Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-05
A LADY ON THE STAND.
Mrs. Lycett Green Testifies I'm the Baccarat
Case-Sir Williams Nervous Infirmity.

| Case-S1r Williams Nervous 1nfirmity.
In the trial of the Tranby Croft baccarat
scandal case in London yesterday after THE
STARS report closed Mr.. Green was cross
examined by Mr.. Gill, who soon managed to
considerably liven up the proceedings. Mr..
Gill began by asking the witness a number OF
questions as to his duties on the day of the
races, and witness replied in substance that
they consisted in entertaining a race party.
! Mr.. Gill thereupon remarked that luncheon
was going on all the afternoon, perhaps.
To this the witness angriy replied, do you
hint that was drunk?' question which was
followed by loud laughter in courtahd by mo,
no." from Mr.. Gill.
The lord chief justice here again interposed,
| saving that he did not understand the drift of
| the cross-eNamination as conducted by Mr..
Gill. The latter promptly replied: perhaps
! the jury understand that there is much more
In tins case than is seen On the surface"
| Continuing. the witness. who had by this
time recovered his composure, said that he
had certainly not told the Prince of Wales that
| the plaintiff had made Withdrawals of counters
when the cards were against him. Mr.. Green
| also repeated his denial that an agreement had
been entered into to watch Sir William Gordon
Cumming. He added, however, "But after
having been informed that Sir William Gordon
Cumming was cheating j naturally looked at
his play on the second night"
Later" the witness continued, 81 was hor-
rified at the plaintiff acts at the card table.
After this avoided watching him.
AIRS. LYCETr GREEN ON THE STAND
Mrs. Lycett Green, wife of the last witness
and daughter of Mr.. Arthur Wilson, ST., was
the next witness called to the stand. Mrs.
Lycett Green said that In 1898 Sir William Cor
don Cumming dined at her house and there
taught her to play baccarat. Mrs. Green ex-
planned that she had previously met the plain
TN at the house OF her mother. Mrs. Arthur
wilson, and that she had intimately known q
relative of Sir William Gordon Cumming for
which relative she had great regard. Mrs.
Green then described the positions of the bac-
carat players during the games played at
Iranby Croft III September last, and said, in
reply to a question the subject put by
Sir Charles Russell, that she hsard the
Prince of Wales several times tell the
plaintiff to put his stakes where they
could be seen. Upon one of these occasions
Sir William Gordon Cumming replied, accord
ing to this witness. at is on the paper in
front of me. Mrs. Green added that she no
tlced that the plaintiff on the night in question
WAS I'm luck and nothing more" The witness
then gave an account of the events which took
place during the second night of the baccarat
playing, after she had been ihfor ed that Sir
William Gordon Cumming had been seen
cheating. Mis-. Green's testimony in this re-
spect agreed in every essential detail with that
gwen by the witnesses on behalf of the defend
ant who had previously been examined.
heply1ng TO question on the subject Mrs.
Lycett Green positively declared that she had
not mentioned the unpleasant baccarat Incl
dent to anybody but her husband until legal
action was brought against herself and the
other defendants by Sir William Gordon Cum
ming.
The solicitor general. Sir Edward Clarke,
had just commenced his cross-examnation of
MIS- Lycett Green, from which nothing of any
material interest had transpired, when the
court was adjourned until today.
Mrs. Green Is quiet-looking young lady of
fair complexion. She answered Sir Charles
Russelis questions in a firm. clear voice and
did not allow her strange position to make her
suner from nervousness AS she was the first
of the ladies of Tranby Croft to give testimony
Mrs. Green was exposed to the fire of nearly
every opera glass and lorgnette in court the
moment she took the stand. but even this Gid
not shake her composure to any appreciable
extent
SIR WILLIAMS BROTHER IN MARYLAND.
Sir William Gordon Cumming has brother
Mr.. Alexander Penrose Gordon Cumming
living in Carroll county, Nd, according to the
Baltimore S,o For fifteen years he has led
the life of country gentleman on his farm of
more than 200 acres in Freedom district near
Sykesville. Mr.. Cumming is the second son.
Sir " iliiam Gordon Cumming, as the first son.
received his fathers title and estates. Mr..
Cumming. who is a Scotchman, was educated
at Harrow, and after travelling in Europe came
70 America in 1872 when he was nineteen years
old He lived at the Greenbrier White Sulphur
Springs for while. Then he married Miss
lanes, a daughter of the Venezuelan minister.
In 1876 he purchased his present home.
SIR WILLIAMS NERVOUSNESS.
In speaking of the charges against his brother
Mr.. Cumming said:
Il would not believe him guilty of cheating
unless heard it from his own mouth. Although
he plays for large stakes there is no reason why
he should cheat, as he has three or four thou
sand year besides the income from his regi-
ment He probably signed the agreement
never to touch cards again to shield the Prince
OF Wales. Our mother slightly. affected
with st. Nitus dance and my brother inherited
a nervous affection of the hands. He is always
handling some small article to keep his hands
employed. When at my house he often let
things fall from his hands Being affected this
way. those around the table could easily have
mistaken his actions. His nature is such that
he makes enemies. and it is probable one of
them was in the Tranby Croft game"
Mr.. Cumming is well known at the Maryland
Club, of which he is a member. and in Wash
lngton, where he spends his winters