The morning call., 1891-06-09
The BACCARAT CASE
Eloquent Speeches Of the Op-
posing Counsel,
The Prince Of WalsS Severely Scored by
Sir Edward Clarke.
"TOO Late to Save Reputation" - The
Strong Points for The Plaintiff.
Public Feeling Changing
Special to TIE MORNING CALI

LONDON, June S.-When the trial Of the
baccarat scandal case was taken up to-day
Sir Charles Russell resumed his address for
the defense which was interrupted last Sat
urday by adjournment of the court. Sir
Charles commenced by calling attention to
Sir William Gordon Cummings methods of
playing baccarat, saying: IF what Arthur
Stanley Wilson has sworn to took place Ii
excluded all that class Of suggestions of
which 10 trace appeared in the correspond
ence between Sir William. General Owen
Williams and Lord Coventry. to the effect
that the accusation arose from misundeT-
standing the plaintiffs system of play"
Sir Charles said that in his opinion the only
course open to Sir Edward Clarke, leading
counsel for the plaintiff, was to announce
the whole accusation as an invention. This,
he said, would be fatal. 'Was it possible
for an innocent man to adopt the course
taken by plaiRtiff?" asked the attorney.
L" He says be did not ask to be confronted
with the witnesses, because he was advised
not to do so. But the impulse of an honor
able man would have been to insist that his
Rccusers should be brought face to face with
him.
4 POSSIBLE MISTAKE.
"Instead Of this tie jury had placed before
them the feeble suggestion that the wit
pesses mistook 'coups trois' for acts Of cheat
ing If this was so, the plaintiffs conduct
could have been explained. But there was
not a syllable of a suggestion of that kind
uttered at Tranby Croft. The plaintiff
signed that paper and knew that in so do
ing it was the same as an admission OF
guilt" Sir Charles then cleYerly endeav-
ored to discount the arraignment Of the
Wilson family and other members Of the
Tranby Croft baccarat party, which he an
ticipated would be one of the few errors in
the address for the plaintiff, which Sir
Edward Clarke would make for the other
side, concluding with the remark that he
confidently left the defendants case in the
hands Of the jury. being fully aware the lat
ter would do their duty aud their verdict
would uphold the evidence which was given
In their behalf When Sir Charles Russell
sat down there was a murmar of surprise
at counsel for defendants having closed his
address rather Unexpectedly.
COUNSEL FOR TIE PLAINTIFF.
Solicitor-General Sir Edward Clarke, lead
ing counsel for plaintiff, took the floor, and
in a few sentences tersely invited the atten-
ton of the jury. He then commenced by
saying it had been common talk" that the
during the trial Of this suit had been for tue
purpose Of restraining the tongues Of the
lawyers engaged IN the case from comment
ing upon the Prince of Wales connection
with II. Ihis remark caused d sensation,
but II was nothing TO what followed. Con-
tinuing, Sir Edward intimated that the
presence Of the Prince of Wales IN court
would not prevent him from making any
comment necessary, saying that he counsel,
had painful duty to perform, and that he
l..h 20. arf0 tr lssf orvl
His opponents, he continued. had always
been careful 20 allude to him. counsel for
plaintiff, as "the Solicit0T-General," and he
added, while l am proud Of the title, |
must remind the jury uat l appear in this
case simply as an English barTiSter, and l
am Obliged to disregard the friendships, and
even my own interests, and comment on the
conduct aud evidence Of one Of the highest
IN the land"
ATTACK OK THE PRINCE.
Sir Edward Clarke, as he uttered these
words, turned Squarely around until he
faced the Prince of Wales, upon whom
every eve in the court was then fixed and
who nervOusly crossed his legs, while the
audience was utterly aghast at what was
considered TO be the audaclty Of the
SOlIcitoT-GeneraL In several directions
the whispered comment, why, he is
going to attack the Prince OF Wsles! was
distinctly heard. and caused all attention to
be TiVeted upon plaintiffs counsel. Con-
tnuing, the SOiicitOT-General remarked that
Sir Charles Russell, for the defendants, had
said that "eYen if the jury found for
plaintiff and disregaTded the document the
latter had signed at Trauby Croft the mill
taTy authorities would take the matter up,
and that Sir William Gordon Cummings
name would be stricken from the army list.
l wish to say in unmstakable terms, ex-
claimed Sir Edward Clarke, raising his
voice until it echoed tellingly through the
courtroom, that it would be impossible
for the authorities to DO any such thing. and
to leave on that list the names OF the Field
Marshal, the Prince Of Wales, and General
Owen Williams"
THE AUDIENCE AsTONIsHED.
This bold statement seemed to completely
take way the breath of the audience, and
caused by far the greatest sensation Of the
entire trial A huShed murnur Of astOnish-
ment not unmiXed with dismay and some
irritation, swept over the courtroom. One
must thoroughly understand the almost re-
lgious worship Of royalty which prevails
throughout Great Britain to clearly under
stand the full meaning OF the crushing sig
nihCanCe Of the SUllcltOr-GeneraPsW words,
aimed directly at the heir-appaTent. Amid
this storm the Prince of Wales sat on the
bench to the left Of the Lord Chief Justice,
not a muscle of his face apparently twtch-
ing, leaning his head upon his arm and en-
deayOTing to appear totally uncOncerned.
THE CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.
After the sensation had somewhat sub
sided, Sir Edward directed his attention TO
the discrepancies which, he asserted, eX-
isted between the preciS, or memorandum,
drawn up al Tranby Croft, which accused Sir
William Gordon Cumming Of Withdrawing
as well as adding counters to those he h "a
previously siaked at baccarat, and the state
ment ~hich the Wilson family disclaim,
that there was pTecOncerted plan to watch
Cumming on tie second night of baccarat
playing. Sir Edward followed this with the
aTraignment Of tire Wilson's, which was
most severe and cutting. Yes" exclaimed
the Solicitor General, referring to the vii
sons, They undoubtedly have money. but
even if Sit William would cOndescend to
take it from such source, shall not ask
the jury TO Tx damages beyond nominal
sum"
THEY HAD no SUSPICIOUS.
Solicitor General CalsO dwelt strongly
upon the fact that the Prince of Wales,
General Williams and Lord Gov entry all
based their opinions on Arthur Stanley
Wilson's statement, which the latter had
since modified, and upon the fact that the
Prince OF Wales, Lord Coventry and Gem
eral Williams testified there had not been a
single suspicious act upon the part OF Sir
Gordon Cumming. Sir Edward Clarke dl-
lated upon the facility with which people
imagine things when they have been pre-
vlously advised Of their possible existence
and which never really happened. Hs said
there was nothing in the accusations against
~S t's.AA'e4AA tAA1e CotiA uOb Ot ca ttttAVA W
the syStem OF play Cumming adopted, though
the jury were asked to believe that the
plaintiff had descended to adopting the
tricks Of the lowest sharper
THE WILSON FAMILY SCORED.
The SOliclteT-General commented sarcas-
tcaily upon the ornamental position occu-
pied by the head of the Wilson family, who.
counsel said, was not consulted throughout
the proceedings, and who apparently had to
give way to his sOn-in-law, Mr. Lycett
Green, who was deputed to defend the fam
lily honor. "a man of the mature age of 81
years." said tile Solicitor General, cuttingly,
referring to Green-"who rode to the
Ec-,r.-l- DO In ,..anl- % Mhn.. Grnnr.