Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-03
Albert Edward Testifies In
the Baccarat Case.
He Is Much Embarrassed By a
Jurors Questions.
The Testimony Given In Studied
and Reluctant Manner.
Sir william Gordon Cummings Case
Hurt by the Princes Evidence-A
Day of Sensations.
Associated Press Dispatches.

LONDON, June 2.-The second day of
the baccarat trial began this morning,
with repetition of the scenes of yes
terday. Long before IL o'clock, the
hour fixed for opening Of the court, all
the seats were filled. Many of those
present brought lunches so they would
not be compelled to lose any part of the
proceedings by going out to eat.
Plaintiff, Sir William Gordon Cum
ming, resumed the witness stand.
Pressed by cross-examination questions
by Sir Charles Russell, plaintiff said he
took the present legal proceedings be-
cause the baccarat scandal had become
a public matter of conversation and
comment, and because it reached the
clubs to which he belonged, the Turf
club and the Marlborough club among
others, and had he not taken action in
the matter his clubs would certainly
have done SO.
Sir Charles then read two letters from
General Williams. They were addressed
to Dear Bill" and referred to COM
plants made by the plaintiff that the
pledge of secrecy given when he signed
the document, agreeing never to play
cards, had been broken. In reply to the
defendants counsel's questions Sir
William said he applied to Colonel
Stracer, of the Scots guards in January
last for permission to retire from the
army on half-pay. He added that
Colonel Stracer replied that the fact that
he (4he plaintiff) had signed document
of the nature of the one already de-
scribed, could not be overlooked.
A letter from General Williams to
Cumming was then read and placed in
evidence. 1t was addressed, "My Dear
Bill" and its contents were that noth-
ing was left to him (the plaintiff) but
to place himself unreservedly in the
hands of his commanding officer, Colo
mel Stracer, as he had done. The letter
also contained the following: "You are
quite at liberty to tell Colonel Stracer
that you signed the document under
extreme pressure and a promise of Sc
crecy."
Witness here said: 81 have never for
a moment ceased to deny the accusation
made against me-"
Later on Sir William denied that he
said to Berkeley Lovett: "Could you
not say that you were mistaken"
A sensation was created at this point
by Sir Charles Russell, who, after hear
ing this last denial from plaintiff, re-
marked gravely, fixing his eyes steadily
upon the baronet in the witness box:
Colonel Sir William Gordon Cumming,
you will have to be careful"
A low murmur of comment passed
fIa -, h.
Charles Russell uttered these words.
Plaintiff evidently noticed the effect they
had, for almost Immediately afterwards
jaunty carelessness, and he acknowledged
that he had said something of that
sort" to Berkeley Lovett. This caused
another sensation, and it seemed to be
admitted that counsel for the defend-.
ants scored his first real decided advanl
tage.
The prince of Wales was next called
to the witness box. The prince gave
his testimony in clear voice and with
an unrufled brow. The prince said:
"I have known the plaintiff for twenty
years, and have been his friend for ten
years. He visited my house several
times. Our intimacy continued unim-
paired until last September. | observed
nothing suspicious in plaintiffs play at
Tanbycroft. was first informed of the
reports current in regard to Sir William
by Lord Coventry"
Continuing, the prince said the sad
event Of the charges brought against
Sir William broke up the party at Tan
bycroft. He (the prince) sealed the
document up, put it in a
parcel and sent it to his Sec
retary, who was not aware of its
contents. The latter, said the prince,
remained IN safe place until sent for
in connection with the present proceed
ings. The document inside the packet,
the prince explained, was a statement
about three gentlemen and two ladies'
Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett Green, Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur Wilson, and Mr.. Berkeley.
The prince said: II did not see any of
the five persons in question until after
Sir William had an interview with me
and denied the charge brought against
him. When [ heard the gentleman's
story several days afterward, Lord Gov
entry and General Williams prepared
statement of what had taken place and
handed it to me-"
Cross-examined by Russell, the prince
was asked: ''Do you recollect whether,
in addition to the three gentlemen re-
ferred to, you also saw Lord Edward
Somerset and Captain Somerset at
Tanbycroft?"
The prince replied: "I believe l did,"
To whom certain statements were
made by the other three gentlemen ?'
asked Sir Charles.
"Yes," replied the prince
"Had you also been informed that |
two ladies whom you did not at the time
see, had alleged they also witnessed
81 was not"
"With reference to this statement"
continued Sir Charles, could you
charge your memory as to whether any
of the three gentlemen said anything
about withdrawing portion of the |
stake, and that Sir William systematic |
ally played the larger stakes on the
table, when he won, than were ordina-
rily played there?"
In answer to this question the prince |
said: 81 do not recollect that any such |
statement was made"
Sir Charles next question was: "Was
The memorandum suggestion of yours
Or another's in which you acquiesced?"
In reply the prince said: "The sug-
yestion did not come from me. l ac-
Iuiesced in the suggestion made by
Lord Coventry. was greatly distressed
1t the occurrence. was present at the
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