The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-04
The Baccarat Case Continues to
Interest
A VERY ARISTOCRATIC AUDIENCE
The Evidence Strongly Tends to Convict Cum
ming Of Cheating-Arthur Stanley
Wilson's Testimony.

PENDANTS, commenced his address on behal
of his clients.
"There were nine persons concerned il
this melancholy business" said Sir Charles
''all of whom have known the plaintiff
Cumming for many years. The plaintiff
admitted he said his accusers were acting
conscientiously in this matter and the Jury
would find it impossible to believe those
persons were mistaken in regard to the
character of plaintiffs conduct on the
nights of the oth and 9th of September,
1880. The plaintiff had admitted they were
all persons of honor and honesty, and hav-
ing made the charges they adhered to them
and the plaintiff had not asked 10 be con-
frOnted with either of his accusers. OBJ
lection to secrecy came from Lycett Green,
who asked that the matter be thrashed out
then and there in order to avoid the posi-
bility Of the plaintiff afterward repudiating
| the charges. The plaintiff had signed de-
grading, humiliating document and he Gid
not take steps to bring his slanderers TO
Justice until he found himself in another
tight place. Then he turned upon those
who had been quiet and prepared to keep
their agreement, though in their eyes he
was oishonored man."
With this remark Sir Charles seemed to
take up another line of argument, for he
said, looking earnestly at the jury: And
now how about the three principal actors
and plaintiffs action in regard to them
Doyou, gentlemen of the jury, doubt that
the plaintiff knew each of those gentlemen
believed him guiltyl He knew that in their
eyes he was no longer in the category of
honorable men. Was il conceivable that an
innocent man under such circumstances
should bear such an odious burden upon
him! The defendants would tell the Jury
their mouths remained closed in this mat
ter until January z. 1891, four months after
the baccarat games at Tranby Croft, when
Sir William made an attempt through
Berkeley Lavett, ole of the witnesses, TO
secure modification or withdrawal OF the
charges. The defendants said they were
prepared to substantiate the charges which
they had made against Sir William Gordon
Cumming"
Sir Charles Russell then laid special
stress upon the peculiar circumstances
under which the action was brought and
referred at length to the interview which
Sir William Gordon Cumming had with
Lieutenant Levett, who was subaltern in
plaintiffs regiment, and who, being asked
by Sir William to do what he could with
Mrs. Arthur Wilson in regard TO the bacca-
rat scandal, replied that he could not dis
believe MS own eyes, though, he added, ne
would gladly do anything for the sake OF
Sir William and for the sake Of the regi-
ment to which they belong.
plaintiffs conduct" Sir Charles con-
tinued, lat no stage OF this distressing
story has been the conduct Of an innocent
and honorable man. No innocent and
honorable man would have laid quiet under
the charges made against the plaintiff, or
signed the confession which plaintiff
signed"
Counsel for the defendants then said
the prosecution was brought only when
the plaintiff failed in his efforts to secure
his retirement on half pay from the army.
He dilated upon the innocent nature of the
Tranby Craft card party and the mild
character Of the baccarat games played
there He said one of the satisfactory re-
suits Of this case has been the dissipation
of the absurd notions which have been
formed IN regard to the occurrences at
Tranby Croft.
In describing the events which took place
Sir Charles said Arthur Stanley Wilson
witnessed repeated acts Of cheating on the
part of Sir William Gordon Cumming, and
that when he (Wilson) turned to Mr..
Berkeley Levett and whispered Cumming
is cheating" the latter replied: Nonsense.
You are mad.'' 'But," added Sir Charles,
Berkeley Levett, after receiving this
communication paid attention to the game,
watched Sir William Gordon Cummings
play and saw for himself that what Arthur
Stanley Wilson had said was true. After
Mrs. Arthur Wilson, and Mr.. and Mrs
Lycett Green Of what he had seen while
Cumming was playing, and they agreed on
the following night to have for bacarat
playing properly marked table with line
upon it beyond which the players stake
must be placed.
At the request Of Sir Charles Russell.
models of the whist tables used each night
at Tranby Croft in September for playing
baccarat in default Of regular baccarat
tables, with the position of the players es-
pecially marked upon them, were produced !
Sir Charles Russell also caused the Jury to !
be shown photographs of the rooms at
TranDy Croft where the now historical |
games of baccarat were played. The Jury |
men examined these exhibits with a great
deal Of care, asked questions about the |
games, position OF the players, ETC., and !
conferred with each other upon several |
points which were raised by the production |
of the exhibits. Sir Charles also dwelt |
upon the fntricacies Of the game Of bac- !
carat, and explained to the jury that from |
the positions which, as they could see from |
the tables, the players occupied, it was ut
terly impossible for the witnesses 20 be \
mistaken as to the conduct with which Sir /
William Gordon Cumming was charged. 1t /
was noticed the Prince of Wales and Sir |
William Gordon Cumming followed Sir |
Charles speech with great attention and /
deep interest
Continuing Sir Charles said: "The
precis which had been drawn up in regard |
to the baccarat scandal, said that the plain
tiff should be watched. Beyond the |
marked table, however, there was no con-
cert of action Of any kind, but all who knew
the story of the previous days play and
Sir William Gordon Cummings actions
saw the latter repeat the actions COM
planned Of"
Renewed interest was shown upon the
part of the always most attentive audience
gathered in the court of Queens bench
when Arthur Stanley Wilson, son OF the
Millionaire owner of Tranby Croft, and
! leading stakeholder of the well known
Hull, London, and New York, and many
other ports, entered the witness box as the
irst witness for the defense
Wilson testified to the fact that
IN the first night of the baccarat
playing at Tranby Craft in September, he
Jaw red counter representing e5 on .
piece Of paper in front OF Sir William Cor
Ion Cumming. When the latter's tableac
Won, Sir William had his hands in front OF
lin and he also had another Is counter in
he palm Of his right hand. The baronet,
according to the witness, then looked at
Sir Edwards Somerset's hand and seeing
Nilliam) at once dropped the e5 counter
rom his right hand and was paid ON both I
4 the counters. he had thus placed ON
able. This evidence was given by Wilson
without any hesitation and in q manner {
which seemed to impress the Jury and |
Which decidedly impressed the audience ii