Evening journal., 1891-06-03


secret, through his sympathy for Cum-
ming. One OF the rumors floating about
in the afternoon was that Cumming had
d0ubly offended the prince by his free re-
marks regarding the prince and Lady
Brooke, and that had Cumming kept his
tongue stin as to the prince and the lady
he would have had inffuenee enough be-
hind him to save him from the present
disgrace.
The Prince Tells His story.
When the Prince Of Wales was called TO
the stand be smiled good naturedly aud
walked slowly to the witness box. His
every movement was watched by all pres
ent The prince gave his testimony in
clear voice and with an unruftied brow. In
substance the prince said:
II have known the plaintiff for twenty
years and have been his friend for the past
ten years He visited mS house several
times Our intimacy continued unim-
paired until last September. ! observed
nothing suspicious In the plaintiffs play
at Tranby Croft / was first informed of
the reports current in regard to Sir VIII.
lam Gordon Cumming by Lord Coventry.
Continuing. the Prince of Wales said
that the sad event (the charge) broke up
the party He, the prince, sealed the docu-
ment up, put it in packet, and sent it to
his secretary, Sir Francis Knollys, who
was not aware of the nature of the con
tents Of the packet. The latter, said the
prince, remained in a safe place until II
was sent for in connection with the pres
ent proceedings The document inside the
packet, the prince explained, was the
statement OF three gentlemen and OF two
ladies, whose names had been mentioned
| (Mr. and Mrs Lycett Green, Mr.. and Mrs
Arthur Wilson, and Mr. Borekeley Levett)
The prince then said:
II did not see any Of the five persons In
question until after Sir William Gordon
Cumming had an interview with me and
denied the charge brought against him.
When heard the gentlemen's story sew
eral days afterward Lord Coventry and
General Williams prepared a precis Of
what had taken place and handed it to me.
Cross Examined by Russell.
Crossexamined by Sir Charles Russell,
the Prince OF Wales was asked:
"Do you recollect whether in addition
To the three gentlemen referred to, you
also saw Lord Edward Somerset and Cap
tain Somerset an Tranby Croftr
II believe that did. "
ITO whom certain statements were made
by the other three gentlemen
YES"
"Had you also been informed that the
two ladies, whom you did not at the time
see, had alleged that they also witnessed
the cheating"
II was not"
''In reference TO this statement contin-
ued Sir Charles Russell, could you charge
your memory as to whether any Of the
three gentlemen said anything about with
drawing portion Of the stake and that
Sir William Gordon-Cumming systemati-
cally placed larger stake on the table
than was originally placed theresH
II do not recollect that any such state
ment was made.
''Was the memorandum a suggestion
Of yours or another's in which you nc
quiesced"
"The suggestion did not come from me
l acquiesced in the suggestion made by
Lord Coventry. l was greatly distressed
at the occurrence. was present at an
interview with Sir William Gordon Cum
| ming in the presence Of General Williams
and Lord Coventry, think. He (Sir Will
iam) asked me whether believed the state
ment made about him, but do not recol-
lect what I replied"
The Prince Cuta Cumming.
"You are quite clear in your recollection
| Of the fact that Sir William Gordon-Cum
ming referred to the Duke OF Cambridge
81 am quite certain Of It, He seemed to
think that the authorities and the Duke OF
| Cambridge would not look 80 leniently
/ upon the matter as we did"
"Did you desire under the circumstances
to act as leniently as possible out of re-
| gard for Sir William Gordon Cummingg''
"Most certainly. The date of the docu-
ment was omitted by Lord Coventry and
affixed to it after it had been signed This
was done on the same night that the docu-
ment was signed"
'4Have you met Sir William Gordon
Cumming since the occurrence at Tranby
Croft" asked Sir Charles
NO" answered the prince. sit would
be more agreeable not to do So" At thLH