The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-04
THE BACCARAT TRAP.
How 1t Was Set for the Gallant
Soldier Cumming.
PLAYERS WATCHED HIM CHEAT.
Mr.. Wilson Didn't Allow the Game TO
BE Played Till the Royal sportsmaa
Csme-sensational Court scenes.

LONDON, June 3.-There was still the
same crowd Of fashionable people present
this morning when the court opened 70
continue the trial of the baccarat case.
The Prince of Wales was in his usuai
place. Sir Charles Russell, the Leading
counsel for defendants, commenced ms an-
dress on behalf of his clients. There were
nine persons concerned in this melancholy
business, said Sir Charles, all OF whom
have known the plaintiff tCumming) for
many years Plaintiff admitted that his ac-
cusers were acting conscientiously IN this
matter, and the jury would find 1t impos-
sible to believe that those persons were
mistaken in regard to the character OF
plaintiff 3 conduct on the nights Of the
Sth and 9th of September. Plaintiff
had admitted that they were all
persons of honor and honesty, and
having made charges they adhered to
them, and plaintiff had not asked TO be
confronted with either of his accusers.
The objections to secrecy came from Licett
Green, who asked that the matter be
thrashed ont, then and there, in order to
avoid the possibility of the plaintiffs after
ward repudiating the charges. Plaintiff
had signed degrading, humiliating docu-
his slanderers to justice until he found
himself in another tight place. Then he
turned upon those who had been quiet and
prepared to keep their agreement, though
in their eyes he was dishonest man.
With this remark Sir Charles seemed to
take up another line of argument, for he
said, looking earnestly at the jury: and
now how about the three principal actors
t,t- 49, her
DO you, gentlemen of the jury, doubt that
plaintiff knew that each of those gentle
men declared him guilty? He knew that
in their eyes he was no longer in the cate
cory of honorable men. Was it conceiva-
BILE that an honorable man under such cir
cumstances should bear such an odious
burden upon him." Defendants would tell
the jury that their mouths remained
closed in this matter until January z,
1891, four months after the baccarat games
at Tranbycroft. When Sir William made
an attempt through Berkeley Levett, one
of the witnesses, to secure notifications
or withdraw the charges, defendants de-
elared that they were prepared TO sub
stantiate the charges which they had made
against Sir William Gordon Cumming.
Sir Charles Russell then laid special
stress upon the peculiar circumstances
under which the action was brought and
referred at length to the interview which
Sir William had with Lieutenant Levett,
who was subaltern in plaintiffs regi-
nent. and who, being asked by Sir Will
lam to do what he could with Mrs Arthur
Wilson in regard to the baccarat scandal,
replied that he could not disbelieve his
own eyes, though, he added, he would
gladly do anything for the sake of Sir
William and for the sake of the regiment
to which they belonged. Plaintiffs con-
Duct" Sir Charles continued, "at no
stage OF this distressing story, has been
the conduct of an innocent and honorable
man. Would an honorable man have laid
quiet under the charges made against the
plaintiff or signed the confession which
plaintiff signed?" Counsel for defendants
then said the suit was brought only when
plaintiff failed In his efforts to secure his
retirement on halfpa y from the army
Sir Charles dilated upon the innocent
character of the Tranbycroft card party
and the mild character of the baccarat
games played there, saying one of the sat-
isfactory results Of this case has been the
dissipation of the absurd notions which
rences at Tranbycroft. At the request of
Sir Charles Russell, models of the whist
tables used each night in Tranbycroft in
September for playing baccarat, in default
Of the regular baccarat tables, with the po-
sitions of the players especially marked
upon them, were produced. Sir Charles
also caused the jury to be shown photo
graphs of the rooms at Tranbycroft, where
the now historical games of baccarat were
played. The jurymen examined these ex-
hibits with great deal of care, asked
questions about the game, the tables and
positions of the players, ETC., and conferred
with each other upon several points which
were raised by the production of the ex-
hibit. SIR Charles also dwelt upon the in
tricacies of the game and explained to the
jury that from the positions which, as
they could see from the tables, the players
occupied, it was utterly impossible for wit
nesses to be mistaken as to the conduct
with which Sir William was charged
1t was noticed that the Prince of Wales
and Sir William Gordon Cumming fol-
lowed Sir Charles speech with great at
tention and deep interest. In describing
the events which took place Sir
Charles said Arthur S. Wilson witnessed
repeated acts of cheating on the part OF
Sir William Gordon Cumming. and that
when he (Wilson) turned to Levett and
whispered, Cumming is cheating" the
latter QLevett) replied: Nonsense. YOU
are mad" But" added Sir Charles
berkeley, "Levett, after receiving this
communication, had been attentive to the
game. watched Sir William play and saw
for himself that what Arthur Stanley Will
son had said was true. After the play was
over Wilson told his mother, Mrs. Arthur
Wilson, and Mr.. and Mrs. Licett Green OF
what he had seen while Cumming was
playing, and they agreed on the fol.
lowing night TO have for the bac.
carat playing properly marked
table with a line upon it beyond which the
players stake must be placed" Continu-
ing, Sir Charles said: Papers which
had been drawn up in regard to the bacca-
rat scandal said that the plaintiff should
be watched. Beyond the marked table.
however, there was no concert of action OF
any kind, but all who knew the story OF
the previous days play, and SIR William s
actions. saw the latter repeat the actions
complained Of"
Renewed interest was shown upon the
part of the most attentive audience gath.
bred in the court of the queens bench
when Arthur Stanley Wilson. son of the
millionaire owner of Tranbycroft, and a
leading stakeholder in the well-known
Wilson line Of steamers, plying between
Hull, London, New York and many other
1orts, entered the witness box as the frs;
witness for the defense. Wilson testified
10 the fact that on the first night of the bac-