The sun., 1891-06-02
THE BACCARAT SCANDAL.
OPENING OF THE CASE THAT mas
SET ALL ENGLAND TALKING.

|! bhA ALL HN0LhND IALhkN&
Tho Conrt Roon Packed with An the Ranh
and Fsshion IL WIN Hoid-Iora ChasS
Justice Coierides BeRs the Lawyers nee
20 Keep tho Prince OF wales IN Csurt
Longer thsa Possible Sir EdwsrA
Clarke Opens che Case FOR che Piaistia.-
str William Gordon .Cum-ing Thea
Tells Hts story -Cross.exam,ne BIZ siP
Charles Russeii-The Ganbiiae.
LONDON. June 1.-The famous baccarat scan.
dal trial. or the action Of Sir William Gordon.
Cumming against Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett Green.
Mrs Arthur Wilson. Mr.. Arthur Wilson. and
Mr.. Berkeley Levett for slnnder. commenced
before Lord Chief Justice Coleridge to-day ii
the Queens Bench Division OF her Maiesty's
High Court OF Justice. Long hcfore the hour
III A. M fixed for the hoaring Of the case the
court room was nIied with crowds Of fashion.
able people who had been lucky enough to OBJ
tain one OF the rnuch-covetod tickets. Lord
ColeridRe In dlsposinn OF the seats, had TO re-
sist much pressure from swarms Of aristo-
cratic notabilities. male and female. who de-
sired to be present and who eoeme 10 be un.
der the impression that they had right
to be present and that It was for tho Lord
Chief Justice to see that this alleged right
was respected. hut Lord Colcridge was
not 60 easily bulldozed." Ho gave orders
that admission TO the court was to be by
special tickets only. and lie announced that
he would be able to accommodate only q few
OF the most distinguished applicants with
seats beside him on the bench, reservng the
main body OF the court for members Of the
bar. witnesses. jurymen. and about thlrty.flvs
newspaper representatives. The result WAS
that crowds OF angry. disappointed peopls
were to be seen outside tho court mingllng
with tho usual crowd OF sightseers who
naturally gather at the scene of all important
trials. inside the court room resembled the
scene OF some highly fashionable reception
rather than grim law court. Women pre-
dominated. and the display medo OF spring
and summer costumes and the latest in " nan.
cnke" hats was positively bewilderinG. In tho
long galleries ladies charmirgly brilliant In
triumphs OF the modlstes' art. filled the whole
available space. Others. moro favored ard
equally bewitchingly dressed occupied re-
served seats on the bench. All the Indies wore
talking in an animated manner AMI flashing
their lorgnettes hero and there.
The first tromor OF excitement wns caused bv
the arrival In the court room OF sir William
Gordon Cumming. the plaintiff, accompanied
by his counsel. Solicitor. General Clarke and
Mr.. Gill. Opposed 10 these legal lights are Sir
Charles Russell. Mr. Asauith. y. g.. and Mr..
most at the same time as Sir William Gordon
Cumming accompanied by the defendants.
Mr.. and Mrs Lycett Green. Mr.. and Mrs
Arthur Wilson. and Mr.. Berkeley Levett. The
plaintiff was cool and calm. but apparently not
in the best OF humor. He stared boldly. almost
defanty, at his enemies. and then glanced
haughtily. curiously. around the court room,
through the old-fashioned windows iuto which
tho sun streamed gayly. lighting UP the gem
ALL f-A IT,
the toilets OF the ladies.
The Prince Of Wales entered the court short
" after II O'clock, accompanied by Sir Francis
Knollys. X. q. N. G.. his private secretary.
Both the Prince and his secretary passed
through the court ROOM the buzz OF half i-whis.
pered conversation ceasing as the Prince was
recognized and were escorted to seats espe-
cialy reserved for them on the bench and on
the left hand OF the Lord Chief Justice. The
entrance OF the Prince OF Wales was the signal
for tho court proceedings to commence. No
sooner was the Prince seated than the Jury
was sworn. and Lord Chief Justice Coleridge.
taking his seat on the bench anil addressing
the Solicitor. General, Sir Edward Clarke. q. c..
leading counsel for the plaintiff. said in sub.
stance that he desired that the Prince OF Wales
should be kept In court as short n time as pos
sible. and he. Lord Coleridge hoped that his
learned brother would agree to arrange mat.
ters 80 that the Prince should not be detained
any longer than absolutely necessary.
To this the Solicitor Genera calmly replied
that he could not soy exactly whom the Prince
OF Wales would be called upon 10 give his resti-
mony In the case. but he begged TO assure tho
Lord Chief Justice that he desired most heart
lily 10 servo the Princes convenience SO for as
possible.
The Lord Chief Justice thanked his leaned
brother for his courtesy In this matter. and
wished It TO | o remembered that tho Prince Of
Wales did not attend the court as spectator.
but that he did so in obedience to the law. The
OF suppressed APPRECIATION which fol-
lowed this remark showed that the heir Rppar-
ent to tho throne OF England has gained. cer-
tainly not lost. popularity by his attendance at
court like IN everyday subject. whom he could
easily have escaped attendance ON the plea Of
Illness and have had his testimony taken by O
commission.
Sir Edward Clarke. amid almost breathleas
silence. then opened the case for the plaintiff.
He said that the charge was q most serious
one. involving the honor and affecting the
whole future career Of n gallant gentleman Of
hitherto unspotted reputation. who had served
bis country with distinction for period of
twenty three years and who had risen to tho
rank OF Lieutenant- Colonel OF the Guards and
who. during this honorable career. had won
Keber. Sir William Gordon Cumming. saId
he Solicitor General. was wealthy gentle.
nan. moving in the best circles OF society.
Who owned estates In England and Ia
scotland. Sir William Gordon Cumming.
10 added. had been honored for twenty years
With tho intimate friendship Of the Prince OF
Wales. who. In 1881. invited him to be his guest
It Scandinavian. Since that period. continued
he solicltor-G General. the Prince OF Wales had
'eversi times repeated that invitation. and yet
10. Sir William Gordon Cumming was now
'harged with cheating at cards with the obs
ect OF deirauding some OF his most intimate
rieDds.
Continuing. In a slow. clear. deliberativs
'oice. the solicitor General detailed the cir-
ums,anccs Of The now famons card party al
rranby Croft. Mr. Arthur Wilson'S residencs,
Turing the Doncaster meeting In September.
$50. Baccarat. said the Solicitor. General, had
Sir Edward Clarke. Son,inning. said that
here was no proper baccnrat table Mt Yranby