THE COOK WHO WOULD A-GAMBLING GO

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 25

THE COOK WHO WOULD A-GAMBLING GO

TJie sole topic of conversation in cer-j tain exclusive London society gaming clubs, of Kensington and Knightsbridge recently was of one of their members who had turned out to be a cook-general. The revelation took place in Westminster Police Court earlier in the day when a Danish woman, who was stated to have married an Englishman last Junej was sentenced to six months' in the second division for stealing jewellery, including a diamond necklace valued at £900, from her employer, Dr. Ferdinand' Quippner, of Queen's Gate, South Kensington, says the "DaiJy Mail."

She was Gudron Cavendish, aged twenty-nine, of King's Eoad, Chelsea. Detective-Inspector Somerset stated that Cavendish had a passion for bridge and, went to bridge clubs and mixed with people far beyond her own social position. A "Daily Mail" reporter, who set out to .investigate the career of this astonishing servant, learnt of no fewer than five clubs, given over to either poker or bridge, or both, where "Mrs. Cavendish" had been a regular player. ..

To each of these clubs she gained admission through the introduction of members of other clubs. At each

she played recklessly and lost consistently.

Two- of these resorts -were -within a few hundred yards of the flat where she was employed as cook and general housemaid. To support her story of wealth and position she sometimes took her "club friends" back to her employer's flat for coqktails when her employer and his wife were away.

The secretary of one of the clubs said: . '

"She seemed to have no idea of the value of cards and plunged recklessly on any hand. In one club towards the end of her career she lost over £30 in one night. Some members refused to play with her because of her recklessness.

"She never wanted to stop and would go on from one club to another until 4 a.m.

"She used to say that her family was in a very high social position in Denmark and that she had an allowance of fSO a week from her father. When she was unable to pay her debts she said it was because her father had stopped her allowance as the result of her gambling, but assured us it would soon be resumed.

"Sometimes she came with a man, apparently much younger than herself, whom she introduced as her husband. ■

For her employment as cook Mrs. Cavendish received 25s a week and her board lodging.