The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-06-06

Justice Coleridge to-day. in the Queens
Bench Division of Her Msjesty's high
court of Justice. Long before the hour
II 4. NJ, fixed for the hearing of this
important case, the court room WAS filed
with crowds of fashionable people who
had been lucky enough to obtain one OF
the much coveted tickets granting
them the right to be present al
the long expected baccarat revelations.
Lord Coieridge, in disposing OF the seats
in the court room, had to resist much
pressure from sWarms of aristocratic no.
bllites, male and female, present. He
gave orders that admission 10 the court
was to be hy special tickets only, and he
announced that he would be able to &C.
commodate only a few of the most dis
tinguished applicants with seats beside
him on the bench, reserving the main
body of the court for members of the
bar, witnesses, jurymen and about thlr-
ty-hve newspaper representatives.. The
result was that crowds of angry, dlsap-
pointed people were TO he seen outside
the court mingling with the usual crowd
OF sightscers " no naturally gather at the
scene of all important trials.
Inside, the court room reSHmbled the
scene of some highly fashionable recep-
ton, rather than grim law court where
an important case wan to be brought to
trial. The women, strange to say, pre-
dominated in the audience. In the
long galleries, ladies' charmiDglv brill
liant IN triumphs of the modiStc's : art !,
filled the whole available space. 9th
ers, more favored aud equally bewitch-
ingly dressed, occupied reserved seats
on the bench. All the ladies were talk
ing in an animated manner and flashing
their lifted lorgnettes here and there
studying out the identity of every body
of note present, and criticlsing the most
conspicuous costumes III the most lively
manner
The first tremor of excitement was
caused by the arrival in the court room
of Sir VIM. Gordon Cumming, the
plaintiff accompanied by his counsel,
SolicitorGcneral Clark and Mr.. Gill.
1t WAS intended that the attorncv-gen-
Charles Russell should be the leading
counsel for the defendats, but owing to
the fact that Sir Richard Webster
ls obliged to appear in the
Berkeley peerage case, now before the
committee of privileges of the House of
Lords the attorney general, Sir Richard
Webster, was compelled to resign his
brief at the last moment, which fact was
not generally known until the proceed
ings had commenced In court this morn
ing. Sir Charles Russell will act as lead
ing counsel for all the defendants.
Sir Charles Russell, Mr.. Asquith, q. c..
and Arthur Russell, who arrived
promptly and almost at the same time
as Sir VIM. Gordon Cumming, ac-
companied by the defendant. The
plaintiff was apparently not in the best
of humor He stared codlv, almost
defantly at his enemies, and glanced
haughtily, curiously around the court
room.
The Prince of Wales entered the
court shortly after IL O'Clock, accom-
panied by Sir Francis knollys. X c. NJ
e., his private secretary. The buzz of
whispered conversation ceased as
the Prince was recognized and he was
escorted to seat especially reserved for
him on the bench ami on the left hand
of the Lord Chief Justice. No sooner
was the Prince seated than the jury was
sworn, and Lord Chief Justice Colcridge,
taking his seat on the bench and address
Ing the solicitor-general, Sir Edward
Clarke, Q. c., leading counsel for the
plaintiff, said in substance that he de-
sired that the Prince Of Wales should
be kept in court as short time as pos
sible, and he, Lord Coleridge, hoped
that his learned brother would agree to
arrange matters SO that the Prince
should not be detained any longer than
absolutely necessary. To this the So
licitor-general calmly replied that he
could not say exactly when the Prince
= ln lad 70
his testimony in the case, but he
begged the Lord Chief Justice that
he desired most heartily to serve
the Princes convenience so far
rs possible The Lord Chief Justice
thanked his learned brother for his
courtesy in this matter and wished it to
be remembered that the Prince of
Wales did not attend the court as q
spectator. but that he did 80 in obedi-
ence to the law. Sir Edward Clarke,
amid mos. breathless silence, then sol
EMMY though sententiously opened
the case for the plaintiff He said that
the charge was a most serious one.
Continuing. the Solicitor-general de-
tails the circumstances of the now IA
nous card party at Tanbycroft, Arthur
Wilson's residence, during the Doncast
er meeting, in September, 1890. BaCca-
f3I, Salu the NDlltliOT -HeiltTdl, lau never
before been PLAYED at Tanbycroft.
1t would be his duty, said the Solici-
general, TO put the Prince of Wales
and Gen. Owen Williams in the witness
box. and their testimony would satisfy
the jury that they saw nothing wrong
on the part Of Sir William Gordon
Cummings. whose system OF play was
to double his stakes if he lost until he
recovered his losses and then he re-
verted to his origina! stake.
At the conclusion of Sir Edward
Clarke's Grafton, Sir William Gordon
Cummings. the plaintiff, was called. He
entered the witness box in a perfectly
cool manner, and with certain amount
of iauntiness in his demeanor. He
1aid that the Prince of Wales acted as
banker upon the occasions referred to,
and thai ten. Williams was the croupier.
The plaintiffs attention was not called
the first night. September ), 10 the
compliant made against him. On the
following evening, he said. when dress
Ing for DINNER, Lord Coventry and ten.
Williams came to him in his bedroom
al Tranhvcroft, and the former said:
Cumming, something very disagreeable
has occurred. Some people staying
here have objected TO your manner of
Gordon Cumming testified that he
replied: My God What do you
mean 2" Lord Coventry, the plaintiff
said, then repeated his former remark,
adding that people said he (Sir VIM.
Gordon Cumming had. while PLAYING
baccarat the previous evening, resort
ed to foul play The plaintiff
said that he then replied that
this was foul, abomlnabIe
charge, and a deliberate falsehood,
adding. addressing Lord Coventry and
Gen. Williams: "What am | to do?
You two are my old friends. For good
ness sake, say what is to be done
The plaintiff, he said. added 10 this
request that he place the whole matter
entirely in their hands and that after
dinner Al the SUCCESSION of LORD Coy