The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-09

CUT AT THE WILSON'S.
Sir Edward followed with cutting ar
raignment of the Wilson family which
demonstrated, from the smiles winch per-
vaded the court room, that the spectators
are not much in sympathy with them.
YES" exclaimed the solicitor general re-
ferring TO the Wilson's, "they undoubtedly
have money" putting a cruel emphasis
upon the word money! "but even II Sir
scend 60 take it from such source l shall
not ask the jury to FIX the damages be-
yond a nominal sum-"
At another stage of his address the solici =
tor general said that il was doubted that
the evidence clearly showed that the Will
son family had agreed to watch Sir Cum
ming on the second night.
FATAL ADMISSION.
But" he added, "they now saw the mis-
take which such an admission would be.
They knew that the effect of such an ad-
mission would be that Tranby Croft would
become a by-word in the land.
We're this established, Tranby
Croft would be In the future known
as the place where a man who. for twenty
three years, had enjoyed an unsullied repu-
tation, consortinR with the highest In the
land, was to be watched and trapped, and
they tthe Wilsons) would at last know that
nobody would ever visit their place again,
a house which would be Stunned by
all honorable people as place
where reputation is not safe.
There is no doubt as 20 the accuracy Of the
precis, as representing the story told to the
Prince of Wales, to Lord Coventry and ia
Gen. Owen Williams. But is it likely that
such men would be careless of what they
put down upon suoh an occasionr
STANDING OF THE WILSON'S.
Another wholesale smile was enjoyed In
the court when Sir Edward referred to the
difference existing between the society
which Lord Coventry and Gen. Williams
had been accustomed to from birth and the
society which the Wilson's had been used
to. The solicitor general also dwelt strongly
upon the fact that the Prince of Wales
Gen. Williams and Lord Coventry all based
their opinions on Arthur Stanley Wilson'S
statement, which the latter had since modi-
fed, and upon the fact that the Prince OF
Wales. Lord Coventry and Gen. Williams
testified that they had not seen a single sus-
picious act upon the part OF Sir William
Gordon Cumming.
WALES LEAVES IN A HURRY.
When the court adjourned for luncheon
the Prince of Wales hurriedly left the court
room, entirely disregarding the greetings OF
con Sir Edward Clarke resumed by sayino
that there was nothing IA the accusationi
against the plaintiff that could not be OK
planned by the system of playing which
Sir William Gordon Cumming adopted
though the jury was asked to believe thai
the plaintiff had descended to adopting the
tricks of the lowest sharper. After bestow
ing more sarcasm upon the Wilson family
and the readiness with which the Prince o.
Walel had listened to theul and condemned
his old friend, the solicitor general looking
straight into the Prince Of Wales' eye
asked: "What was Sir William Gordon
Cummings reasons for sigping the docu'
ment about which 80 much has been said 7
"It was, /" he said, after an effective pause
ito save the Prince Of Wales"
LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.
Among the mass of the people," Sir
Edward continued, uttering each WORD
with startling distinctness, sit is known
that q club or inn could be prosecuted foi
playing baccarat. and in a great part OF the
community there was q feeling that thii
unhappy incident ought never to have beer
allowed to become known, because the cir
cumstances were those which were at vari-
ance with the feeling and with the con
science Of the people"
THE INFLUENCE OF ROYALTY.
"Then there was the strange and subtle
influence of royalty still more solemnly
aud dramatically said the solicitor general
''and Sir William Gordon Cummings ac-
tion in signing that document was due K
the influence which has adorned hlstory
and which has made many knighl
do an unknightly and dishonorin,
deed to save their king: because they gavt
their honor as freely as they would hav,
given their honors for the interest of th,
dynasty or to conceal the foiblos OF prince.
A slight ripple Of applause, which wst
promptly suppressed, broke out In the court
SIGNED TO saw THE PRINCE.
"The document" continued Sir Edwarc
Clarke, with increasing force and amid th,
most deadly silence throughout the court
room, twas signed by Sir William Gordon
Cumming in order to save the Prince OF
Wales from scandal. The motto Of Si
William Gordon Cummings race is with
out fear. He came into the witness boz
without fear, confident of
verdict, which would wipe this stain from
his noble record of service with his gallant
regiment Of brave soldiers"
Sir Edward Clarke's plain languag
throughout when he referred to the Prime
Of Wales, and when he made the assertion
that the precis was prepared by Lore
Coventry and signed by Sir William Cor
don Cumming solely in order to shield the
Prince of Wales from scandal caused one o
the greatest sensations Of this sensational
trial
THE SOLICITORS BASIS.
The solicitor general quoted as basis o
these startling allegations an extract from
the Earl Of Coventry's diary, in which tn
following words occur: I'VE were induces
to recommend this course because we de
sired to avoid a scandal and in order {,
keep the name Of the Prince of Wales ou
Of it"
"Sir William Gordon Cumming, as wei
as the Earl of Coventry" said Sir Edwart
Clarke, lis loyal to the Prince O
Wales, who has been most kim
to him, and Sir William Gordol
Cumming signed that document bscaus
he was willing to sacrifice himself as his olC
| friends were willing to sacrifice him IL
order TO save the reputation of one, recol
lection of whose friendship will always b
bright in his memory"
NOT TOO LATE.
The solicitor general then said slowly 3
Jury: "Is is too late to undo much Of tn
mischief which has been done" and, tnel
facing the Prince of Wales and looking tn
latter directly in the face for about
a minute, he continued In q voice appar
emily shaken with emotion, land 1t may b
too late to save the reputation of some peo
pie mentioned in this case; but,n agail
turning to the jury, "it is not too late 70
you TO prevent the completion of the sacri
| flee Of this gallant officer.
BURSTS OF APPLAUSE.