Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-06-12
CUMMING CONVICTED.
The Jury in the Baccarat Case Bring
in asVerdlct Against Cor
don Cumming.
The Verdict PleaseS the AristOcratS
and Displeasrs the Mass of
the People.
The Defendants Left the Court IL
Though They Had Expert
enced a Defeat.

The Defendants Left the Court lis
Though They Had Exrrri-
enced Defeat.
"A Verdict Against Cumming
LONDON, June 9.-When the baccarat
verdict was announced to be against Sir
VIM. Gordon Cumming to-day, the latter
to all appearances was the most I'M
moved man in court. He folded his
arms aud looked straight at the jury, but
otherwise did not move muscle, his
face not showing the slightest trace of
emotion. Lord Middleton, however,
flushed scarlet and then turned very
pale. Mrs. Arthur Wilson and Mrs. Ly-
cett Green were also noticed to turn pale
when the verdict was rendered and we. e
evidently lady frightened when they
heard the Kisses which greeted it. The
two ladies' mentioned stood for several
minutes whispering earnestly with their
counsel, and then, accompanied by their
respective husbands, they passed slowly
out of court with bowed heads, nobody
speaking to them and to all Appearances
the objects of much dislike. In fact, SO
frightened and downcast was the bear
ing of the defendants, unless Berkeley
Levett be excepted, that anybody would
have taken them for people who had Just
had crushing. whitening verdict rem
uereu against them. "Hhe Wilson's win"
had, as if by magic, spread from the
court room to the crowd outside and
from there all over London, and it was
again made evident as the defendants
drove away, by the chilling manner in
which they were regarded, shat popular
sympathy was with the guest of Tranby
Croft, whose future was now as black
looking as that of a man condemned to n
long term of imprisonment for some
heinous crime. In the meanwhile, how
different was the greeting extended to
the defeated litigant, to the unsuccessful
plaintiff, Sir William Gordon Cumming!
While the defendants were leaving the
court room with sinking hearts, Sir Will
liam lad remained all this time calmly
seated in his usual place. When the
Wilson's had disappeared, the baronet
stood up and gratefully, smilingly shook
hands with Sir Edward Clarke and with
others who pressed around him with
many cheering words Of sympathy for the
man whose career was thus blighted be
yond all hopes. The soldierly form of
Sir William, instead of shrinking beneath
the blow which had been dealt him,
seemed to be proudly drawn up to it's
full height, as he walked slowly, but
steadily to the little table near by, donned
his overcoat, carefully placed his hat on
his head and, accompanied by Lord Mid
dleton, walked out of the court by one of
the private exits, followed by the pitying
glance of the ladies who still
remained in the galleries, anxious to
have the last glimpse of the victim of
Tranby Croft baccarat playing. AS,
still proud looking, Baronet and Lord
Middleton left the new law courts, there
was another instance of the different
manner in which the general public
looked upon victorious defendants and
defeated plaintiff. Sir William and
Lord Middleton were no sooner recog-
nized, as they entered the latter's carri-
age, than they were loudly, repeatedly
and enthusiastically cheered by the
dense excited crowds, packing every ap-
proach to the new law courts, this re-
ception contrasting wildly and more
significantly with the totally different
manner and dead silence with which the
away. The effect of the verdict in the
military circles, it is generally under
stood, is that Sir William Gordon Cum
mings, major and lieutenant-colonel of
Scots Fusiler guards, will be promptly
cashiered from the army, and Just as
quickly expelled from the Marlborough
club, guards club, turf club and any
other social organizations to which he
may belong. The summing up
of the lord chief justice, during the af-
ternoon, was undoubtedly more strongly
against Sir VIM. Gordon Cumming than
were the chief Justices remarks made
during the morning. The afternoon ut
terances of Lord Coleridge may be said
to have amounted practically to instruc-
tions to find a verdict against the plaint-
itf One of the baccarat case jurymen
who was interviewed after court had
finally adjourned said there was no
doubt from the moment the jury retired
as to how the verdict would 90. Each
of the jurymen, he said, was asked, as
soon as they were alone, whether he was
for the plaintiff or for the defendant and
each reply was given without hesitation
and Immediately for the defendants. One
juryman, d gentleman who was inter
viewed, admitted frankly that he I'M
doubtedly sympathized with the plaint-
if, but he was SO struck with the unan-
unity of opinion which prevailed in favor
of the de endants that, although he
would have liked to have found for the
plaintiff, he said he could not conscien-
tionsly do so in the face of the evidence
which had been presented on behalf of
tie defense. The interviewed juryman
saHl in conclusion that it app ared to
him the jury had made up their minds as
to the verdict they would render before
the lord chief justice summed up and
made his charge.
THE CLUB MEN IN A QUAsIDARY.
Cumming held consultation with Sir
Edward Clarke, Mr.. Gill and his solicitor
in the course of the evening before pro-
ceeding home, where he denied himself
to all comers. A group of friends still
adhering to him met at the Turf club in
expectation Of seeing him. Since the
scandal became public Cumming has not
been seen at the Marlborough or Guards
club, of which he is member, but has
occasionally visited the Turf circle. To-
night the members of the Turf club seem
undecided how to act. Personally, Cum
ming is liked at the club. He has
an honorable record throughout
in all his dealings with members Of the
club and many are adverse to his expul-
sion. Division of public feeling upon
the verdict will be largely class division,
the aristooratic circle siding with the de-
cision and approving Lord Coleridge's
charge, while the mass OF the public sym.
pathize with Cumming and accuse the
Judge OF gross impartiality. The kissing
with which the gallery OF the court sa-