Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-06-06
Tha a.oond par :. Raeearat .

/
Cumming against Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett
Green, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Wilson
and Mr.. Berkeley Leavett for Islander,
began this morning at 10 o'clock with
an almost complete repetition OF the
scenes witnessed yesterday. II any
thing, the rush for admittance to the
queens bench division OF her majesty's
high court Of justice was greater than
on Monday, for everybody looked for
ward to being able to see the prince OF
Wales on the witness stand and TO hear.
ing the testimony which he would give
in regard to the gambling which took
place at the Wilson residence at Tranby
Croft near Doncaster on September {
and 8, 1890.
The entrance OF the plaintiff did not
attract so much attention to-day as 1t
did yesterday. He was as cool and
calm as ever, and ono his soldier-like
face there was not the slightest trace OF
emotion or Of the effects OF the ordeal
through which he passed yesterday.
Like his former friend, the prince OF
Wales, Sir William was perfectly
dressed, booted and spurred, and there
was no denying that an air OF quiet dis
tinction could be seen in his every
movement, gesture and expression.
His cold grey eye flashed contemptu.
ously as he glanced in the direction oil
the defendants.
When the lord chief justice had
given the signal for the days proceed
ings to begin the plaintiff stepped into
the witness box and prepared to an.
swer the questions of Sir Charles Rus
sell. The latter began by reading a
letter written by the plaintiff in answer
to the letter addressed to him jointly
by the prince of Wales, Lord Coventry
and General Owen Williams. This
message was addressed TO Dear Owen
and in it Sir William said that he had
now but little hope before him to make
life worth living, adding, I'm the mean.
time, | suppose that l must try to live
as OF old years"
Pressed by the cross-examining que5-
tons OF Sir Charles Russell, the plain.
tiff said that he took the present legal
proceedings because the Baccarat scan
dial had become public matter of con.
versation and comment and because 1t
had reached the clubs to which he be-
longed, the Turf club and the Marl-
borough club among others, and had he
not taken action in the matter his clubs
would certainly have done so.
Sir Charles Russell then read two let |
tiers from General Williams They were
addressed to Dear Bill" and referred
to complaints made by the plaintiff that
the pledge of secrecy given when he
signed the documents, agreeing never
to play cards again had been broken.
In reply to the defendants counsel's
question, Sir William said that he APP
piled to Colonel Stracy of the Scots
guards in January last for permission
to retire on half pay. Colonel Stracy
replied that the fact that he, the plain. |
tiff, had signed document of the ma
ture OF the one already described could
not be overlooked.
A letter from General Williams to |
Sir William Gordon Cummings was
then read and placed in evidence. It
was addressed MY Dear Bill" and its
contents were that nothing was left to
him, the plaintiff, but to place himself
unreservedly in the hands of his supe-
rior officer, Colonel Stracy, as he had
done. The letter also contained the
You are quite at liberty to tell COL
Stracy that you signed the document
under extreme pressure and promise OF
secrecy"
The witness here said: II have new
er for q moment ceased to deny the ac-
cusation made against me-"
Later on, Sir William denied that he
had said to Mr.. Berkeley Leavctt:
Could you not see that you were mis-
taken?"
A sensation was created at this point
by Sir Charles Russell, who, after hear.
ing this last denial from the plaintiff,
remarked gravely, fixing his eyes stead
lly on the baronet in the witness box:
Colonel Sir William Cumming, you
will have to be careful"
A low murmur OF comment passed
over the people in court as Sir Charles
Russell uttered these words. The
plaintiff evidently noticed the effect
hey had, for almost Immediately after
ne seemed to lose his jaunty careless.
ness. and he acknowledged that he had {
said something of that sort to Mrs.
Berkeley Leavett."
This caused another sensation in !
;ourt and it seemed to be admitted
q word being spoken on the
subject that the counsel Jor the defend
Ints had scored his first real decided
advantage in the legal tilt which had
'een going on for two days between
himself and the soldier baronet in the
witness box. Sir Charles Russell did
lot seem to notice the advantage he had
aimed, but on the contrary appeared TO
'e DESTROYS OF leading the jury's atten-
ion away from this damaging admis-
ion and consequently branched off into
lengthy and somewhat uninteresting 9
rOss-examipation of the plaintiff con.
erning certain letters.
Aftera brief redirect examination
fhn mast Of hA ealtAfka,. | II