Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-06-04

Ahe oDNouh Afn1 NJ bhcuAN"ts
LONDON, June 1.-THE second day Of
the trial, otherwise the suit for dam.
ages brought by Sir William Gordon
Cumming against Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett
Green, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Wilson
and Mr.. Berkeley Leayett for slander,
began this morning at 10 o'clock with
an almost complete repetition Of the
scenes witnessed yesterday. II any
thing, the rush for admittance 10 the
queens bench division Of her majesty 3
high court Of justice was greater than
on Monday, for everybody looked for
ward to being able to see the prince OF
Wales on the witness stand and TO hear
ing the testimony which he would give
in regard to the gambling which took
place at the Wilson residence at Tranby
Croft near Doncaster on September 3
aud 8, 1890.
The entrance Of the plaintiff did not
attract so much attention to-day as 10
did yesterday. He wgs as cool and
calm as ever, and on his soldier-like
face there WAS not the slightest trace OF
emotion or Of the effects OF the ordeal
/ through which he passed yesterday.
Like HE former friend, the prince Of
Wales, Sir William was perfectly
dressed, booted and spurred, and there
was no denying that an air OF quiet dis
tinction could be seen in his every
movement gesture and expression
His cold grey eye flashed contemptu-
ously as he glanced In the direction Of
the defendants.
When the lord chief Justice had
given the signal for the days proceed
ings to begin the plaintiff stepped into
the witness box and prepared to an
swer the questions Of Sir Charles RUS
sell. The latter began by reading a
letter written by the plaintiff in answer
to the letter addressed to him jointly
by the prince of Wales, Lord Coventry
and General Owen Williams. This
message was addressed TO Dear Owen"
and in il Sir William said that he had
now but little hope before him to make
life worth living, adding, "In the mean
time, ! suppose that must try TO live
as OF old years"
Pressed by the cross-examining ques-
tions Of Sir Charles Russell, the plain
tiff said that he took the present legal
proceedings because the Baccarat scan
dal had become public matter of con-
versation and comment and because it
had reached the clubs TO which he be-
longed, the Turf club and the Mari-
borough club among others, and had he
not taken action in the matter his clubs
would certainly have done so.
Sir Charles Russell then read two let
ters from General Williams They were
addressed TO Dear Bill, - and referred
20 complaints made by the plaintiff that
the pledge OF secrecy given when he
signed the documents agreeing never
to play cards again had been broken.
In reply to the defendants counselis
question, Sir William said that he APP
piled to Colonel Stracy OF the Scots
guards in January last for permission
10 retire on half pay. Colonel Stracy
replied that the fact that he, the plain
till, had signed document Of the ma
turc OF the one already described could
not be overlooked.
A letter from General Williams 10
Sir William Gordon Cummings was
then read and placed in evidence. II
was addressed "My Dear Bill, - and It's
contents were that nothing was left TO
him, the plaintiff, but TO place himself
rior officer, Colonel Stracy, as he had
done. The letter also contained the
following:
''You are quite at liberty to tell Col
Stracy that you signed the document
under extreme pressure and promise Of
secrecy
The witness here said: ~ have nov
or for moment ceased 70 deny the ao-
cusation made against me.
Later ON, Sir William denied that he
had said TO Mr. Berkeley Leavett:
"Could you not see that you were mis-
taken?n
A sensation was created at this point
by Sir Charles Russell, who, after hear
ing this last denial from the plaintiff,
remarked gravcly, fixing his eyes stead
ily on the baronet In the witness box:
Colonel Sir William Cumming, you
will have TO be careful
A low murmur Of comment passed
over the people in court as Sir Charles
Russell uttered these words. The
plaintiff evidently noticed the effect
they had, for almost Immediately after
he seemed to lose his jaunty careless
ness, and he acknowledged that he had
"said something of that sor1 TO Mrs.
Berkeley Leavett.n
This caused another sensation in
court and it seemed to be admil,ed
without a word being spoken on the
subject that the counsel Jor the defend
ants had scored his first real decided
advantage in the legal tilt which had
been going on for two days between
himself and the soldier baronet in the
witness box. Sir Charles Russell did
not seem 10 notice the advantage he had
gained, but on the contrary appeared 70
be desirous Of leading the jury's atten-
tiOn away from this damaging admis-
sion and consequently branched of into
a lengthy and somewhat uninteresting
cross-cNamination OF the plaintiff con-
corning certain letters.
After a brief redirect examination
upon the part OF the solicitor general,
Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for
Sir William Gordon Cummings. the
plaintiff was excused from any further
questioning and the prince Of Wales
was called to the witness box. The
prince half smiled when he arose from
his arm chair and walked slowly TO the
witness box, his every movement
watched by all present The prince
gave his testimony In a clear and un-
ruiled manner In substance he said:
"I have known the plaintiff for
twenty years and have been his friend
FOR the last ten years. He visited my
house several times Our intimacy
continued until last September. / /
observed nothing suspicious in the
plaintiffs play at Tranby Croft. was
first informed Of the reports current in |
regard to Sir William Gordon Cumming /
by Lord Coventry"
Confederate Veterans,
JACKSON Miss lime The TTnifad /