Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-08
TIE BACCERAf TRIAL Is RESUMED.
Royalty is Vigorously Handled by
Plaintiffs Counsel.
WALES Is MUCH DISTURBED.
BACcARAr AGAIN THE ToPIc.
Sir William Gordon Cummings Suit 10
slsnder Resumed I'm London.

eral OF the more prominent attendants OF last
week, notably Lady Gordon LennoN and Lady
Dorothy Nevill. but in their seats were seen
Sybil 81. Clair Erskine and the Countess Of
Lathom.
The multitude of people who struggled out
side TO catch a glimpse OF the Rristocracy evi-
IDENTIFY included a large proportion Of the strik-
ing buss drivers and some were disposed 60 be
boisterous. Cumming looked brighter than
on Friday. The rest had evidently done him
good Public opinion votes him 10 be the best
looking man in the crowd. He bears q remark
able resemblance TO the famous lion slayer. his
near relative. and Is said 10 have displayed
similar nerve IN action.
THE PRINCES JEALOUSY CAUSED THE TROUBLE.
The story now goes that the Prince Of Wales
was jealous OF the friendship of Lady Brooke
for Gordon Cumming and told the baccarat
story TO break 1t up. The club men are not
sure that he succeeded. and il is iatimated that
since the beginning Of the trial Cum
ming and Lady Brooke have been
seen TO converse together on terms u
evident friendship. Lady Brooke. perhaps on
account OF the connection of her name with
various rumors, has Of late been quite austere
in her company. She had the aged Duke Of
Cambridge FOR a guest the other day and seemed
TO take particular pleasure in entertaining the
old gentleman, wnlle dozen young titled
swells stood around in disgust at her indider-
ence to them.
LESS NOISE AROUND THE COURTS
Prior TO and after the opening Of the queens
bench division of her majesty's high court of
justice this morning the same scenes which
were witnessed ON each day Of the trial last
week were repeated inside and outside the new
law courts, with the exception of tho
fact that much of the NOISE and
hustle of this part Of the strand was
wanting today owing 10 the omnibus strike.
The absence of those clumsy, nearly always
overloaded vehicles from the Strand enabled
larger crowds TO assemble in front of the new
Law courts, but on the other hand there was an
almost entire absence of that ceaseless rumble
of wheels and ''touting" of omnibus drivers
and conductors in that and similar neighbor-
hoods. much 10 the relief of the nervous peo-
pie who have business about the courts
On the other hand there was increase in the
number of -four wheelers," ''hansoms" aud
other such vehicles arriving and departing at
and about the new law courts. and all nearly
all OF the fashionables of last weeks audience
managed to appear fully equipped with lunch
con baskets and hasksD IN their now familiar
places, from which they watch the developments
OF the great baccarat scandal
The general opinion expressed before the
court opened was that Sir Charles Russell and
Sir Edward Clarke might be able TO finish their
addresses respectively for the defendants and
for the plaintiff today, and that the lord chief
justice would make hls charge to the jury to-
morrow morning. This, however, is only .
matter OF conjecture.
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL RESUMES.
Sir Charles Russell upon the opening Of court
resumed his address Tor the defense, inter-
rupted on Friday last by the adjournment of
the court of queens bench until today Sir
Charles commenced by calling attention to
Sir William Gordon Cummings methods Of
playing baccarat, saying:
''If what Mr.. Arthur Stanley Wilson has
sworn to took place IL excluded all that class Of
suggestion-of which no trace appeared an the
correspondence between Sir William Gordon
Cumming, Gen. Owen Williams and Lord
Coventry-to the effect that the accusation
arose from a misunderstanding of the plain
tiff system of play, known coup dc trois."
The evidence for the defense continued Sir
Charles Russell, had given a variety Of detail
which pointed out the truth rather than a par
rot-like repetition of the alleged events.
Sir Charles Russell then ssld that in his opin-
ion the only course open 20 SIR Edward Clarke
leading counsel for the plaintiff, which he
added, would be fatal. 10 denOunce the
whole accusation as an invention.
'Now," said Sir Charles, in regard TO the
events which resulted from the plaintiff leav-
ing Iranby Croft on the morning OF Septem-
Der III without seeing anybody IN the house
into which he had been introduced as
friend of the Prince of Wales. with
full knowledge that lac was leaving
behind him blasted reputation, IL q
confirmation of the evidence given is needed it
comes from the acts and from the conduct Of
the plaintiff himself, who was doubly con-
demned by the independent testimony OF wit
nesses who had no motive against him. but
every motive TO prevent a scandal and by his
own conduct when brought face to face with
the accusation made against him.
WAS it possible Tor innocent man to
adopt the course taken by the plaintiff! He
says that he did not ask TO be confronted with
the witnesses because he advised not to do
so. But the impulse of an honorable man
would have been to insist that his ac-
cusers should be brought face to face
with him. Instead of this the jury had
had placed before them the feeble sugges-
ton that the witnesses mistook for acts Of
cheating coups de trois. Ii this were 50 the
plaintiff s conduct could have been explained,
but there not syllable Of a suggestion Of
that kind uttered at Iranby Croft The plaint-
iff signed that paper and knew that 80 doing
was the same as an admission of guilt"
Sir Charles then dwelt at length upon the
testimony of Mr.. Berkeley. who, il will be re-
membered, is a lieutenant in the Scots Guards,
the regiment IN which sir William
Gordon Cumming held the rank Of
major and Lieutenant colonel Counsel
for the defendants showed that MIR. Lew
EFT was anxious to be able TO shield be Of
service to the plaintiff for the sake of their
past friendship and for the sake OF the regi-
ment to which they both belonged, but had the
manliness TO declare to Sir William Gordon
Cumming that he could not refuse to believe
his own eyes.
Sir Charles Russell then cleverly endeavored
to discount the arraignment Of the Wilson
family and other members Of the Tranby Croft
baccarat party, which, he anticipated, would be
one OF the features of the address for the plain
tiff. which the solicitor general. Sir Edward
Clarke, would make for the other side, conclud-
ing with the remark that he confidently left
the defendants case in the hands of the jury,
being fully aware that the latter would do their
duty and by their verdict uphold the evidence
which had been given in their behalf
SIR EDWARD CLARKE CREATES A SENSATION.
When Sir Charles Russell sat down, after
having made a most able speech for the de-
fense, there was a murmur Of surprise, counsel
for the defendants having closed his address
rather Unexpectedly. Hardly bad Sir Charles
taken his seat, and while defendants counsel
was still receiving the congratulations
of his friends, the solicitor general, Sir Ed
ward Clarke, lesding counsel for the
plaintiff, took the hoor and in a few sentences
tersely invited the attention OF the jury, hn
whole manner indicating that q sensation was
coming. Sir Edward Clarke commenced by
saying that il had been the common talk
that the Prince of Wales contin ual presence IN
court during the trial Of this suit had been Tor the
purpose of restraining the tongues OF the law
yers engaged in the case from commenting
upon the Prince of Wales connection with IT,
This remark caused q sensation, but IL was
nothing to what followed further utterances a
counsel for the plaintin
CONTINUING Sir Edward Clarke intimated
thai the presence of the Prince of Wales in
court would not prevent him from making any