THE CARD-CHEATING SCANDAL AT NICE.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 473, 1 June 1875, Page 5

THE CARD-CHEATING SCANDAL AT NICE.

1825, when Lrora de Ros was ignominiously turned out of Crockford's for a similar offence, there was nothing like the sensation caused by the discoveries and now it appears 1875 is not to be without its card-scandal either. This time the scene is not in Grafton-street, but at the " Cerde de la Mediterrannec" Nice. The offender is, however, again an Englishman ; and although he cannot boast a twofold ducal connection, he belongs to one of the best families in Norfolk, and inherits an honoured name in more senses than one. Moreover, he held till last Friday a commission as major in one of Her Majesty's crack" Hussar Regiments. He also was wont to moye in the very cream of society, and during the season; amidst the budget of invitation cards garnishing his mantel-shelf, a Royal " command " to attend a Buckingham Palace ball was rarely absent. Nor was he in less request at Marlborough House, the Royal owner of which did all in his power to promote an alliance last season betwict an American lady of great wealth then in London and the dashing Hussar officer. In this case the game ! played was not whist, but baccarat, a game a good deal like the better known round game of vingt-et-un, the nine card in the former being somewhat equivalent in value to tbe ace of the latter. Several packs are used at a time in playing, and it appears the waiter had the reversion of the cards in this rase as a perquisite. This man was surprised to find on resorting the cards into packs that those used at the table at which this honourable gentleplayed were invariably in excess of tbe legitimate number, and that mines predominated in a most suspicious manner. He reported the circumstance, and a watch was then set by several gentlemen whose names ire household words in London Club Society. It was then estabtished beyond the shadow of a doubt that the gentleman in question came with a set of extra cards already arranged in his pocketbook, so that when he took that out with the apparent object of paying his way at the table, he quietly transferred to his own hand, under cover ot his pocket-book, such cards as were requisite to give his hand the desired value. There is no doubt he had tried this little game on with entire success for some time past. Again and again he had swept the pool into his pocket, and one evening he netted as much as £4,000. His proverbial " good luck" had been a topic of conversation, at the Marlborough for some time past, but Nemesis came at last in the form of the obsequious waiter at his elbow. On the fiasco becoming known his friends moved heaven and earth to obtain for him the value of his commission ; but with a decision and promptitude worth of all praise the authorities made use of their j>rerogative of at once removing nim from Her Majesty's service, on the ground of " Her Majesty having no further occasion for his sei vices — a modern eniphemism foi being " cashered." It was bad enough last year in the case already referred to, but then we at least washed «ur dirty linen at home ; but now the whole Continent is ringing with the fact of an English gentleman, the brother of a "milord," and an officer in the English army, having thus publicly shown himself a cheat and a cardsharper. It is well for society that no attempt should be made to whitewash a stain so foul, or to apply to it a kid-glove treatment. — London Corespondent of the " Dundee Advertiser."