Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-09
agreement to watch Cumming on the
second night of the baccarat playing.
THE WILSON FAMILY ROASTED.

Sir Edward followed this with an ar
raigment OF the Wilson's, which was
most severe and cutting. EYES," ex-
claimed the solicitor general, referring
to the Wilson's, "they undoubtedly have
money; but even if Sir William Cum
ming would condescend to take it from
such source, l shall not ask the Jury to
fix the damages beyond nominal sum-"
The solicitor general also dwelt strong
ly upon the fact that the prince of
Wales, General Williams and Lord Gov
entry all passed their opinions on Ar
thur Stanley Wilson's statement which
the latter had since modified, and upon
the fact that the prince OF Wales, Lord
Coventry and General Williams testi-
fed that they had not seen single sus-
picious act upon the part of Sir William
Cumming.
Sir William Clarke dilated upon the
facility with which people imagine
things when they have been advised of
their possible existence, and which really
never happened. He said there was
nothing in the accusations against
plaintiff that could not be explained by
the system of play Cumming adopted,
though the jury were asked to believe
the plaintiff had descended to adopting
the tricks of the lowest sharper.
LYCErr GREEN TOUCHED UP.
The solicitor-general commented sar-
castically upon the ornamental position
occupied by the head OF the Wilson
family, who, counsel said, was not con-
suited throughout the proceedings, and
who apparently had to give way to his
son-in-law, Mr. Lycett Green, who was
deputed to defend the family honor.
"a man of the mature age of 81" said
the solicitor. general cuttingly, referring
to Green. "who rode to the hounds four
days in week. When Green heard the
prince of Wales say: Give him an
other tenner. wish people would put
their stakes in conspicuous place. he
tMr. Green) came to the conclusion that
Sir William had been cheating, and
rose from the table full of valiant reso-
luton, but, changing his mind, Green
wrote to his mother-in-law in magnifi-
cent tones of elevated morality; and
then returned to the play again and
afterwards directed the attention of the
prince of Wales, who was again present,
to the affair, and who, without hearing
Sir Williams version of theloccurrence,
condemned his intimate friend"
SIR WILLIAMS sELF-sACRIFIcE.
"What was Sir William Gordon Cum
ming's reason for signing the document
about which SO much has been said ?"
asked the solicitor-general, looking
straight into the prince of.Wales' eyes.
''It was," he said, after an effective
pause, "to save the prince of Wales"
"Among the mass of people," Sir Ed
ward continued, uttering each word
with startling distinctness, sit is known
that club or inn could be prosecuted
for playing baccarat, and in great part
of the community there was a feeling
that this unhappy incident ought never
to have been allowed to become known,
because the circumstances were those
which are at variance with the feeling
and conscience of the people,"
s'Then there was the strange and sub
tie influence of royalty" still more
solemnly and dramatically said the
solicitor-general, "and Sir William Cor
don Cummings action in signing that
document was due to the influence,
which has adorned history and which
has made many knights do unknightly
and dishonorable 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 con-
Ceal the foibles of prince"
A slight ripple of applause, which was
promptly suppressed, broke out in
court as the eloquent jurist uttered the
last words in most touching and i'm
pressive manner.
"The document" continued Sir Ed
\ nd
amidst most deadly silence through
William Gordon Cumming in order to
The motto of Sir William Gordon Cum
into the witness box without fear, con-
fident of verdict which would wipe
this stain from his noble record of ser
vice with his gallant regiment of brave
soldiers"
THE SENSATION OF SENSATIONS.
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 Gordon Cumming solely in
order to shield the prince of Wales from
scandal, caused one of the greatest SEN
sations of this sensational trial, and
those who heard the remarks in court
were so engrossed with them that they
were generally discussed afterwards and
were commented upon in club and other
circles far into the night and early morn
ing.
The solicitor general quoted as the
basis of these startling allegations an ex-
tract from the earl of Coventry's diary
in which the following words occur:
"We were induced to recommend this
course because we desired to avoid scan
dal, and in order to keep the name of
the prince of Wales out of it,"
"Sir William Gordon Cumming, as
well as the Earl of Coventry" said Sir
Edward, sis loyal to the prince of Wales
who has been most kind to him; and Sir
William Gordon Cumming signed that
document because he was willing to sac
rifice himself, as his old friends were
willing to sacrifice him, in order to save
the reputation of one, the recollection OF
whose friendship will always be bright
in his memory"
TOO LATE TO UNDO THE MISCHIEF.
The solicitor general said slowly to
the jury: ''It is too late to undo much
of the mischief which has been done" "
Turning to the prince of Wales, and
looking the latter direct in the face for
about the space of minute, he cOntin-