The morning call., 1891-06-02
Sir William Gordon Cumming Sues Ills
ACGuSGfS for SlandHr.
The Celebrated BaCGarat Case Being Yentl-
lated In The London C0urtS-The
Prince Of Wales Present.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.


slander, commenced before Lord Chief
Justice Coleridge to-day Long before the
hour fixed for the hearing of the case the
courtroom was filled with crowds Of fash
iouable people, who had been lucky enough
TO obtain tickets. Justice CUleridge had
given orders that admission to the court
was to be by special ticket only, and he an
bounced that he would be able to accommo-
date only few Of the most distinguished
applicants Oh tie bench beside him, reserv-
ing the main body Of the court for members
OF the bar, witnesses, jurymen and about
thiTty-fve newspaper representatives. The
result was that crowds Of angry, disap-
pointed people were seen outside the court
The first tremor of excitement was caused
by the arrival in the courtroom of Cum
ming, the plaintiff, accompanied by his cOun-
sci, Solicitor-Geueral Clarke and Dr.. Gill.
Opposed to these legal lights are Sir Charles
Russell, Mr.. ASQuith and Arthur Russell
who came in accompanied by the defend
ants. 1t was intended that Attorney-G u
eral Webster and Sr Charles Russell should
be th e leading coulse fer the defendants,
but, owing to the fact that Webster was
obliged to appear in another case, he was
compelled 10 resign az the last moment Sir
Charles Russell viii act as leading counsel
for all the defendants. The plaintiff was
cool anu calm, but apparently net in the
best of humOr.
THE PRINCE ARRIVES.
The heir apparent to the throne entered
the courtroom shortly after Il O'clock, ac-
companied 10y his private Secretary. The
Prince took his seat near Justice COlerdge.
The entrance of the Prince of Wales was
the signal Tor the CourtpTOceedingS to cCm-
mence. No sooner was tbe Prince seated
than jury was sworn and Lord Chief JUS
tice COleTidge, taking his seat on the bench
and addressing Solicitor-Generel Clarke, the
leading counsel for the plaintiff, said in sub
stance that he desired Tie Prince OF " ales
should be kept in court as short time as
possible. To this the S0llcitUr-GeneTal as
sented.
Sir Edward Clarke amid almost breath
less silence, then opened the case for the
plaintiff. He said the charge most
serious one. He detailed the circumstances
OF the now famous card party al 1rauby
Croft Arthur Wilson's residence, during the
D0ncaSter meeting in September, 1880. Bac-
carat said tie S0llc.tor-General, had never
before been played at ITanby Croft 1t
would be his duty 10 put the Prince Of Wales
and General Owen Williams in the witness
box. and their testimony would satisfy the
jury that th6y saw nothing wrong on the
part OF Cumming. He concluded his ad-
dress by making a brilliant, eloquent and
passionate appeal to the jury in behalf of
his client. ' he, he claimed, was plainly the
victim Of circumstances and Of a false desire
10 avoid the scandal " hich would have i'm
plicated his hosts at IThnby Croft, and his
old friends y no played baccaraJ with hun
there.
GORDON CUNNING TESTIFIEs.
At the conclusion Of the SOliritOr-Gen-
erals speech Sir William Gordon Cumming,
plaintiff, Was called 10 the witneSS-b5X.
Plaintiff said the Prince OF Wales acted as
banker upon the occasion referred 10, and
that General lllIamS was CTOupleT. His
Dlaintiff's) attention was not called the FIRST
night September SID 10 the cOmpla Mt
made against him. The following evening,
be said. wien dressing for dinner, Lord
Coventry and General Williams came to
him in bis bedroom at IranUy Croft. The
fOTmeT said that some Of the people STAYING
there said that he Cumming bad, while
playing baccarat the previous evening. re-
sorted to foul play. Plaintiff said that he
then replied that this was a foul, abOmin-
able charge and deliberate fasehOOd, add
ing addressing Lord Coventry aud General
Williams: What am TO do? You two
aEe my old friends; for goodness sake, say
what is TO b. done" Plaintiff then re-
marked that In addition to this request
he placed the whole matter entirely in their
hands, and that, after dinner, at tile sugges-
tiOn of Lord Coventry and General Will
ialus, be- the plaintiff, had an interview
with the Prince of Wales to whom he re-
pudiated the charge brought against him,
and SAID: Your Royal HIghness will see
what a terrible thing this Is for me, who
have been attempting for twenty years TO
lead the life Of an officer and gentleman"
To this, according to plaintiff, the Prince
of Wales replied; What can you do?
There are FIVE accusers." Sir William Cor
don Cumming said he answered that the
first Impulse 'iS to publicly insult my ac-
cuseTs upon the Tace-cOurse Tomorrow.
To this the Prince Of Wales, the plaintiff
testified, replied, What is the use? There
are five against your Continuing, Sir
William said half an hour after his inter-
view with the Prince he was summoned into
another room, where he found Lord COVen-
try and General Williams, who told him the
only way to avoid horrible scandal WAS
10 sign a document, which had already been
produced and read. Plaintiff said although
1t was tantam0uut TO an admission Of guilt
be was persuaded to sign II, believing he
euuld trust his honor t. Williams and Cow
entry. Cumming concluded his testimony
with a solemn denial that he had ever
cheated at cards at TTanby Croft or any
where else.
THE INSTRUMENTATION.
The cToss-eXaminatiOn Of he plaintiff was
then commenced by Sir Charles Russell,
leading counsel for defendants. The plain
tiff said he had no reason TO suspect malice
on the part Of any OF the defendants.
Sir Charles Russell then glanced az q
paper, and turning toward the plaintiff con-
tinued. And does this express your Opin-
iOu?' TReadingl: The worst of it is that
feel that they are acting perfectly col-
scientiously iii the matter, and they be-
lieye that they did see me resort to foul
Pardon me, cried Sir William quickly,
drawing himself up. his eyes sparkling and
his whole manner denOtug considerable ex-
citement, Are you reading from any let
ter Of miDe?"
Sir Charles Russell replied yes, does il
express your feelings"
Yes" replied the plaintiff sharply.
Then Sir William, under the cross
examination, explained at length several
points in regard TO baccarat playing. He
table while PLAYING baccarat on the eve u
lngs Of September Sth and 9th, at Tranby
croft, except a small piece of paper and
pencil, aud possibly tumbler
Sir Charles Russell asked the plaintiff a
number OF questions bearing upon the
various points ia the case, and ceVerly
sought TO obtain an admission that the
Baronet had increased his stakes when he
won, aud from the questions put it was evil
dent that the plaintiff would be accused of
so dong after seeing the cards of his
neighbOrs.
Replying to questions, Sir William said
Lord Edward Somerset and Mrs. Coventry
increased their stakes and also Kent
counters in their hands on the table.
STAKES SHOULD BE SEEN.
The plaintiff admitted that on the second
night Of the baccarat games at Tranby
Croft the Prince of Wales said: Il wish
that people would put their stakes where
they could be seen" but the plaintiff added
that he did not think this remark applied to
bin more than to any one else. The Bar
onet also admitted that he kept number Of
counters in his pocket. He did not ask to
be- confronted with his accuSers. 1t was
fnIIV his ha ndI