CARDS SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1930, Page 8

CARDS SENSATION

TRANBY CROFT CASE

CELEBRATED ACTION RECALLED.

LONDON, May 23

The death of Sir William Gordon Gordon Camming, Bart., at his home at Altyre, near Forres, Scotland, at the : age of 81, recalls the Tranby Croft case, which was the most sensational action for slander ever heard in the British courts. It was heard in 1891, almost forty years ago, .when Sir William sued Mr Berkeley Levett, Mr and Airs Lysntt Green and Mr and Mrs Arthur Wilson. It arose from a transaction against Sir William of cheating while playing baccarat at Tranby Castle. King Edward, then Prince of Wales, was staying,at Tranby Croft at the time, for the Doncaster races, and it was at his suggestion that Sir William wa.s included in ;the house' party.

SEVEN DAYS’ TOTAL

On the night of the accusation, Sir William, who strongly denied his guilt, was persuaded under strong pressure to sjgn an undertaking not to play cards again. All the members of the party save one were bound tc secrecy, hut the matter became known miblicly, and shortly afterwards Sir William issued the writ. The defence was that the accusation was true. It was on the seventh dav of the trial that the Jury, after an absence of only thirteen minutes, found for the five defendants.

“There was silence for a few moments after the verdict was announced,” it is reported, “and thereafter a load hissing in court which the. ushers were, unable to suppress.” The effect of the verdict was, of course, to ruin Sir William socially. He resigned his membership of various clubs and was removed from the Army, but on the da.v following the verdict he was married at Holv Trinitv Church, Sloaue Square, to Miss Florence Josephine Garner, of New York.

PRINCE IN THE BOX

He had been engaged to this lady for a long time, and he offered to release her as soon as the verdict was given. She refused, and the marriage took place by special license. King Edward, as the then Prince of Wales, was involved in the scandal to the point of giving evidence in the case, being detained when he was leaving the witness box by a juror who crossexamined him. It had come out that the counters used for the game were some belonging to the Prince of Wales. They bore his three feathers on the reverse .side, and were taken down to Tranby Croft for the purpose.

The Prince stated in the witness box that he had known Sir William for 20 -years and had entertained him. Ho then described the scene at Tranby Croft after the accusation had been made and was leaving the box when the following conversation took place. The juror asked: Are we to understand your Royal Highness, that you saw nothing of the alleged malpractice ?

. The Prince: When you are dealing, it is very easy not to see, and when you are playing in a. country house you do not suspect anvthing of the sort. Tlu> Juror : W-hiat is your opinion of the charges ? The Prince (with a shrug of the shoulders): There were five of them; I had no other course. The case attracted world-wide attention and it is stated that a precis of each day’s 'hearing'was telegraphed every evening to Queen Victoria at Balmoral. The Queen, it was stated, was verv angrv with evervone 'connected with the case. Lady Gordon Cumming, who had throe sons and two daughters, died in 1922 at Pitmilly, Fife.