Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-20
FAMOUS TRIALS
THE sAccARAT 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 1881,
 owing to the prominencs of those con- cerned. Even the prince of Wales. afterwafd King Edward VII, appeared
 Il, court and testified.
 Lendon society had been rolling un- der it's tongue as a. sweet n1orSel or
 gossip the adventures of the gaming
 table Of members of the English aris-
 tocracy, which culrninated in a suit officially known as the suit of Sir William Goraan Cummings against MT
 and Mrs. Lycett Green. Mrs. Arthur Wilson. Arthur Stanley Wilson and Berkeley LeVett for islander, in which Sir Gordon sued each defendant for $z5 GOO daInage
 The case grew out of a lively little
 gathering at Mrs Wilson's house at Tranby Croft, in September, 1890, at which were present Prince of Wales, Sir William and Lady Brooke. Baccarat was the nightly amusement and the accusation that Sir William had cheated WAS made and. although sup pressed as 1t was thought, for all time, the horrible scandal" came to light later on.
 During the early months of the year the charge of his dishonesty came
  William and he decided to put a stop to 1t. even if it meant a public scandal for only thfough that means would he be able to clear his name. Suits were begun as eariy as February, but the trial was not called until June 1, 1891. 1 in the court at Temple Bar. Sir Edward Clarke opened the case ! for the plaintin. He said the charge was most serious one, involving the homer and affecting the whole future career of a gallant gentleman with a hitherto uns1otted reputation. Then the solicitor general read the much talked of document which Sir William signed after the discovery of his alleged cheeting 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:
 'Fn consideration of the promise 1 made by the gentlemen who have signed this paper to preserve silence | in regard to my conduct at baccarat tI. on my part, solemnly undertake f never to play cards again as long as | ifve''
 This document was signed by the plaintif, the prince of Wales. and | others. The plaintiff was the first te f take the stand He absolutely denied | that he had cheated, and said that the only reason he had signed the docu- | tSicHl H1S lI1dl iiC PlebNc0 SuCt1 Au1P4C1i confidence in Lord Coventry and Gen Williams, his friends. who drew 1t uT l and insisted he should sign to avoid a scandal.
 I On the second day of the trial the | prince Of Wales was placed on the witness stand. He detailed what had I happened at the gaming table, anc I when he was asked by a juFyman-- a rather unusual procedure. to what was his opinion at the time of the charges made against the plaintiff. hs
 replied They were so unanimous thaf I had no other course open to me thar to believe them"
 Most all of those who were present | at the Tranhy Croft baccarat game testified. Arthur Stanley Wilson. sor I of the millionaire owner of Tranby Croft. swere that he had seen Sir Vii. Ham cheat and described how it wa. done. The greatest day of the tria l was Monday. June 8. when the plain. | tiH7s counsel, Sir Edward Clarke
 scored the prince of Wales, and sait 1 that if Sir Williams name was dropped
 as was suggested. from the army list so also should be those of the prime and Gen. Williams. It was brough I out that the prince was jealous of tn, friendship of Lady Brooke. who wa tconsidered the most beautiful woman
 in England. for Gordon Cummings. The trial ended on June 8 and tn
 verdict was against the plaintiff. Tn audience resented the verdict witt } misses and Sir William was cheere
 by the mob on the streets. It was no
 only his enr socially, but even his ac cusers were ostracised for the wa
 they had acted. The trial had mad { more trouble in the English social SC than had ever before taken place, an
 | Son. Williams. Lord Coventry And tn
 tprince of Wales himself were censuret | because 1t was believed that they ha , acted under the scanty irformatio { and condemned their friend to rui ! to stop peoples mouths and proven scandal snnirching of their own charac
 ters.