Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-10
Exciting Close of the Famous
Baccarat Case.
Cumming Cheated Is the YER
dict of the Jury.
The Proud Baronet's Bright Hopes
Irretrievably Blasted.
His Cashierment from the Army and
Expulsion from Social Clubs
Sure to Follow.
Associated Press Dispatches.

LONDON, June 9.-The prince OF Wales
was not present this morning when the
court trying the baccarat scandal case
convened. The lord chief justice had
hardly taken his seat when General
Owen Williams stepped to the front
bench and said (his face pale and his
voice husky: "My lord, have to ask
your protection. Yesterday Sir Edward
Clarke thought proper"
Here Solicitor-General Sir Edward
Clarke sprang to his feet and interrupt
ing General Williams exclaimed: Il ask
your lordship to interfere, and that Gen
eral Williams should not be allowed to
make a statement, as he has not the
privilege of doing so."
To this General Williams hotly re-
piled "I was accused of an abominable
charge"
Here the lord chief justice interfered,
saving: II do not remember the ex
preston, but do not think you can be
allowed to speak"
But General Williams persisted in
being heard, remarking angrily: "We
were accused of sacrificing an innocent
out any evidence being brought for
ward for its justification"
Lord Coleridge again interrupted the
general, remarking with considerable
warmth: ~ cannot hear any statement
from you," and Immediately commenced
his summing up, while General Will
Jams retired frowningiand greatly discon-
tented to his seat.
The chief justice said that if the jury
found that the defendants had spoken
the truth, their verdict should be for
the defendants; but if the jury thought
the charges they made were not true,
and that Sir William Gordon Cumming
did not do anything wrong while play
ing baccarat at Tanbycroft in September
last, then their verdict must be for
plaintiff.
Continuing, the chief justice analyzed
at length the evidence given by the
plaintiff, which evidence, he said, was
we'll worthy of consideration.
During another portion of his sum-
ming up, Lord Coleridge said the prince
of Wales presence at Tranbycroft was
sufficient to explain Lycett Green's oh
lection to creating disturbance in the
baccarat room or anywhere else, by call
ing attention to the action which he OBJ
jected to on the part of Sir William Cor
don Cumming
Lord Coleridge called the attention of
the Jury to one particular observation
in the course of the trial. 1t was to the
effect that there twas more in the case
than appeared on the surface"
against this" the lord chief justice
remarked, 81 most emphatically protest.
The jury has nothing to do with things
which are not on the surface. You have
to copfine yourself to single issue and
what you have heard and what has been
proved during the trial"
When the chief justice defined the
law of libel as different from the law of
SANDER, and when he gave special in
structions in regard to the amount of
damages which the jury should, ii they
so desired, assess in the event they
found verdict for plaintiff, it was con-
sidered that Lord Coleridge's instruc-
tions decidedly favored Sir William Cor
don Cumming, but when the chief JUS
tice analyzed the evidence of the
defendants and that of General
Williams, the prince of Wales and Lord
Coventry, it was judged that this was
in effect an Endorsement of their evil
dence. In this connection Lord Cole
ridge said Cumming did not come there
to make a fortune, and that his char
acter would be sufficiently cleared by
the jury awarding him, should the evil
dence warrant it, small amount OF
damages.
length the high position and brave
career of Sir William Gordon Cumming,
saying the latter went to Tanbycroft as
7 irhf ha
permitted to say SO, as sort of a prize
guest, of whom any hostess might be
proud"
Referring to the prince of Wales's
connection with the case, Lord Cole
ridge said: ''The people may say what
they like, but they are all very much
pleased to have such guests as
the prince of Wales, Lord Coventry and
lord this and lord that in their huts
ILaughter.] Then as to the position Of
the prince of Wales, and as to the desire
for secrecy manifested by the party at
Tranby-croft, was it not natural that
with such monarchial institu-
tions as ours, such wish
should have existed? 1t must be re-
membered that such incidents were
brought before hard-judging world
not by loyal and subservient world OF
Tudors, but before world whose sense
and judgment had to be consulted.
Surely it was not to be said against a
man that under the circumstances he
was anxious to keep the scandal quiet.
When Lord Coleridge had proceeded
thus far with his charge to the jury, the
hour of noon had arrived, and the court
as usual adjourned for lunch.
After luncheon the lord chief justice
resumed his summing up. While ad-
mitting the improbability of man OF
Sir William Gordon Cummings position
and wealth lowering himself to cheat
and to cheat his friend, the prince of
Wales, too-Lord Coleridge made a
strong point against plaintiff in calling
the jury's attention to his failure to face
his accusers. Lord Coleridge then said j:
"We have now come to very impor-
tant point, in my mind | have care
fully searched for, but have been unable
to find any contradiction of the state
ments that Sir William Gordon Cum
ming was informed of Lycett Green s
desire to be confronted with him."
"If l am wrong" added the lord chief
justice, turning to Sir Edward Clarke,
II desire to be corrected"
Sir Edward, for plaintiff, said there
was no evidence that Sir William was
informed of Lycett Green's desire to be
confronted with him. plaintiff