Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-06-13
PLAIN TALK.
Sir Edward Clarke Scores the
Prince of Wales.
IT Sir William Gordon Is Expelled
from the Army, His Royal High
ness Should Go, Too.
HANDLED W1rHour e1nvrs

LONDON, June S.--Two more seusa-
tions are to be recorded in the great
baccarat scandal as result of the
days developments. One was mild
sensation in comparison to the other.
The milder came first and was exciting
Tor time, but soon paled into lustcr-
less insignificance beside it's more START
ling successor.
The mild sensation was the announce
ment that Arthur Stanley Wilson, lthe
host of Tranby Croft, who not only
metaphorically but literally sht;
his eyes to the prince of Wales
liaison in his house with Lady
Brooke and the indifference which the
prince displayed for Wilson's expressed
desire that there should be no card
playing, had been elected member of
the Marlboro club on the proposal of
Albert Edward himself.
The second sensation absorbed and
eclipsed its predecessor. This was Sir
Edward Clarke's speech to the jury, in
which, to the astonishmcnt, amazement
and horror OF the elect of Eng
land, he attacked the prince of Wales
and said that if Lord Gordon Cumming
were kicked out of the army Albert
Edward should be visited with the
same punishment TO describe the
effect of this extraordinary tcmcrity
by the eminent counsel would he i'm
possible.
The prince occupied his accustomed
place beside the lord chief justice
when court convened. Sir Charles
Russell continued his speech and was
followed by Solicitor General Sir
Edward Clarke. Sir Edward summed
up the case for Sir Gordon Cum
ming, prefacing his remarks with a
statement that he should not hesitate
to speak plainly concerning the Wilson
family and all the defendants to the
suit. Nobody supposed for moment
that he included the prince in this de-
termination, but he did in the following
language:
''Sir Charles has suggested to you that this
case means more to Sir William Gordon. Cum
ming than mere acquittal of the offense OF
cheating, 1t means his honor and his life
AS Sir Charles has said, an unfavorabe yer.
dict would compel him TO leave the army
Of his country to which he had dedicated
the best part of his life ] take this opportunity
to say that it is improbable that anyone can re.
move the name Of William GORDON Cumming
from the army rolls as lieutenant colonel and
allow that of the prince Of Wales as field mar,
shal and Owen Williams as general to remain"
This bold statement seemed to com
pletely take away the breath of the au-
dience, and caused by far the greatest
sensation of the entire trial. A hushed
murmur of astonishment, not un-
mixed with dismay and some irrita-
ton, and taking several seconds, swept
here and there about the courtroom
IKE oreaitero on rocky 9oaat. o.
must thorough, ,...l---t~~a the almost
religious worship of royalty which pre-
walls through Great Britain to clear
ly understand the full meaning, the
crushing significance of the solicitor
generals words, aimed directly at the
heir apparent. II was as if thunder
clap had suddenly, shaken the building
and as if flash of lightning had
unexpectedly revealed the prince of
Wales in colors totally unexpected
those of common mortal, subject to
the laws of England and, according to
the solicitor generals intimation, pos
sible violator of the military regula-
tions to the extent that his name was
liable to be struck from the army list.
Amidst this storm the prince of
Wales sat on the bench to theleft of the
lord chief justice, immovable, not
muscle of his face apparently twitch-
ing. leaning his head on his hand and
cndeavoripg to appear totally un-
concerned, He merely gazed coolly at
Sir Edward Clarke as if nothing
had happened, while the great
lawyer went on to disscct the
Wilson's and plead his clients cause.
But the incident was too much for
everybody else, Lord Coleridgc in
cluded, and his lordship soon declared
the case adjourned to Friday.