Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-03
THE PRINCE TESTIFIES
A Juror Creates Sensation
in the Baccarat Scan
dal
The Prince of Wales Was
Convinced of Cummings
Guilt
Queen Victoria is Very Much
Distressed by the At
fair

LONDON, June 2-Long before II o'clock,
the hour fixed for the opening OF the
court, all seats were filled. Many OF those
present brought lunches so they would
not be compelled to lose any part of the
proceedings by going out to eat.
The plaintiff, Sir William Gordon Cum
ming, resumed the witness stand. Pressed
In cross examination by Sir Charles Rus
sell, the plaintiff said that he took the
present legal proceedings because the
baccarat scandal had become a public
matter of conversation and comment, and
because it had reached the clubs to which
he belonged, the Turf and the Marlboro
among others; and had he not taken ac-
tion in the matter, his clubs certainly
would have done so.
A letter from General Williams to Cum
ming was then placed in evidence. 1t was
addressed MY Dear BILL" and its con-
tents were to the effect that nothing was
left to him, the plaintiff, but to place
himself unreservedly In the hands of his
commanding officer, Col. Stracey, as he
had done. The letter also contained the
following: "You are quite at liberty 10
tell Col. Stracey that you signed the
document under extreme pressure and a
promise OF secrecy"
The witness here said: 81 have never
for a moment ceased TO deny the accusa-
tion made against me-" Later on Sir
William denied that he said TO Berkeley
Lowell, Gould you not say that you were
mistaken?''
A sensation was created at this point by
Sir Charles Russell. who, after hearing
fkNC los danfal from tho nlaintiH
marked gravely, fixing his eyes steadily
upon the baronet in the box: "Colone
Sir William Gordon Cumming, you will
have to be careful" A low murmur OI
comment passed over the people In the
court room, as Sir Charles Russell uttered
these words. The plaintiff evidently
noticed the effect they had, for almost i'm
medlately afterwards his manner seemed
to lose some Of its jaunty carelessness and
he acknowledged that he said something
OF that sort to Berkeley Lowell. This
caused another sensation and IL seemed tC
be admitted that the counsel for the de-
fendant had scored his first real decided
advantage.
The Prince OF Wales was called to th'
witness box. The prince gave his testi'
mony in clear voice and with an un
ruflled brow. In substance the prince
said: 81 have known the plaintiff fol
| twenty years, and have been his frienC
| for the past ten years. He visited ml
| house several times and our Intimacy con
/ tlnued unimpaired until last September
observed nothing suspicious In th'
| plaintiffs plav at 1hornby Croft. / wa
! FIRST Informed OF the report current In re
/ gard TO Sir William by Lord Coventry"
Continuing. the Prince OF Wales salt
the charges brought against Sir william
| had broken up the party at ThOrnb.
Croft He had sealed the document mp
/ . In, fha narEat and gpnt IN IN his SOC
retary, who was not aware OF the natur
of its contents "The latter" said tn
prince, remained In safe place unit
sent for in connection with the presen
proceedings" The document, inside tn
packet, the prince explained, was state
ment Of three gentlemen and two ladies'
Mr. and Mrs. Lycett Green, Mr.. and Mr.
Arthur Wilson and Mr.. Berkeley LOYel
The prince then said 81 did not Sc
any OF the five persons In question unit
after Sir william had an Interview WIT
me, and denied the charge brough
against him. When / heard the gentle
mans story, several days afterward'
Lord Coventry and General William
prepared a statement OF what had take
place and handed II TO me-"
liz cross s-examination, Sir Charles Rus
sell asked the prince: DO you recolleC
whether, in addition to the three gentle
men referred TO, you also saw Lord Ec
ward Someset and Capt. Somerset Z
Thornby Croft?" The prince replied
II believe | did,"
''To whom certain statements wei
made by the other three gentlemen
asked Sir Charles. Yes replied u
prince.
"Could you charge your memory as
whether any Of the three gentlemen sa
anything about Withdrawing a part
his stake and that Sir William systemat
ala rad lar gfaka tho "a n
when he won than he ordinarily play'
I there?'
~ do not recollect any such stateme
WAS the memorandum a suggestion
E Yours?"
. ~ was greatly distressed at the occu
. renee. | was present at the intervie
with Sir William in the presence Of Ge
eral Williams and Lord Coventry.
: think he (Sir William) asked me wheth
| believed the statement made about hii
but do not recollect what replied"
"Do you remember any reference bel
made TO the Duke Of Cambridge"
4 Decidedly"
Z "Did you desire, under the circuI
stances, 10 act as leniently as possible o
Of regard for Sir William Gordon Cui
mlng?"
AT this stage jurYman caused a sens
: tiOn by rising In his place ana asking "
loud voice: Are the jury TO understa
that you were banking, on these two q
casions, and knew nothing OF the alleg
malpracticesl
The prince hesitated for moment, a.
undecided as TO whether he ought
ought not to reply. Finally he said, wi
half smile, ut Is very easy for
banker, when dealing cards, not TO I
ANYTHING, especially when In a cOmpa
OF friends I'm a country house"
"You did not for moment suppose u
anyone would play unfairly" the 1u
asked. "What was your opinion at
time the charges were made against
PLAINTIFF"
To this the prince savagely repli'
'Tbe charges made against him were
unanimous that | had no other cou
open TO me than 10 believe them"
The princes last answer caused anot
= nutter of excitement, followed by WI
~ pered comment. The Juror had app
emily succeeded in bringing out squar.
- and beyond any possible doubt, the I
that the Prince OF Wales, In view
the evidence which had been pla
IS. before him, by the ladies and geutleu
lr- who played baccarat with Sir Will
Cumming, September 3 and 0, beca
convinced Of the plaintiffs guilt. w
the murmurs OF astonisbment VII
- greeted the Jurors questions and
princes answers subsidized, Sir Edw
y Clarke, seeing that he must do everyth
possible TO regain the ground WI
seemed TO have been lost by