The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-04
ENGLAND'S BIG SCANDAL.
NO ABATEMENT OF THE INTEREST
IN THE TRIAL.

Fashionable Women-Lord Chief
Justice Coleridgs's Wife end Other
Ladies on the Bsnch-The Prince of
Wales Present.
LONDON, June 3.-There was no abate>
ment to-day Of the interest Ia the baccarat
scandal trial, and to all appearance the
same crowd Of fashionable people, ladies
court. and lunch baskets and pocket TASKS
were out in IL anything stronger force than
ever. 1t is too early to sum up the
effect of the testimony already
taken upon the mind of the British
public. Il is safe to say, however, that
both ths plaintiff and defendants in the libel
suit, to say nothing of the Prince of Wales.
have not shown up in very bright oolors.
Even the Prince of Wales best friends are
said to admit unwillingly that the testi-
mony he gave yesterday was far from being
of nature TO reflect credit upon the future
King Of England and Emperor Of India.
LADIES ON THE BENCH.
Lady Coleridge. the wife of the Lord
Chief Justice OF England, who presides at
the trial, occupied seat on the bench to
with Lady Clarke and Lady Russell TIE
Countess Of Yarbrough, Lady Esher, aud
the reigning beauty Of England, Lady
Brooke, sat immediately behind Lady
Coleridge and her party. This presencs of
fashionable ladies on and about she bench,
with the presiding judges wife, and the
Lord Chief Justice Of England, Is novelty
in British trials which does not find favor
with some of the old dlgnified "big wigs"
THE PRINCE AGAIN IN COURT.
The court was crowded long before the
official opening-11 a. m. The Prince of
Wales was the last Of the interested parties
to appear, and az soon as be had settled
himself in his chair Sir Charles Russell,
the leading counsel for the defend
ants, began his address on behalf OF
his clients. Sir Charles said that his clients
had been, much against their wishes, COM
PEELED to take the course which they bad
adopted. There were nine persons con-
cerned in this melancholy business, all OF
whom have known the plaintiff for many
years"
THE PLAINTIFFS ADMISSIONS.
The plaintiff admitted, he said, that his
accusers were acting conscientiously in this
matter, and the Jury would fnd it impos-
sihle to believe that those persons were mis-
taken In regard to the character Of the
plaintiffs conduct on the nights Sept 8 and
8, 1890. The plaintiff had admitted that
they were all persons OF honor and honesty,
and having made the charges they
adhered to them, and the
plaintiff had not been asked to
be confronted with either of his accusers.
The plaintiffs conduct at no stage of this
distressing story had been the conduct Of
an innocent and honorable man. No inno-
cent and honorable man would have lain
quiet under the charges made against the
plaintiff or have signed the confession
which the plaintiff signed.
MILD GAME.
Sir Russell dilated upon the innocent
character of the Tranby Croft card party,
and the mild character Of the baccarat
games played there in September last, say
ing: Zone of the satisfactory results of
this case has been the dissipation or the alb
surd and preposterous notions which have
been formed in regard to the occurrences at
Tranby Croft"
At the request of Sir Russell models OF
the whist tables used each night at Tranby
Croft in September for playing baocarat dn
default of the regular baccarat tables) with
the position of the players especially marked
upon them, were produced. Sir Rnssell
also caused the jury TO be shown
photographs Of the rooms at Tranby Croft
where the now historical games of baccarat
were pIdyeo. Auo JuI IJIuoH oAouihHcu bhoso
exhibits with a great deal of care and asked
a great many questions about the game.
STORY OF THE CHEATING.
Arthur Stanley Wilson, son of the
owner of TranbY Croft, was the first witness
for the defense. MIR. Wilson testified that
on the first night Of the baocarat playing at
Tranby Croft, Sept. s. he saw a red counter
representing e5 on piece of paper in front
of Sir Cumming, when the latter's tableaux
won; Sir William had his hands in front
of him and he also had 95 counter In the
palm of his right hand. The baronet, ac-
cording to this witness, then looked at Sir
that he held a natural and court
card, he (Sir Wiliam) at once
dropped the g5 counter from his
right hand and was paid on both Of the
counters he had thus placed on the table.
Mr.. Wilson said that he saw the same thing
repeated by Sir Cumming the same evening
and that he then told Berkeley Levett that
the baronet was cheating at cards.
BOTH SAW HIM REPEAT IT.
Me ,srs Wilson and Lsvett both watched and
saw Sir Cumming repeat what has been de-
scribed on the same night and the following
one. When the disclosures were made the
Prince of Wales questioned the witness, Mr..
Levett and Mr.. Green in regard to what
they had seen of wrong nature during the
baccarat playing, and Mr.. Green asked
to be confronted with the plaintiff.
Replying to further questions Mr.. Wilson
said that from the time he (the witness) had
signed the paper until the action for dam
ages brought against tho defendants was
summoned, he had never said word to
anybody in connection with the affair
known as the "baccarat scandal"
WILSON A REGULAR DUDE.
Upon cross-examinetion the witness said
that he had no occupation, and that he had
been at Cambridge University for year.
But" he added, my father thought II
only a waste of time my staying there.
Roars of laughter at Mr.. Wilson's expense
followed this admission. Mr.. Wilson is q
young man of %, confident self
satisfied and self-possessed in manner and
dressed in the hight of fashion. Mr.. Viii
son said that baccarat was played al
Tranby Croft in 1889. "but father objected
to it and it was not played there again until
upon the occasion OF the Prince of Wales
visit in September. 1890"