Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-02

ing considerable. excitement. s'Are you
reading from any letter OF miner"
Sir Charles Russell replied: eyes;
does it express your feeling?"
YES" replied the plaintiff sharply.
Then Sir William, under cross-ex-
animation, explained at length several
points in regard to baccarat playing.
He also said he had nothing before him
on the table while playing baccarat on
the evenings of September 8th and 9th
at Tanbycroft, except a small piece of
paper and pencil, and possibly tum-
bier.
Sir Charles Russell asked plaintiff
number of questions bearing upon va
rious points in the case, and cleverly
sought to obtain the admission that the
baronet increased his stakes when he
won, and from the questions put, H was
evident that the plaintiff would be ac-
cused OF so doing.
Replying to questions, Sir William
said Lord Edward Somerset, and Mrs.
Coventry, increased their stakes and
also kept counters in their hands, as
we'll as on the table.
Plaintiff admitted that on the second
night of the baccarat games, at Tanby-
croft, the prince of Wales said: II wish
the people would put their stakes where
they could be seen, but plaintiff added
that he did not think this remark ap-
piled to him more than to anyone else.
The baronet also admitted that he kept
a number of counters in his pocket. He
did not ask to be confronted with his
accusers. 1t was folly ON his part, he
admitted, but he did many foolish
things that evening. When he had
pistol presented at him in the form OF
this most horrible charge, he lost his
head.
In reply to further questions put by
Sir Charles Russell, plaintiff said he
did not recollect General Williams say
ing that the Duke of Cambridge would
not be so lenient as they had been. He
(plaintiff) never ceased to regret that he
had signed document agreeing never
to play cards again. The baronet ad-
mitted that within twenty-four hours
after signing this document, he received
letter from Lord Coventry and
General Williams, saying there
was no possibility of doing other
wise than to believe him guilty,
as there were five people against one.
He (Sir Charles Gordon Cumming)
signed the document in question be-
cause his friends advised him that he
had no chance to prove his innocence,
as there were five against him, and in
order to avoid scandal which would
necessarily involve the prince of Wales.
The plaintiff added that had General
him any indication that they
had belief in his guilt, he
would not have signed the document
presented to him.
Sir Charles Russell at this stage of
the proceedings, read letter which Sir
William Gordon Cumming had handed
to General Williams before leaving
Tanbycroft, in which the barenet said
he hoped General Williams would tell
the Prince of Wales that he (Sir Will
liam) had been guided by the
advice given by the prince,
Lord Coventry and General Williams
(though he denied the allegations made
against him). as it was essential to avoid
scandal. In this letter, Sir William
also said he should never touch another
card, and expressed the wish that his
winnings should be given to some hos
pital. Answering another question,
plaintiff said he had received
a memorandum signed by the
Prince Of Wales, Lord Cow
entry and General Williams, saying
they did not desire to be unnecessarily
hard, but he (Sir William) must clearly
understand that in the face of the over
whelming evidence presented it was
useless to attempt to deny the accusa-
tion against him, and so long as he com
piled with the conditions set forth in
the document he (plaintiff) had signed,
silence would be maintained.
The court, aftel hearing further testi-
mony for plaintiff, adjourned. The
prince of Wales remained throughout.