The morning call., 1891-06-10
CUMMING CHEATED.
The Verdict Found Against The
Plaintiff.
The English BaTOnet Doomed to Social and
Military 0StraCiSm.
The Lord Chief Justice FaYOrS the Prince OF
WaleS-The Result Unsatisfactory
10 The British Public.
Special 70 The MORNING CALI

LONDON, June 9.-The Prince of Wales
was not present this morning when the
court trying the baccarat scandal case was
convened The Lord Chief Justice had
hardly taken his seat when General Owen
Williams stepped to the front of the bench
and said, his face pale and his voice husky:
"My Lord. have TO ask your protection
Yesterday Sir Edward Clarke thought rrOp-
er-" Here the SolicitoT-General, Sir Ed
ward Clarke, spraug to his feet and, in
terrupting General Williams. exclaimed:
''I ask your Lordship to interfere, and that
General Williams should not be allowed 10
make a statement, as he has not the privi-
lege of doing So"
To this General Williams hotly replied
81 was accused of an abomina0le charge"
Here the Lord Chief Justice iuterfered,
saying, Il do not remember the expression,
but DO not think you can be allowed to
speak"
But General Williams persisted in being
heard, remarking, angrily: We were ac-
cuSed Of sacrificing an innocent man. This
statement was made without any evidence
being brought forward for its justidcation.'
Lord Coleridge again interrupted the Gen
eral, remarking with considerable warmth.
81 cannot hear any a'ement from yOu,"
and Immediately commenced his summing
up, while O. neral Williams retired, frOWning
and greatly Disconnected. to his seat
THE CHIEF JUSTICES CHARGE.
The Chief Justice said that if the jury
found defendants had spoken the truth
their verdict should be for the defendants,
but if the jury thought the charges they
made were not true and that Sir William
Gordon Cumming did not do anything wrong
while playing baccaIht at Tranby Croft in
September last, th-n their verdict must be
for the plaintitf. Continuing. the Chief
Justice analyzed at length the evidence
given by the plaintiff, which evidence, be
said, was we'll worthy of consideration.
During another portion of his summing up
Lord Coleridge said the Prince of Wales
presence at Trauby Croft was sufficient to
exulain Lycett Green's objection to creating
disturbance in the baccarat-room or Use
where by calling attention 10 actions which
he objected to on the part of Sir William
Gordon Cumming. Lord Coleridge called
the attention Of the jury to one particular
observation which was made in behalf Of
the plaintiff in the course Of the trial. 1t
was to the effect that there ''Was more in
the case than appeared on the surface"
Against this" the Lord Chief Justice re-
marked, Il most emphaticaliy protest The
jury has nothing to do with things which
are not on the surface. You have to con-
fine yourself 10 the single issue, and what
you have heard and what has been proved
during the trial"
THE LAW DEFINED.
Then the Chief Justice defined the law Of
libel as different from the law of SANDER
and gave special instructions in regard to
amount OF damages which the jury should,
II they so desired, assess, in the event they
found a verdict in the case for the defend
ant. 1t was considered that Lord Cole
ridges instructions were decidedly favorable
70 Sir William Gordon Cumming. But when
the Chief Justice analyzed the evidence of
the defendants and that of General Will
IRmS, the Prince OF Wales aud Lord COven-
try, IL was judged this was, Ia effect, an
Endorsement Of their evidence. In this con-
nection Lord COeridge said Cumming did
not come there TO make fortune, and that
his character would be sufficiently cleared
by the jury awarding him, should the evil
cence warrant L. a small amount in dam
ages. Lord COlerdge also described at
length the high position ana the brave ca
Ieer OF Sir William Gordon Cumming, say
ing the latter went to Tranby Croft an hon.
ored guest and, IF L might be permitted 10
say so, as sort OF prize guest OF whom any
hostess might be proud"
Referring to the Prince of Wales connec-
ton with the case, Lord COeTIdge said
People may say what they like, but they
are all very much pleased 10 have such
guests as the Prince Of Wales Lord COven-
try, aud Lord This, and Lord That, in their
homes. [LaughteT.l Then as to the position
Of the Prince OF Wales, and as 10 the desire
for secrecy manifested by the party at Tran
by Croft, was it not natural that with such
monarchal institutions as ours such a wish
should have existed? 1t must be Temem-
bered such Incidents were brought before a
hard-judging world; not the loyal and
subSeTylent world OF the IudOrS, but before
world whose sense and Judgment had TO
be consulted. Surely, II was not 10 be said
against a man that, under the ciTcum-
stances, he should be- anxious TO keep the
scandal quiet" When Lord Colerdge had
proceeded thus far with his charge to the
jury the hour OF nnOn had arrived and the
court, as usual, adjourned for lunch.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
After luncheon the Lord Chief Justice re-
sumed his summing up. While admitting the
impTOOabl lty OF a man Of Sir William Cor
don Cumming position and wealth to cheat,
and cheat his friend, the Prince of Wales
too, Lord COleridge made a strong point
against the plaintiff in CALI & the jury's
attention 10 his failure to face his accusers
Lord Coleridge then said: We have now
come to a very important point, in my mind.
! have carefully searched for, but have
been unable 70 find, any contradiction of
the statement that Sir William Gordon
Cumming was informed of Lycett Green's
desire 10 be confronted with him. II | am
wrong" added the Lord Chief Justice,
turning to Sir Edward Clarke, " l desire to
be corrected"
Sir Edward for the plaintiff, said there
was no evidence that Sir William was in
formed of Lycett Green's desire to be con-
fTOnted with him, the plaintiff. IheTeupUn
Sir Charles Russell, for the Defendants
promptly rose aud read from General Will
iams' testimony that the latter had said in
court that he had informed Sir William
Gordon OF Lycett Green's desire 10 be con-
frOnted with him.
DEFENSE OF THE PRINCE.
Continuing his reference to the Prince of
Wales Lord ColeTidge said the Prince was
be presumed, gentleman, and the instinct
Of an honorable man was 10 range himself
on the side of his friends. II the Prince did
not believe the story he would have made it
a point to show the world he did not
military tribunal, the Chief Justice added,
would Judge If the proceedings with which
General Williams and Lord Coventry were
concerned formed an infracti0n OF the rules
and regulations governing the army, 50 with
that point the jury need not trouble them
selves he SAID he did not know why the
jury had been informed 1t was impossible
for the names Of the Prince Of Wales and
General Owen Williams to rema in on the
army list if the name of Sir William Cor
don Cumming was eliminated therefroms
Ihls had nothing to do with the case. The
1uTy's verdict would not have the slightest
effect upon the military authorities one way
or the other so far as the gentlemen men
toned were concerned.
CUMMINGS CONDUCT CRITICIZED.
Lord ColerGge then turned his attention
to Sir William Gordon Cumming He Sc
verely criticized the Baronet's conduct after
leaving Tranby Croft. His conduct then.
according to the Chief Justice was not of q
nature tending to indicate that the plaintiff
was innocent Of the charges brought against
him. In another and a later portion OF his
charge Lord Coeridge, referring to the criti-
eism which has been heapad unnn the Prince