The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-09

N"ioo NeSO hu1 DccH Cdllcu 10 OrQGr Sir
Chas. Russell had summed up his argu-
ment for the defense. 1t was limos
sible, said Sir Charles, that any in
nocent man would take the extra
ordinary course which had been fol.
lowed by Sir William Gordon Cumming
in this perfidious business 1t would
have been the first impulse Of an honor
able man confronted with so horrible
an accusation to demand and insist that
he, without ono moments DELAY, be
placed front to front with his accusers
Instead of this the plaintiff had come
forward with the feeble suggestion that
the witnesses had mistaken cheating
for coup dc trois. Here. turning to
where Sir William sat, Sir Charles
numerically ridiculed him.
Sir Charles then anticipated tho fierce
arraignment by the prosecution Of the
Wilson family and other members of the
baccarat party which he looks for in the
speech of Sir Edward Clarke. In con
GLIDING Sir Charles complimented the
jury into whose hands he declared he
confidently left the case for the defense.
0 Sir Edward Clarke, counsel in chief
for the prosecution, arose immediately
upon the conclusion of Sir Charles Rus
sci and as he did SO interest became
intense Not Il minute after the great
lawyer had assumed an attitude did
there remain a doubt that Sir William
Gordon Cumming had by his side a
Jurist who would brush aside as a use.
less tho belief that the throne should
stand between justice. his client and
himself.
In the midst of absolute silence and
facing Lord Chief Justice Colcridge, Sir
Edward said that since the beginning of
this trial the common talk Of London
had been that the continued presence in
the courtroom of the heir apparent to
the throne, his royal higness, the Prince
OF Wales, was for the purpose of re-
straining the tongues of council in com
menting upon his prominent connection
with the case.
When this vigorous opening was heard
all eyes involuntlrily turned upon the
Prince who, rs usual, sat to the left of
the Lord Chief Justice. Ills eyes were
cast down and faint flush appeared in
his checks. Otherwise there was no
evidence of embarrassment.
Allowing his eyes away from those of
Lord Coleridge Sir Edward said that
if this was the purpose sought to he
effected by the princely presence it
would he found unavailing. lie (Sir
Edward) had paid duty to perform
IT was, however, duty that would he
discharged because his obligations to
the cause Of Justice and the interests of
his client, tho plaintiff in this case,
compelled him to comment upon the
conduct and the evidence OF the gentle
men who stood highest in the land
AS Sir Edward slowly, deliberately
and solcmnly uttered these words he
turned his gaze directly upon the Prince
OF Wales. The flush grew deeper in the
Princes face, who, after nervously
crossing his, legs, returned the glance
of tho counsel. The auditors seemed
stricken dumb with establishment for a
moment. Then amidst the quiet of the
room there was heard the occasional
whispers Hos going to attack the
Prince" Look at Wales" and Didn't
| tell you So"
Sir Edward then referred to the state
ment OF Sir Charles Russell that oven
if tho jury found for the plaintiff and
disregarded the document which Sir
William had signed at Tranby Croft the
proper authorities would take the mat
ter up and cause Sir William Gordon
Cummings name to be erased from the
army list. This" said Sir Edward,
rising to his full height and with Il
menacing gesture of the right fore
finger, 81 wish to say most distinctly is
thing which it will be impossible for
the authorities to accomplish and leave
on the army list the name of the Prince
of Wales and General William "
For an instant or two the solicitor
general and the jury, men and women,
were bent forward in strained and almost
painful attention while an English
lawyer told an almost English King and
Indian emperor that in certain contin-
gencics the SYMBOLS Of his military rank
would be disgracefully stripped from his
royal person. beneath the tremendous
philippe the Prince of Wales sat i'm
movable, leaning upon his arm and look
ing neither to the right nor left. There
was more murmuring amongst the crowd.
some Of 1T in admiration OF the lawyers
daring and some of it in sympathy with
the unhappy Prince.
He then severely arraigned the
Wilson's. lie said his client would ask
nothing but nominal damages. What
he wanted was the vindication of his
character. Sir Edward hadsno doubt the
Wilson had agreed to watch tho game
on the second night, but he now saw the
mistake of such an admission, knowing
that he would be Stunned by honorable
persons were this fact established. Sir
Edward had never meant to say that
the party were drunk when the events
occurred which were not the subject of
dispute, but he did mean to say that it
was quite possible they were not in u
judicial frame of mind. daughter
With satirical suggestiveness Sir