Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-06-04
WALES ON TIE STAND.
The Prince Testifies in the Baccarat scaa-
dial Case.

uAeA SAhcs
LONDON, June s.-The throngs in
and around the courtroom at the begin
ming of the second days hearing in the
famous baccarat scandal suit of Sir Will
liam Gordon Cumming were even larger
than on Monday, interest having been
heightened by the expectation of the
summoning of the prince of Wales 10
the witness stand. The cross-examina-
ton of Sir William was concluded, and
the prince of Wales took the witness
stand.
The prince gave his testimony in
clear and straightforward way. It
was entirely in favor of Sir William.
The prince declared that during the
game he neither saw nor sus-
pected any cheating whatever 1t
was not until September 10 that
Lord Coventry had told him Sir Will
liam had been guilty of cheating. In
concluding his testimony the prince
said the witnesses to the alleged cheat
ing by Sir William were so unanimous
that he could not help believing the
charges, though he personally saw
nothing of it.
During the cross examination of the
prince juror caused sensation by
rising in his place in the box and pro-
ceeding to interrogate the witness. He
asked: Are the jury to understand
that you were banking on the occasions
of the games in question and saw moth
ing of the alleged malpractices?"
The prince hesitated for moment, as
if undecided as to whether he ought or
ought not to reply. Finally concluding
that he would answer, he said, with a
half smile: 1T is very easy for banker
when dealing cards not to see anything.
especially when in the company OF
friends in country house You do not
for a moment suppose that anyone will
play unfairly"
The juror, returning to the charge,
asked: "What was your opinion at
the time of the charges made against
The PLAINTIFF"
To this the prince suavely replied
1.-THE charges made against him were so
unanimous that | had not any other
course open to me than to believe
them"
The princes last answer caused an
other of those hutters of excitement,
followed by widespread comment,
which follow the making on one side
or the other of point during
the progress of an important
trial The juror, apparently,
had succeeded in bringing out,
squarely and beyond any possible
doubt. the fact that the prince of
Wales, in view of the evidence which
had been placed before him at Tranby
Croft by the ladies and gentlemen who
had played baccarat with Sir William
Gordon Cumming on September S and
8, 1890, had become convinced of the
plaintiffs gnilt.
1t is expected that the decision will
be against Sir William, in consequence
of the apparent preponderance of evil
.dence against him.
A Berlin dispatch says that the most
intense interest is displayed in that
city about the baccarat trial, the upper
classes being astonished at the spec
taele of the future king and emperor
appearing as witness in a libel suit
The papers have to treat the case with
extreme discretion, owing to the ieal-
ousy with which the kaiser guards the
reputation of royalty in general and of
his relatives in particular. The prince
of Wales, being connected with the
reigning house of Prussia, reflection on
him in q Prussian newspaper would in
volve the editor in a charge of les ma
jesties. The most ineager details are
published without editorial comment