Author: W. Teignmouth Shore (1865-1932)

Introduction Alan Dershowitz

Publisher: The Notable Trials Library, Gryphon Editions (c. 1992) Facsimile of Edinburg and London edition of 1932 with new introduction by Dershowitz

Format/Condition: New quarter leather volume is in fine condition. Glare in photo is from shrink-wrap. 294 pages with illustrations and 2 appendices-trial transcripts

Description: British nobleman, Sir William Gordon-Cumming, a close friend of Prince of Wales, Albert, accused of being a card cheat. Controversy surrounded the presiding judge and verdict in the resulting defamation case. The Prince of Wales himself had participated in the notorious baccarat game and was called as the plaintiff’s primary witness.

In 1891, a petty baccarat squabble broke out between the Prince’s partner and another player. Bertie’s partner admitted guilt to accusations of cheating and paid up what he owed. The entire party present was sworn to a silence pledge about the incident. However, news of the squabble became public and Bertie’s partner filed a suit of slander in court. Consequently, the Prince of Wales was called as a witness for his partner.

In Victorian times, gambling card games were looked upon as common and even sinful. When the public was made aware of Bertie’s habit of playing cards, the outcry from the Victorians was loud and disapproving. Some subjects cried that they did not want any “gamblers” as king. Royalty and nobility were thus on trial, along with the games they played, the rules they played by, and the company they kept.

One newspaper, in an account of the affair, stated:

“…while over the throne a black shadow of a ghastly spectre has fallen. Among us has risen a second George IV in the heir to the throne of this vast Empire … the heir to the throne publicly acknowledging complicity in gambling transactions. "

This beautiful volume has the hallmarks of the best of the bookbinding craft and contains the classic trimmings. Gryphon is the leading publisher of the classic works of Law, Medicine, Science and Political thought. The volumes are exact facsimiles of the original classic works.