Caught Gambler Cheating

Nebraska State Journal - 11/03/1909

NEW YORK, Nov. 2 1909- The exposing of a cheating gambler in the smoking room of the liner Krom Prinzessin Cecelie last Sunday night by Captain Grandville Fortescue, formerly of the United States Army, created consternation on that vessel. The story was told today when the vessel docked.

Sunday night Fortescue entered the smoking room. Four men were shaking one die, the aggregated highs of five throws getting the money. For an hour Fortescue watched the game. One young fellow won constantly. Suddenly Fortescue seized one arm and held it high in the air exposing to view the fact that the man had loaded dice secreted in his right hand.

P.J. Lipscomb, another passenger, declared he had seen the gambler using loaded dice, and stuck him. Fortescue prevented further trouble by threatening to beat the gambler into unconsciousness if he moved again. Captain Hogemann of the steamer ordered the gambler to remain away from the smoking room.

Fortescue resigned from the Army in 1905. He is a cousin of ex-president Teddy Roosevelt, and was a corporal in Roosevelt's "Rough Riders" during the war with Spain, later becoming an officer in the twenty-sixth volunteer infantry. He was detached from that regiment in 1903 and sent to the White House as an aide to President Roosevelt. He declared when he resigned from the Army that he intended entering business.

Some of the passengers declare that there was a sharp fight between the ex-officer and the gambler and the Fortescue had all the better of the argument.