The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-06-03
HIS TESTIMONY CAUSES A SENSA
TION IN COURT.
The Canadian Government Passes an
Order Permitting the Importation
of American Cattle in Bond for
Strengthening Purposes-The Queen
Afraid That She May Contract the
Influenza
Special to the RECORD UNION.
Influenza.

day.
Long before IL o'clock, the hour fixed
for the opening of the court, all the seats
were filed. Many of those present
brought their lunches so that they would
not be compelled to lose any part of the
proceedings by going out to eat.
The plaintiff, Sir William Gordon Cum
ming, resumed the witness stand and
was pressed with cross-examination
questions by Russell. The plaintiff said
he took the present legal proceedings be-
cause the baccarat scandal had become a
public matter of conversation and COM
ment, and because it reached the clubs to
which he belonged, the Turf Club and
the Marlborough Club among others.
and had he not have taken action in the
matter his clubs would certainly have
done so.
Witness then said:, II have never for
moment ceased to deny the accusation
made against me.' Later on Sir Will
lam denied that he had said to Berkeley
Levett, Gould you not say that you
were mistaken" A sensation was Gre
ated at this point by Sir Charles Russell,
who, after hearing this last denial from
the plaintiff. remarked gravely, fixing
LIS % StSctO11y vi lI1C IdTOIlGU the
witness-boX, Colonel Sir William Cor
don Cumming, you will have to be care
full" a low murmur of comment passed
over the people in court as Sir Charles
Russell uttered these words. The
plaintiff evidently noticed the effect they
had, for almost Immediately afterward
his manner seemed to lose some of its
jaunty carelessness, and he acknowI-
edged that he had said something of that
Sort to Berkeley Levett. This caused
another sensation, and it seemed to be
admitted that counsel for defendants had
scored his first real decided advantage.
The Prince of Wales was next called to
the witness-box. The Prince gave his
testimony in a clear voice and with un-
ruffled brow. In substance the Prince
said: Il have known plaintiff for twenty
years. and have been his friend for the
past ten years. He visited my house
several times. Our intimacy continued
unimpaired until last September. / OBJ
served nothing suspicious in plaintiffs
play at Tranby Croft. I was first in
formed of the reports current in regard to
Sir William by Lord Coventry"
A juror asked: what was your opin-
ion at the time the charges were made
against the PLAINTIFF"
To this the Prince suavely replied
1.-THE charges made. against him were so
unanimous that / had not any other
COuIS6 open 10 IIlG lldI 10 D6l1eye Clolll.'
The Princes last answer caused an
other flutter of excitement, followed by
whispered comment.
The juror apparently had succeeded in
bringing out Squarely and beyond possi-
bic doubt the fact that the Prince of Wales,
in view of the evidence which had been
placed before him at Tranby Croft by the
ladies and gentlemen who had played
baccarat with Sir William Cumming Sep
TENDER Sth and 9th, had become CON
WINGED of the plaintiffs guilt.
When the murmur of establishment
which greeted the jurors questions and
the Princes answers had subsidized, Sir
Edward Clark, seeing he must do some
thing to regain the ground which seemed
to have been lost by the plaintiff in the
estimation of the jurymen, said, address
ing the Prince of Wales: 81 take it your
highness' answer to the first question put
to you by the juror was, substantially,
that you had not seen any malpractice
during the games of baccarat played at
Tranby Croft last September
The Prince assented to this, and his ex-
animation was concluded. He gave his
evidence in a hating, hesitating manner,
and he seemed to be very glad and ex-
ceedingly relieved when his examination
was over.
General Owen Williams was the next
witness. He related the incidents con-
nected with the games, his testimony in
the main concurring with the previous
witnesses.
On cross-examination by Sir Charles
Russell, he said that on the second night
of the playing he heard the Prince of
Wales tell the plaintiff that he should
keep his hands further back, because he
the Prince) could not see the stakes.
The General said he and others who
were present at Tranby Croft told the
plaintiff that the signing Of the document
agreeing never to play cards again was
the only way out of the difficulty, and if
he did not do so he would have to leave
the house, and would, in addition, be
warned off of every race-course in Eng
land or elsewhere.
This last piece of testimony caused a
decided sensation.
When Sir Charles Russell asked Gen
eral Williams why he continued to adj
dress the plaintiff as Dear Bill'' in the
letters after the baccarat scandal, witness
explained that witness was suffering
agony of mind, and that he (GeneraD did
not wish to add to his old friends grief.
At another part Of the cross-examination
the General admitted that the plaintiff
had reproached Lord Coventry and him
self for giving plaintiff what he termed
bad advice"
Sir Charles RusselIs cross-examina-
ton of Sir William Gordon Cumming
was pronounced 10 De very successful
effort. What Sir Charles wanted was
the plaintiff to admit that he remained
quiet so long as he thought the facts in
connection with the scandal would not
get atioat, and the fact that they did get
out, and no loftier motive, led Sir William
to take the present proceedings. But be-
tween Sir Charles and the plaintiff there
was long and stubborn contest, Sir
William parrying the lawyers thrusts
skillfully.
Finally, abiding to the compact of
secrecy, the plaintiff said: "Yes, / lived
in FOOLS paradise for time. AT last 1
had to act, because, had / not done so,
the thing would have been taken up by
my club, by my friends and my regi-
ment.'
THAT is what wanted" remarked Sir
Charles.
Sir Charles cross-examined the Prince
of Wales with some show of airiness.
The word ''you,'' in Sir Charles cross-ex-
animation, took the place of ''your
royal highness' and sir" which had
plentifully interlarded Sir Edward
Clarke's questions. But, though Glad
stones Attorney General (RusselD
showed, to certain degree, his Liberal
sympathies, he was manifestly tender in
his handling of the royal witness. In
fact, the general opinion formed in the
COURTROOM was that there was tacit
agreement between the leading counsel
that they were to fish for and get nothing
from the Prince which any other witness
could supply. Only once did the Prince