The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-09

on arthur Stanley Wilson's statement.
which the latter had since modified, and
upon the fact that the Prince of Wales.
Lord Coventry and General Williams were
satisned that they had not seen a single
suspicious act on the part of Sir William
Gordon Cumming. Sir Edward dilated
upon the facility with which people
imagine things when they have
been previously advised of their
possible existence, but which never
reaiiy happen. He said that there was
notning IN the accusations against the
pislntiH that could not be explained by
the system OF play Cumming adopted,
aitnougn the jury was asked TO believe
tnat the plaintiff had descended TO adopt
ing the tricks of the lowest sharper. The
soncitor general commented sarcastically
upon the ornamental position occupied by
the head of the Wilson family, who. coun-
sci said, was not consulted throughout the
proceedings and apparently had to give
way to his son-in-law, Mr.. Lycett Green,
VINO was deputed to defend the family
honor, "a man of the mature age
OF u" said the solicitor general,
cutnngiy referring to Green, ..who rode
alter the hounds four days in the week.
When Green heard the Prince of Wales
say. Give him another tenner; / wish
people would put their stakes in conspicu-
Gus Places he, Mr.. Green, came to the
conclusion that Sir William had been
cheating, and rose from the table full of
valiant resolution, but. changing his mind,
Green wrote to his mother-in-law in mag
nilcent tones of elevated morality and
then returned to the play again and after
wards directed the attention of the Prince
OF Wales, who was again present, to the
affair, and who, without hearing Sir Will
ham's version of the occurrence, con-
demned his intimate friend"
e.What were Sir William Gordon Cum
mings reasons for signing the document
about which so much has been said 2"
asked the solicitor general, looking
straight into the Prince of Wales eyes. sit
was, he said, after an effective pause, ito
save the Prince of Wales. Among the
mass of the people," Sir Edward contin-
ued, uttering each word with startling dis
tinctness, sit is well known that club or
inn could be prosecuted for playing bac-
carat, and in great part of the commu-
nifty there is feeling now that this un-
happy incident ought never to have been
allowed TO become known, because the cir
cumstances were those which were at vari-
ance with the feeling, with the conscience
of the people.
"Then there was the strange and subtle
influence Of royalty" still more solemnly
and dramatically said the solicitor gen.
eral, ssand Sir William Gordon Cum
ming's action in signing that document
was due to the influence which has
adorned his story, and which has made
many do unkingly and dishonoring deeds
to save the king, because they gave their
honor as freely as they would have given
their lives for the interests of the dynasty,
or to conceal the foibles of a prince"
A slight ripple of applause, which was
promptly suppressed, broke out in the
courtroom as the eloquent jurist said the
last words in most touching and i'm
pressiye manner.
1.-THE documents" continued Sir Edward
Clarke, with increasing force, amidst al
raost deadly silence throughout the court
room, was signed by Sir William Gordon
Cumming in order to save the Prince Of
Wales from scandal. The motto of Sir
William Gordon Cummings family is
Without fear He came into the witness
box without fear, confident Of verdict
which will wipe this stain from his noble
record of service with his gallant regiment
of brave soldiers
Sir Edward said to the jury: "It is too
late to undo much of the mischief which
has been done" Then, facing the Prince
of Wales again and looking the latter
directly in the face for about the space of
minute, he continued, in a voice ap-
parently shaken with emotion, land it
may be too late to save the reputation of
of some people mentioned in this case.
fAgain turning to the jury.l 1t is not too
late for you to prevent the completion of
the sacrifice of this gallant officer"
Sir Edward Clark's speech was regarded
as a most eloquent and tefiing effort. and,
as he closed his remarks. there was burst
of applause, cheering, and hand-clapping
throughout the court, which caused the
lord chief justice to shout:
"Silence; this is not theater."
The lord chief Justices call had q
decided effect.
The applause stopped, but as Sir Will
liam Gordon Cumming arose from his seat
minute later. and while the Prince of
Wales and Lord Coleridge were still on the
bench, there was a renewal of cheering
and hand-clapping, of which the plaintiff
appeared to take no notice.
The jury, it was plainly evident, ap-
peared greatly impressed with the speech
Of the solicitor-general, and as he ended
it the remark was heard throughout the
courtroom: Cumming viii get verdict,
or at least the jury will disagree"
The court then adjourned until tomor-
row, and the lord chief justice viii sum up
the arguments and evidence and the case
will be given to the jury.
Sir Edward Clarke's plain language
throughout when he referred to the Prince
of Wales and when he made the assertion
that the precis was prepared by Lord
Coventry and signed by Sir William Cor
don-Cumming solely in order to shtah the
Prince of Wales from scandal, caused
one of the greatest sensations IN this SEN
sarional trial, and those who heard the re-
marks made in court were so impressed
with them that they were generally dis
cussed afterward and were commented
upon in clubs and other circles far into the
night and early morning. The solicitor
general quoted, as the basis OF this start.
ling allegation, an extract from the Ear
of Coventry's diary, in which the follow
ing words occur: Eve were induced TO
recommend this course because we desired
to avoid a scandal and in order TO keep the
name of the Prince of Wales out of it.
"Sir William Gordon Cumming, as vel
as the Earl of Coventry, said Sir Edward
sis loyal to the Prince of Wales. who mad
been most kind 70 him, and Sir William
signed that document because he wa:
willing to sacrifice himself, as his old
friends we're willing to sacrifice him, ir