The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-05

courtroom TufnOr Also mas IL thtt OH VII
/ liam Gordon Cumming is determined 70 be
| reyenged for some reason or other upon tho
! Prince of Wales and upon young NJ. Wilson,
whose II really don't remember Sir Edward"
and cool II fancy so' series OF replies had al
most disconnected the solicitor-general, able
and experienced lawyer as he Is.
Young Mr.. wilson for the hrst time fet un-
easy in the witness-box when Sir Edward
Clarke quietly asked:
Had Won ever before the evening of Sep
tember sth used the counters you played with
during the course of that evenings"
Upon hearing this question young wilson
| flushed nervously glanced toward the Prince
| of Wales. who was closely following the tes-
timony. and replied somewhat hesitatingy,
"0r with any similar counters?" asked the
sollctor-general, insinuatlngly.
mo: not 20 the best Of my recollection"
] Mr.. Wilson answered
Returning TO the charge Sir Edward Clarke
asked Had you ever seen these counters be-
fore the evening of the oth?'
No" was the young gentleman's reply.
BELONG TO THE PRINCE
DO you know whose property they are;"
finally asked the soictor-general, amid pain.
full silence throughout the court, and during
which the witness again glanced in the drec-
ton of the spot where tho Prince OF Wales
was seated.
Yes" Mr.. Wilson answered slowly. as II
sorry to have made the admission.
Whose property are they.' was SIR Edward
| Clarke's next question.
After moments hesitation Mr.. Wilson
slowly replied: They belong to the Prince
of Wales
A movement of relief as if period Of SUBJ
dued agony was over passed through the court
room when tins piece Of evidence was placed
ON record. Nobody doubted after Sir
Edward Clarkes first question in this
| direction what the solicitor intended
TO draw from the witness, and few people were
| in the dark as 10 what young MIR. wilson's
| final reply to this series of questions would
! be. Nevertheless everybody teit relieved
when the murder was OUT and the audience
then INDUCED in one OF those short periods
of animated whispered comment which
during the trial have always followed the de-
velopment of some important point in the
case.
BERKELEY LEvErT TEsTIFIEs.
Mr. Berkeley j. Levett, lieutenant in the
Scots Guards, the regiment OF which SIR Will
liam Gordon Cumming was major and leuten-
ant colonel, and one of the defendants IN tho
suit brought by the latter in consequence of
the occurrence at Tranby Croft in September
/ last was the next witness. Lieutenant Levett
appeared TO be pale and very nervous. evidently
dreading the ordeal through which he ex-
| pected TO pass Replying TO Sir Charles
! kusselrs questions, the witness said that he
was lieutenant and that he had known Sir
| William Gordon Cumming intimately since
1885 The lieutenant in substance then
confirmed young Mr.. Wilson's tes-
tmony in regard to what took
place at Tranby Croft on September sth,
! gth and 10th lie said that when on the first
night Mr. Arthur Wilson told him of Sir Will
liam Gordon Cummings strange actions while
! playing baccarat, and then told him TO look
| for himself and become convinced that the
baronet was cheating he did as requested,
and saw the plaintiff, on the second or third
! coup. handle his counters as already detailed,
and when the banker declared coup, Sir
! William Gordon Cumming added two more 10
counters and was afterwards paid 1l5 for
! them.
The witness was absolutely certain that
| after three more cOups he again saw Sir Will
liam Gordon Cumming add another f5 coun-
ter 10 his stakes after the banker had declared
I the cards.
DAMAGING STATEMENT
Witness thon testified that he was present
! at the interview IN which MIR. Lycett Green
made the statement to the Prince OF Wales OF
what had been discovered On that occasion
| the Prince. turning to witness, said: Il be-
! heye you, too saw IT," To this remark wit
ness had replied: We'll. I'm in an awkward
position. We are in the same regiment and
he (Sir William Gordon Cumming) was my
captain"
Witnesses had faithfully kept the compact
of secrecy
The plaintiff had asked the witness: Gould
not you say you were mistaken = The latter
replied: II would for your sake and for the
/ regiment but Lycett Green won't saw you
/ adding counters"
As the witness made this most damaging
statement he appeared to be profoundly agi-
! tated while the now oppressive silence was
broken by no other sound than that OF Lieu
| tenant Leyetts voice a. In subdued ana fal-
tering tones he thus damned the reputation or
] foil la
sensational points ia the trial.
| The witness went On 10 say that al the re-
quest OF the plaintiff he had consented TO SEQ
Mrs Wilson and learn what II anything.
could be done 10 save Sir William from ex-
posure Plaintiff urged witness to do alt pos
sible to avert the impending catastrophe BE
sides this plaintiff subsequently wrote witness
| reminding him Of his promise 20 do all he
could in his behalf After plaintiffs counsel
threatened witness with action Tor libel W.T.
ness met Sir william. " no said that the afsir
was desperate conspiracy. When witness
referred TO the receipt of letter from Sir VIII
| ham's lawyer threatening the action for hoei
the plaintiff responded that that matter would
not be followed up.
ROss-EYAAnsED.
The cross-examination of Lieutenant
| Leyett developed nothing new OF material
importance and entirely failed TO shake his
direct testimony. The story of the proceed
| luES at liauDl OIDli. 40 icAalSh ~
Leyett, were in startling contrast 10 the
version given by Sir William Gordon Cum
| ming.
Mr. Lycett Green, the son-in-aw Of Mrs
Arthur Wilson and party defendant 70 the
suit was sworn Witness confirmed the teeti-
mony given 10y Mr. Arthur Stanley Wilson so
far As It referred TO his part in the matter at
| issue.
While this witness was giving his testimony
the foreman of the jury handed 10 the Court
"A letter which he had received containing
threatening language. Mr.. Green, the wit
ness, then informed the Court that he had re-
ceived similar letter. The Court consld-
cred the matter unmportant, and the witness
went on TO describe the second nights play.
when he had seen the plaintiff push counters
over the line when the cards were IN his favor.
The impulse of the witness was TO expose
! the matter then and there. but he resisted on
account of the presenceo of the Prince and tho
ladies. but he left the room and sent note 70
Mrs. Wilson saying - have caught Sir
| William G0rdon-Cumming cheating, and
cannot remain in the room longer. Some
thing ought 10 be done 10 stop the game"
| Later witness had asked TO be confronted
with the plaintiff if the latter denied his
guilt.
Mrs. Green. one Of the proceeding wit
| nesses. Twas next examined and gave substan-
tally similar testimony rs 10 the main facts.
The court then adjourned for the day.
sfR GORDON ENGAGED TO NEW YORK ofEI.