Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-09

/ by Croft baccarat party, which he an
/ ticipated would be one of the features OF
/ the address for the plaintiff which Sir
/ Edward Clarke would make for the
other side, concluding with the remark
that he confidently left the defendants
case in the hands of the jury, being full
/ lv aware that the latter would do their
duty, and by their verdict uphold the
/ evidence which had been given in their
behalf.
When Sir Charles Russell sat down,
/ after having made most able speech
| for the defense, there was murmur OF
surprise, counsel for the defendants hav-
ing closed his address rather uLexpect-
/ edly. Sir Charles had hardly taken his
seat, and was still receiving the con-
gratulationS of his friends, when the So
| licitor General, Sir Edward Clarke.
| leading counsel for the plaintiff, took
/ the floor and in few sentences terSely
/ invited the attention of the jury, his
whole manner indicating that sensa-
tiOn was coming.
Sir Edward commenced by saying
/ that il had been common talk that the
Prince of Wales continual presence in
court during the trial of the suit had
/ been for the purpose of restraining the
tongues of the lawyers engaged in the
/ case from commenting upon the Prince
| OF Wales connection with it. This re-
mark caused sensation, but it was
nothing to what followed further utter
ances of counsel for the plaintiff.
Continuing, Sir Edward intimated
that the presence of the Prince of
Wales in court would not prevent him
/ from making any comment necessary,
| saving that he as counsel had a duty to
perform, and that he intended to per-
/ form it honestly and fairly. His op-
ponentS, he said, had always been care
| full to allude to him, counsel for the
/ plaintiff, as the Solicitor General,
land" he added, "while l am proud Of
that title, l must remind the jury that
| appear in this case simply as an Eng
/ lish barriSter, and l am obliged to dis
regard friendships, and even my own
interests, to comment 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 every eye in Court was then fixed,
/ and who nervouSly crossed his legs,
/ while the audience was utterly aghaSt
\ at what was considered TO be the audac-
itv of the Solicitor General. In several
directions the whispered comment,
'Why, he is going to attack the Prince
of Wales" was distinctly heard, and
caused all attention to be riveted upon
plaintiffs counsel.
Continuing, the SOlicitOr-General re-
marked that Sir Charles Russell, for the
defendants, has said: 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, aud that Sir
William Gordon Cummings name would
be stricken from the army list"
Il wish TO say in unmiStakable terms, :
exclaimed Sir Edward Clarke, raising
/ mis- voice until it echoed tellingly
/ through the Court, "that it would be
/ impossible for the authorities to do any
/ such thing and to leave on the list the
names of the Field Marshal, the Prince
/ of Wales and Gen. Owen Williams"
This bold sentiment seemed 10 COM
pletely take away the breath OF the au-
dience, and caused by far the greatest
sensation of the entire trial. A huShed
murmur Of aStoniShment, not unmiXed
with diSmay and some irritation, and
taking several seconds, swept here and
there about the Court room like break
erS on a rocky coast. One must thor
oughly understand the almost religious
worship of royalty which prevails
/ throughout Great Britain to clearly
understand the full meaning, the
/ crushing significance of the Solicitor
/ Generals words, aimed directly at the
heir apparent. 1t was as If a thunder
/ clap had suddenly shaken the building,
and as if flash Of lightning had unex-
pectedly revealed the Prince of Wales
| in cOlorS totally pected-theSe OF Il
/ common ortal subject 10 the laws OF
/ England, and, according TO the Solicitor
Generals intimation, possible vlolator
Of the military regulations to the extent
that his name was liable 10 be stricken
from the army list.
Amidst this storm the Prince OF
Wales sat on the bench TO the left OF
the Lord Chief Justice, immOvable, not
muscle of his face apparently twitch-
ing. leaning his head upon his arm and
endeavorins to appear totally uncon-
cerned.
After the sensation had somewhat
subsidized, Sir Edward Clarke, apparent
ly satisfied with the effect he had pro-
duced, Greeted his attention to the dis
crepancieS which were shown, he
claimed. between the preciS drawn up at
Tranby Croft, which accused Sir William
Gordon-Cumming of Withdrawing as
we'll as adding counters TO those he had
previously Staked at baccarat. and the
statement (which the Wilson family now
disclaim," that there was preconcert-
ed plan to watch Sir William Gordon
Cumming on the second night OF the
baccarat playing september 9). The
Solicitor General pointed out that the
precis was written when the events TO
which it referred should have been still
fresh in every body'S memory, when the
events first occurred, and that they
were endorsed aS correct by the Prince
of Wales, by Lord Coventry and by
Gen. owen Williams, and yet, he added
now such important details as the agree
ment TO watch the plaintiff were re-
pudiated by the Wilson family.
Sir Edward followed with IN arraign-
ment of the Wilson's which was most
/ S,avere and cutting and which demon