The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-06
A BAD BUSINESS.
The London BaCCarat Gambling
Case.
The Prince Of Wales Losing Caste With
Every Development.
The Testimony Of Other Witnesses Concern
Ing the Alleged Cheating The Defend
ants COunSel'S Strong Speech,
Special to THE MORNING CALL

LONDON, June 5.-Al the exhibitions,
theaters, musical entertainments and other
attractions have been fully eclipsed,
Swallowed into almost complete neglect by
the interest which has been taken in the
great baccarat show, which has been pre-
sented throughout the week at the Queens
Bench division of her Majesty's High Court
of Justice. The courtroom has been crowded
daily with the most fashionable Lond0nerS
who were able to obtain the necessary sea-
son tickets, and the familiar criticisms OF
English newspapers to the effect that there
is a considerable lack of dignity in the
United States courts has been so weakened
that they should never again be reviewed in
the face of the fashionable display, the
luncheon exhibitions and the other scenes
witnessed during the progress of the baccarat
case.
Lady Coleridge, the wife of the Lord
Chief Justice, has been seen each day seated
oil the bench at the right hand of her hus-
band, entertaining her numerous circle OF
friends, laughing and talking when she has
not been writing notes for her husband and
sending them around the court with the
same freedom as if she had been at garden
party. Sir Charles Russell was obliged more
than once to suspend his examination OF the
witnesses on account of the lack of decorum
displayed in the court,
The fifth day of the trial of the famous
| baccarat scandal suit commenced with a
repetition Of the scenes witnessed during
ba min finn
| of Mrs. Lycett Green was resumed. Sir
| Edward Clarke, counsel for plaintiff, had
| the young lady again 90 all over the grounds
that he covered yesterday. After some
| further questions Mrs. Arthur Wilson,
mother of Arthur Stanley Wilson. was
| called to the stand.
MRS. ARTHUR WILSON'S STORY.
Mrs. Wilson, when asked by Sir Charles
! Russell as to whether she had seen Cum
! ming cheat, replied with great emotion :;
Yes, unfortunately. there is no doubt
about it." She said she was present at
| Tranby ClOft, in the room where baccarat
was being played, September 18th. She dis
| tinctly recalled her son Arthur looking at
| her with puzzled expression on his face
| aud that he afterward made horrible
! communication" to her 1t was to the effect
that he had seen p laintiff, Gordon Cumming,
| cheat while playing cards. Witness then
repeated in detail the evidence which had
| already been given as to the manner in
which the Baronet cheated. Mrs. Wilson
was most emphatic in her declamcrs tnat
there had been any agreement entered into
| by the Wilson family to watch plaintiffs
| play on the second night, September 9th,
| of the baccarat playing. Continuing, Mis-
| Wilson said that when her son told her the
| plaintiff had been cheating she said: "Oh,
! you must not speak OF It, We must not
have scandal IN our mouse. during the
| second evenings play witness did not
| notice anything until she received note
| from her son-in-law, Lycett Green, inform
| ing her Of the facts discovered
THE EXTRA "TENNER" BET.
| Mrs Wilson added that she recolected
! plaintiff asking to nave an extra 910 paid TO
! him for a $40 counter which he claimed had
| not been noticed by the Prince of Wales,
| and that the Prince in the annoyance told
| the plaintiff to place his stakes where they
| could be seen. Referring TO another Occa-
| sion, Mrs. Wilson said she saw plaintiff
push an extra $40 counter over the line. Mrs
| Wilson then said she had an interview with
| the Prince of Wales on the subject on the
following day, and she expressed fears that
| her sou, Arthur Stanley Wilson, would
suffer from the after-efects of what had
| occurred, owing TO the fact that he was the
first person TO notice aud cali attention to
| the BarOnetS cheating; but she said the
| Prince told her there was no need for her to
| fear anything of the kind. From Septem-
! Der 10th until the legal proceeding COM
| mcnced, Mrs. Wilson continued, she had
said absolutely nothing to anybody outside
of those Of her own family, who were al
ready acquainted with the facts regarding
| the scandal
WANTED REGULAR GAMBLING-TABLE.
Mrs. Wilson was then turned over to Sir
| Edward Clarke for croSS-eXamination, and
in reply to the Solicitor-G Generals questions
said she had not signed a paper pledgIng
| herself TO secrecy, but Mrs. Wilson ad-
mitte1 tie Prince of Wales had asked her
not to say anything about the affair. An
swerihg other questions put to her by the
| le ding counsel for the plaintiff, Mrs. VIII
son said that on the night Of September Sth
the Prince of Wales asked her if it were not
possible to provide proper Oaccarat table
| for the night following. This, Mrs. Wilson
explained, was before the Prince knew any
thing Of the alleged cheating upon the part
| OF Cumming. Consequently for the second
| nights play fresh table was provided, but
| this was not done on account of Sir William
| Cumming, though it was hoped its usa
would prevent recurrence of the events OF
the previous night.
HER HUSBAND OPPOSED HIGH PLAY.
The witness husband, Arthur Wilson Sr.,
! she continued, objected 10 baccrrat because,
in his opinion, the play might be .ome hig h
among hot-headed boys. Laughter. On a
| Irevious occasion. she continued, the sum
Of 800 had got into the bank, which amount
| her husband thought too large.
why did not yOu tell the Prince of Wales
| your husband objected to baccarat?' asked
| Clarke.
Because" replied Mrs. Wilson. "we
were such staid, non-gambiing party, that
we did not think there could be much harm
resulting from the few quiet games at bacca-
| rat"
Mrs. Wilson, at another stage of her cross
| examination, admitted that 915 was the
| highest stake which she saw played on the
table during two evenings, and she did not
think anybOdy staked even that amount un-
til her husband did so during the second
nights play.
LORD CovENTRY's NOTEBOOK.
Lord Coventry followed Mrs. Arthur Will
son into the witness-box. His testimony
covered all that gone over by the other wit
nesses. Coventry said General Villa ms
and he told the plaintiff, after the accusa
ton Of cheating had been made. that Lycett
Green and one of the gentlemen who had
witnessed the acts complained of, had an
nounced desire to be confronted with Sir
William. but" added the witness slowly,
''plalntlff did not express any desire TO
meet Mr.. Green or to be confronted with
his accusers." The Earl produced a note
book In which he had entered the men,
oranda OF the principal events which took
place at Tranby Croft in September last.
Sir Charles Russell read the entries refer
ring To the baccarat scandal which had
been made there by Coventry. 1t was soon
seen that the account in the book agreed in
all the naiu particulars with the evidence
already presented upon behalf of the de-
PENDANTS. The memoranda closed with the
words: WAS induced to recommend this
course In order to avoid scandal, and in
order to keep the Prince of Wales out of 1t.
/ consider l have done my duty to So
ciety, so far as the case permits, by insist
ing that the accused shall never play cards
again."
| COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS.
| Sir Charles Russell in his address sc.
| Vnralv snnrad Sir Willinn Enrdnn Cnnl.