The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-09
Of Sir William Gordon Cumming.
a Masterpiece.
HE DOES NOT SPARE ROYALTY
He Says the Plaintiff Signed the Precis to Save
Wales-1he General Opinion is Cum.
ming VIII Win.

Sir William Gordon Cummings methods OF
playing baccsrat, saying: IF what Arthur
Stanley Wilson has sworn to took place, il
excluded all that class of suggestions OF
which no trace appeared in the correspond
ence between Sir William, General Will
liams and Lord Coventry to the effect that
the accusation arose from a misunderstood.
ing of the plaintiffs system of play"
Sir Charles said that in his opinion the
only course open to Sir Edward Clarke,
leading counsel for the plaintiff, was to an
nounce the whole accusation as an inven-
ton. This he said would be fatal. "Wss
1t possible for an innocent man TO adopt the
course taken by the PLAINTIFF" asked the
attorney. HE says he did not ask TO be
confronted with the witnesses because he
was advised not to do So But the impulse
OF an honorable man would Lave been TO in
slst that his accCsers should be brought
face TO face with him. Instead of
this, the jury had placed before them
the feeble suggestion that the witness
mlstook for acts OF cheating coups trOis.
If this was SO, the plaintiffs conduct could
have been explained, but there was not a
syllable OF suggestion OF that kind uttered
at Tranby Croft. The plaintiff signed
that paper and knew that by so doing ii
was the same as an admission of guilt"
Sir Charles cleverly endeavored to dis
count the arraignment of the Wilson
family and other members Of the Tranby
Croft bacc arat party, which he anticipated
would be one OF the few errors of the ad-
dress for the plaintiff which Sir Edward
Clarke would make for the other side. con-
GLIDING with the remark, he confidently left
the defendants case in the hands of the
jury, being fully aware that the latter
would do their duty and their verdict
given in their behalf.
When Sir Charles Russell sat down there
was murmur of surprise at counsel for
the defendants having closed his address
rather unexpectedly.
The solicitor general. Sir Edward Clarke,
leading counsel for the plaintiff, took the
floor and in q few sentences tersely in
yited the attention of the jury. He then
commenced by saying it had been ''com-
mon talk" that the Prince of Wales con-
tlnual presence in court during the trial Of
this suit had been for the purpose of re-
straining the tongues 81 the lawyers en-
gagged in the case from commenting upon
the Prince of Wales connection with it.
This remark caused a sensation, but was
nothing to what followed. Continuing, Sir
Edward intimated that the presence of the
Prince of Wales in court would not pre-
vent him from making any comment neces-
sary, saying that he, counsel, had painful
duty to perform and that he intended to
perform it honestly and fairly. His op-
ponents, he continued, had always been
careful to allude to him, counsel for plain
tiff, as the solicitor general" and he
added: while l am proud Of the title,
l must remind the jury that
appear in this case simply as an English
barrister, and l am obliged to disregard my
friendship and even my interests and COM
ment on the conduct and evidence of one of
the highest in the land.''
Sir Edward Clarke as he uttered these
last words turned squarely around until he
faced the Prince OF Wales, upon whom
everybody's eyes in court were then fixed,
who nervously crossed his legs, while the
audience was utterly aghast at what was
considered TO be the audacity of the solicit
tor-generaL In several directions the
whispered comment, "Why, he is going to
attack the Prince OF Wales, :" was distinct
ly heard and caused all attention to be
riveted upon plaintiffs counsel. Continu-
Charles Russell, for defendants, had said
that, even if the jury found for
the plaintiff and disregarded the document
the latter had signed at Tranby Croft. the
military authorities would take the matter
up and that Sir William Gordon Cumming 8
name would be stricken from the army list
l wish to say in unmstakaole terms" ex-
claimed Sir Edward Clarke, raising his
voice until it echoed tellingiy through the
court, THAT it would be impossible for the
authorities to do any such thing and TO
leave on that list the names of Field Mar
shall the Prince Of Wales. and General
Owen Williams"
This bold statement seemed to completely
take away the breath of the audience and
caused by far the greatest sensation of the
entire trial. The hushed murmur of aston
ishment was not unmixed with dismay and
some irritation swept over the court room.
One must thoroughly understand the almost
religious worship of roy atty which prevails
throughout Great Britain 10 clearly under
stand the full meaning of the crushing sig
nificance of the solicitor-generals words
aimed directly at the heir apparent Amidst
this storm the Prince of Walos sat on the
bench to the left of the lord chief justice,
immovable, not a muscle of his face apva-
rently twitching. leaning his head upon mis-
arm and endeavoring to appear totally I'M
concerned.
After the sensation had somewhat sub
sided, Sir Edward directed his attention 10
the discrepancies which he asserted exist
ed between the precis drawn up at Tranby
Croft, which accused Sir William Gordon
Cumming of withdrawing as well as adding
counters to those he had previously staked
al baccarat, ana the statement which the
Wilson family disclaim that there was a
preconcerted plan TO watch Cumming on
the second night of the baccarat playing
Sir Edward followed this with an arraign-
ment of the Wilson's which was most Sc
we're and cutting. ''Yes," exclaimed the
solicitor general. referring TO the Wilson's,
''they undoubtedly have money, but even
if Sir,,William Cumming would condescend
to take from such a source, L shall not ask
the jury to Tx the damages beyond a nomi-
nal sum-"
The solicitor general also dwelt strongly
upon the fact that the Prince OF Wales
General Williams and Lord Coventry all
passed their opinions on Arthur Stanley
Wilson's statement which the latter had
since modified and upon the facS that the
Prince of Wales, Lord Coventry and Gen
eral Williams testified they mad not seen a
single suspicious act upon the part of Sir
William Gordon Cumming. Sir Edward
Clarke dilated upon the facility with
which people imagine things when they
have been previously advised Of their pos
sible existence and whic never really
happen. He said there was nothing in the
accusations against the pla;ntiff that could
not be explained by the system of play
Cumming adopted, though the jury were
asked to believe the plaintiff had descended
to adopting the tricks Of the lowest sharper
The solicitor general commented sarcss-
tically upon the ornamental position occu-
pied by the head of the Wilson family, who.
counsel said, was not consulted throughout
the proceedings, and who apparently had
to give way TO his son. law, Mr.. Lycett
Green, who was deputed to defend the
thirty one" said the solicitor general cut
tinOlr referring 70 Green sswho rode IN