially known as the suit Of Sir William
Gordon Cumming against Mr.. and Mrs.
Lycett Green. Mrs. Arthur Wilson.
Arthur Stanley Wilson and Berkeley
Levett for SANDER, in which Sir Cor
don sued each defendant for $4,000
damages.
The case grew out of lively little
gathering at Mrs. Arthur Wilson's
house at Tranby Croft, in September,
1890, at which was present the Prince
of Wales, Sir William Gordon Cum
ming and Lady Brooke. Baccarat was
the nightly amusement and the accu-
sation that Sir Gordon had cheated
was made, and although suppressed, as
it was thought, for all time. the "hor-
rible scandal came to light later on.
During the early months of the year
the charges OF his dishonesty came
from time to time to the ears of Sir
Gordon and he decided to put a stop
to it, even If 1t meant a public scan
dial, for only through that means
would he be able to cl;ar his name
Suits were begun as early as February
but the trial was not called until June
l, 1891, in the court at Temple Bar.
At the commencement of the trial
the court room was crowded to sLffo-
cation by as distinguished party as
probably ever was present at a trial
The Prince of Wales was accompanied
by his private secretary. No sooner
was he seated than the jury was sworn
and Lord Chief Justice Col, ridge be-
gan the case.
Sir Edward Clarke opened the case
for the plaintiff. He said the charge
was a most serious one, involving the
honor and affecting the whole futur5
career Of gallant gentleman with
hitherto unspotted reputation. He
then detailed the circumstances of the
famous card party. In detail he ex-
planned the mystery of the game and
in conclusion said that upon the occa
sion referred to the bank" was limit
ed to $500 and that when that was lost
the game was ended.
Then the Solicitor General read the
much-talked-of document which Sir
Gordon signed after the discovery of
his alleged cheating at cards, and in
which he undertook, as the price of
his fellow-players' silence, never again
to play cards. This document was as
follows:
In consideration of the promise
made by the gentlemen who have sign
ed this paper to preserve silence in re-
gard to my conduct at baccarat, |, on
my part, solemnly undertake never to
play cards again as long as live"
This document was signed by the
plaintiff, the Prince of Wales and 9th
ers. The plaintiff was the first to take
the stand. He absolutely denied that
he had cheated, and said that the only
reason he had signed the document was
that he placed such implicit confidence
in Lord Coventry and Gen. Williams,
his friends, who drew it up and insist
ed he should sign to avoid a scandal.
On the second day of the trial the
Prince of Wales was placed on the wit.
ness stand. He detailed what had hap
pened at the gaming table, and when
he was asked by juryman-a rather
unusual procedure, to what was his
opinion at the time of the charges
MADE against the plaintiff, he replied.
They were so unanimous that I had
no other course open to me than to be
lieve them"
Most all of those who were present