The Lamar register., 1891-06-13
NOT AFRAID OF THE PRINCE.
Sir Edward Clarke Talks Plainly t'
His Royal Aighness.

Sir Edward Clarke who is counsel
for Sir William Gordon Cummings in his
suit for libsl in the bacearat scandal,
created great sensation in his closing
speech to the jury by handling the Prince
of Wales without the customary amount
of defereace.
Sir Edward Clarke commenced by say
ing that it had been the common talk''
that the Prince OF Wales continual pres
ence in court during the trial of this suit
had been fer the purpose OF restraining
tine tongues OF the lawyers engaged in the
case from commenting upon the Prince OF
Wales connection with it. This remark
caused a sensation, but It was nothing to
what followed further utterances of
counsel for the plaintiff
Continuing. Sir Edward Clarke inti-
mated that the Prince OF Wales presgEce
in the court would not prevent him from
making any comment necessary, saying
that he, tue counsel. had painful duty to
perform and that he intended to perform
it honestly and fairly although it might
prove detrimental TO his interests to
do so.
Sir Edward Clarke, as he uttered these
words, turned squarely around until he
faced the Prince OF Wales, upon whom
eyery eye in court was then liked and who
nervonsly crossed his legs, while the
audience were utterly aghust at what was
considered to be the 4udacity OF the
solicitor general
Continuing, the solicitor general re-
defendants, had said that "even if the
jury found for the plaintiff, and disre-
garded the document the latter had signed
at Tranby Croft the military authorities
would take the matter up and Sir William
Gordon Cummings name would be
stricken from the army list.
81 wish to say in uumistakable terms, %
exclaimed Sir Edward Clarke, raising bis
voice until it echoed telliugly through the
court, "that it would be impossible for tue
authorities TO do any such thing and to
Ieave on that list the names of Field Mar.
shal, the Prince Of Wales and General
Owen Williams"
This bold statement seemed TO com
pletely take away the breath Of the audi
ence and caused by lar the greatest
sensation OF the entire trial
Among the mass Of tine people" Sir
Edward continued, uttering each word
with startling distinctHess, "it is known
that a club or inn could be prosecuted for
playing baccarat, and in great part o
the community there was feeling that
this unhappy incident ought never to have
been allowed 10 become known, because
the circumstances were those which were
at variance with the feelings and consci-
encc of the people.
Then there was the strange and subtle
influence Of royalty" still more solemnly
and dramatically said the solicitor gen
eraI, land Sir William Gordon Cummings
action in signing the document was due to
the influence which has adorned history
and which has made Dlany knight 10 an
unknightiy and dishOnorable deed to save
their king, because they gave their honor
as they wonld have given their lives FOR
the interests Of tic dynasty or TO conceal
the foibles Of prince
Sir Edward Clarke's speech was re-
garded as a most eloquent and telling ef-
fort and as he closed his remarks there
was burst Of spontaneous applause
cheering handclapping throughout the
court which caused the lord chief justice
20 shout; "sileuce, This is not thea
ter!1