The sun., 1891-06-10
SIR WILLIAM DEFEATED.
THE JURY FINDS FOR THE DEFEND
ANTS IN THE BiCCIRAT CASE

The Verdict Kissed by the Audience ana
Cheers GO mp for tho Barorct ms Ho Ap-
pears on the Street" Poor Deviiw Er.
claims His Royal llighness when Hs
Hears the News-rhe Judges Charge IL
Against the PiainuG-sir william will
bo Turned Out OF the Army.
LONDON June o.-On this. the seventh and
last day OF the famous baccarat suit, brought
for alleged slander by Sir William Gordon.
Cumming against Mr. and Mrs Arthur Wilson.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett Green, and Mr. berkeley
Levett. same very familiar scenes were
witnessed outside and inside tho Queens
Bench division OF her Maiesty's High Court OF
Justice. Beauty and fashion having sat out
the previous six days OF the baccarat develops
menta. as might be expected. were not to bs
shut out from witnessing the proceedings OF
the seventh day. The Prince of Walcs to the
disappointment OF many. was absent lie was
at tho Ascot races.
The proceedings opened with most sensa-
| ttonal incident. The Lord Chief Justice had
hardly taken his seat when Gen. Owen vii.
lams stepped to tho front OF tho bench and
snfd. his face pale with emotion and his voice
husky with feeling:
My Lord have to ask your protection.
Yesterday Sir Edward Clarke thought prop
| or"
| Here the Solicitor. General. Sir Edward
Clarke. sprang to his feet, aud interrupting
| Gen. Williams. exclaimed:
| i ask your Lordship 10 interfere. Con.
Williams should not be allowed to mako .
| statement as he has not the privilege of
| doing So"
To this Gen. Williams hotly replied in ring
ing voice. all trace Of huskiness having diaap-
| peared under tho influence OF the angry feel.
| inRs which animated him:
| Il was accused OF an abominable CHARGE
| Here the Lord Chief Justice interfered, say.
ing:
Il do no. remember the expression. but I
| do not think that you can be allowed to
| speak"
remarking angrily:
I'VE were accused OF sacrlfcing m innocent
| man. This statement was made without any
evidence being brought forward for Its justifi-
| cation"
Lord Coleridgo again Interrupted the Gen.
oral. remarking. with considerable warmth:
Il cannot hear any statement from you"
| and Immediately commenced his summing up.
| while Gen. Williams retired. frownlng and
greatly discontented. to his seat where he re-
ceived the coincidence Of the friends who had
come with him to court in order to hear him
defend himself from the allegations made yes
terday by the Solicitor General in the latter's
summing up for the plaintiff.
The Lord Chief Justice at the opening OF bis
speech explained to the jury at length tho
difference between an action for sander, as
this one is. and an action for libel. His Lord
ship added that IL the jury found that the dc.
PENDANTS had spoken tho truth their verdict
should be for the defendants. But II the Jury
thought broadly shat the charges they made
were not true. and that Sir William Gordon
Cumming did not do anything wrong while
playing baecarat at Tranby Croft in Septem-
Der last. then their verdict must be for the
plaintiff.
Lord ColeridRe then entreated the jury to
keep their minds steadily on the evidence. and
on the evidence only.
at length the evidence given by the plaintiff,
which evidence. he said, was we'll worthy OF
consideration. The plaintiff. he added. had
his counters on piece OF white paper. and
would have been less likely to be detected II
he had. as the others did. put their counters
on the cloth Of tho table.
During another portion OF his summing up
Lord Coleridge said thnt the Prince of Wales's
presence at Tranby Croft was sufficient to ex-
plain Mr. Lycett Greens objection to creating
a disturbance In the baccarat room or elss-
where by calling attention to the actions which
he objected to on the part OF Sir William Cor.
don Cumming.
"Sir Edward Clarke" snid Lord Coleridge.
had said that the eye saw what the eye OK.
pected 10 see. and undoubtedly IL persons had
their minds set on certain things less proof
was sufficient 10 satisfy them than would be
otherwise needed. But the question was as to
whether. in This case. tho observation referred
to would apply"
"Sir Edward Clarke" the Lord Chief Justice
continued. had commented upon Mr.. Berkeley
Levetts exclamation: Good God Sir William
Gordon Cumming caught cheatinRv But sup
posing that the remark had been: Good
Heavens. the Archbishop OF Nova Scotia. q pre-.
late Of the Order OF the SUM- caught selling Q
living lLaughterl There would have been
nothing unlikely In such an exclamation"
Lord Coleridge also called tho attention OF
the jury to one particular observation which
was made on behalf Of the plaintiff during the
course OF the trial. 1t was to the effect that
thero "was more in the case than appeared on
the surface"
Against this" tho Lord Chief Justice re-
marked. II most emphaticaly protest The
jury has nothing to do with things which are
not on the surface. You have 10 conflne your
self to the single Issue and what you have
heard and what has been proved during the
trial"
When Lord Coleridge had proceeded thus far
with his charge to the Jury the hour OF noon
had arrived. and the court. as usual. promptly
adjourned for lunch.
During the discussion which followed the
OF the Lord Chief Justice the general
opinion arrived at was that the charge was
against Sir William Gordon Cumming,
nothing decisive had been said either
way. Lord Cosridge spoke in quiet. fatherly,
manner to the Jury. and often
In an undertone whom 1t was only possible for
the jurymen and those In the I'm M ed ate vicin.
lty Of tho Lord Chief Justice to hear what he
said. When the Chief Justice defined tho law
Of libel as different from tho law Of slander,
and whom he gave special instructions In re-
gard to he amount OF damages which the Jury
should II they SO desired. assess in event they
found the case for the plaintiff. 1t was consid.
cred TINT Lord Coleridgo's instructions iecid.
sdy favored Sir William Gordon Cumming.
But when the Lord Chief Justice analyzsd
The evidence OF the defendants and that Of
n p.I. Z