Noble card cheat

The Court of King's Bench was occupied the whole of yesterday with the trial of the action for libel brought by Lord De Ros against Mr. Cumming, who had accused his lordship of cheating at cards.

The trial excited great interest; and among the distinguished persons present were Lords Lyndhurst, Alvanley, and Wharncliffe. It was charged against Lord De Ros, that at the whist table he frequently contrived to have a violent fit of coughing when his deal came, which obliged him to put his hands under the table; and then it always happened that he turned up an honour; and that the aces and kings in the packs Lord De Ros played with, were frequently marked, slightly but perceptibly, with the thumbnail.

Many gentlemen swore to their having been cheated by these tricks; and some refused to play with Lord De Ros; though others did not shun him after his cheating had been discovered - they sent him anonymous notes of warning, and hoped that he had left off cheating. The play of these gentlemen was very high sometimes; and one of them, Mr. Brook Greville, admitted, that he had made 35,000l. by play; another, Captain Alexander, said, that he was a "better man by 10,000l. for card-playing."

On the part of Lord De Ros it was stated, that he has a stiffness in his finger-joints, which prevents him from playing tricks with cards, though he can cut and shuffle them. The trial was adjourned to this day, and ended in a verdict for the defendant. This was equivalent to the conviction of Lord De Ros of cheating at cards.

The evidence on the second day was quite decisive. Sir William Ingleby swore to the repeated frauds of the peer. He had seen him fifty times perform the trick called "sauter la coupe;" which in effect was, to cut the cards so as always to turn up an ace or a king, when he dealt himself. Several witnesses proved, that the aces and kings of the packs which Lord De Ros had played with were marked. The persons who gave evidence against Lord De Ros were generally professed gamblers; but no evidence was adduced to prove, that they had any spite against his lordship, or that any conspiracy had been formed to ruin him. There never was a clearer case against any delinquent; and the jury only took fifteen minutes to determine upon their verdict.

The noble lord left England for Rotterdam next morning.