THE CARD SCANDAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8585, 5 June 1891, Page 5

THE CARD SCANDAL.

CASE FOR THE DEFEN CEPrena Anociation.—EUetrie T»legraph--~Copyright, i ' London, June 4. The ease for the defence in the baccarat scandal opened to-day. Mr. Stanley "Wilson,, son of Mr. Arthur Wilson, of Tranby Croft, deposed that on the first night (Sept. 8), when the party were playing cards, he saw a £5 counter in front of Sir W. Gordon.-Cumming, and when the latter observed that he had won he opened his hand and dropped another counter on the table. The next time an unfavourable card was, draHvn, and witness noticed tlie•surreptitious diminution of the stakes by the plaintiff with-; 'drawing his hands, and the counter fell in his lap. Witness saw him cheat after this, and he communicated his suspicions to others. Under cross-examination Mr. Wilson said he omitted to take a record of what had occurred, and the statement prepared by General Owen Williams, purporting to show what the defendants saw arid did, was in several respects inaccurate. In opening the defence in the baccarat case to-day, Sir C. Eussell, Q.C., declared that the only* motive which, had induced Sir Wm. Gordon-Uumming to take the present proceedings was the hope .that they might prevent his being expelled from the clubs and from his position in the army. The learned counsel argued that, if the plaintiff was so innocent as he wished the Court to believe, he would ,uofc have so easily sacrificed his honour by signing an undertaking not to touch cards for the rest of his fife, even for fifty Princes. Ho intended to call witnesses who would prove absolutely the dishonesty of the plaintiff. Mr, Arthur Wilson, the owner of Tranby Croft where the alleged cheating took place, minutely; described Sir Gordon Cumming's method of introducing his etake when a favourable card was turned up by the dealer, which created quite a sensation in Court. When witness informed Mr. Bartley Levett of the dishonest conduct, the; latter disbelieved it. They then watched Sir William and were convinced of his cheating. The cross-examination considerably discredited Wilson's evidence owing to. his youth and rawness.