The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-10

NJ bfs f~sends If the prince did not believe the
story. he would have made IL point to show
the world that he did not. military tribunal,
the chief Justice added, would be Judge OF the
nroeeedings with which General Williams and
lord Coventry were concerned for infraction OF
the rules and regulations governing the army,
80 with that point the Jury need not trouble
themselves. He said he did not know why the
Jury had been informed that IL was impossible
for the names Of the Prince of Wales and Gen.
eraI Owen Williams to remain on the army list
II the name of Sir William Gordon Cumming
was eliminated therefrom. This had nothing
70 do with the case The jury's verdict could
not have the slightest effect upon the military
authorities one way or the other, 30 far as the
gentlemen mentioned were concerned.
Lord Coleridge then turned his attention to
Sir William Gordon Cumming He severely
criticised the baronet's conduct after leaving
Tanbycroft. His conduct then, according tothe
chief justice, was not OF a nature tending to IN
dicate that the plaintiff was innocent OF the
charges brought against him.
In another and later portion of the charge,
Lord Coleridgc, referring TO the criticism which
had been heaped upon the Prince OF Wales since
the affair became public for the share he, the
heir apparent, had taken in the matter. said that
England was not only free country, but cen
serious one. Tho life of the Prince OF Wales,
like that OF every other person OF rank, was con-
tinually made the subject Of public comment.
"The Prince of Wales" Lord Coleridge added,
somewhat pathetically, "goes through many
boring ceremonies What If he did introduce
haccafat into that great house?'
In the absence OF any portion of the scandal
being directly connected with the Prince of
Wales, Lord Coleridge could not imagine how
any harm could be done to the monarchy, to the
prince, or to anybody else, adding significantly,
Though some people might have asked, when
they heard OF the trouble at Tranbycroft,
Why did he not read his Bible? But" con-
tinued the lord chief justice. nobody was any
the worse for hardworking man who took his
pleasures among his friends Does the jury be-
lieye the plaIntiT signed the dishonoring docu-
Inent, in which he stated that be had cheated at
cards and did this TO save the Prince OF Wales?
Are not the consequences far too great for
the cause? Lord Coleridge said in addition
that he "eould not understand how a man could
give away all for which life was valuable and all
which made life worth living for" The lord
chief justice wound up his charge with the fol-
lowing emphatic remark: ~ send you, gentle
men OF the jury, to do your duty, and. adapting
the noble words OF u great man to this occasion,
when you pass your judgment upon sir William
Gordon Cumming honor, pray you recollect
your own"
One of the jurymen who was interviewed
after the court adjourned said there was no
doubt from the first moment the jury retired as
to how the verdict would go. Each of the jury
men was asked as soon rs he was alone whether
he was for the plaintiff or for the delendants,and
each reply was given without hesitation and
Immediately: ''For the defendants" Juryman
Franklin admitted that he sympathized with
the plaintiff, but. although he would have liked
to have found for the plaintiff he could not
eonscientiously do so In the face of the evil
denee. 1t appeared to him that the jury had
made up their minds before the lord chief JUS
tice summed up and made his charge.