The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-03
THE ROYAL GAMBLER.
Prince of Wales Testifies in
the Baccarat Trial.
THE LAWYERS cRINoE TO HIM.
A Democratic Juror Cross Examines
Him With Sensational Effect.
cred Cumming Guiity-The Cheater
Makes . damaging Omission-whst
Did Mrs. Wilson Say to tho Prince?

LONDON, June 2.-Long before II O'Clock,
the hour fixed for the opening of court, all
the seats were filled. Many of those pres
ent 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. Pressed
by the cross-examination questions of
Russell, the plaintiff said that he took the
present legal proceedings because the bac-
carat scandal had become public matter
of conversation and comment, and because
1t had reached the clubs to which he be-
longed, the Turf Club and the Marlboro
Club, among others, and had he not taken
action in the matter his clubs would GER
tainiy have done SO.
A letter from General Williams to Cum
ming was then placed in evidence. 1t was
addressed, ''My dear Bill" and its con-
tents were to the effect that nothing was
left to him, the plaintiff, but to place him
self unreservedly in the hands of his COM
manding officer, Colonel Stracey, as he had
done. The letter also contained the fol-
lowing: ''You are quite at liberty to tell
Colonel Stracey that you signed the docu-
ment under extreme pressure and promise
of secrecy" The witness here said: 81
have never for moment ceased to deny
the accusation made against me-" Later
on, Sir William denied that he said to
Berkeley Lowell: "Could you not say that
you were mistaken" ?"
sensation was created at this point by
Sir Charles Russell, who, after hearing
this last denial from the plaintiff, re-
marked gravely, fixing his eyes steadily
upon the baronet in the witness box:
Colonel Sir William Gordon Cumming,
you will have to be careful" A low mur-
mur of comment passed over the people in
the court room as Sir Charles Russell
uttered these words. The plaintiff eyi-
IDENTIFY noticed their effect, for almost im-
mediately afterwards his manner seemed
to lose some of its jaunty carelessness,
and he acknowledged that he had said
something of that sort to Berkeley Lowell.
This caused another sensation, and it
seemed to be admitted that the counsel
for the defendant had scored his first real
decided advantage.
The Prince of Wales was next called to
the witness box. The prince gave his tes-
timony in clear voice and with an un-
ruffied brow. In substance, the prince
said:
have known the plaintiff for twenty years,
and have been his friend for the past ten ye~s.
He visited my house several times, and our in
timacy continued unimpaired until last Sep
tember. / observed nothing suspicious In the
play at the plaintiffs house in Tranbycroft 1
was first informed of the report current in re-
gard to Sir William by Lord Coventry. did not
see any of the five persons in question until
after Sir William had the interview with me
and denied the charge brought against him.
When | heard the gentleman's story several
days afterward, Lord Coventry and General
Williams prepared a statement of what had
taken place and handed it to me.
On the cross-examination by Russell the
prince was asked:
Do you recollect whether, In addition to the
three gentlemen referred to, you also saw Lord
Edward Somerset and Captain Somerset at
Tranbycroft?
believe did
To whom certain statements were made bv the
other three gentlemen?
Yes
Had you also been informed that two ladies'
whom you did not at that time see, had alleged
that they also witnessed the cheating?
Yes
Was the memorandum a suggestion of yours or
of another in which you acquiesced?
The suggestion was made by Lord Coventry.
was greatly distressed at the occurrence T
was present at the interview with Sir William
in the presence of General Williams and Lord
Coventry. | think he tSir Williaml asked me
whether believed the statement made
about him, but do not recollect what / re-
piled.
Do youremember the reference to the Duke of
Cambridge?
Decidedly.
Did you desire, under the circumstances. to
act as lenienty as possible out of regard for Sir
William Gordon Cumming?
Most certainly. The date of the document
was admitted by Lord Coventry and affixed 10 IL
after it had been signed
Have you met Sir William since the occur.
renee at Tranbycroft?
No.
And have you intimated that you cannot
meet him?
Itwouid be more agreeable not to do so.
At this stage juryman caused sensa-
tion by rising from his place and asking in
loud voice: .'Is the jury to understand
that you were banking on these two occa-
sions and knew nothing of the alleged
malpractices ?"
The prince hesitated for moment as if
undecided as TO whether he ought or
ought not to reply. Finally he said. with
half smile: ''It is very easy for the
banker, when dealing cards, not to see
anything, especially when in the company
of friends in country house."
''You did not for moment suppose that
anyone would play unfair" the iuror
asked. What was your opinion at the
time the charges were made against the
PLAINTIFF"
To this. the prince savagely replied:
''The charges made against him were so
unanimous that / had no other course
open to me than to believe them"
The princes last answer caused another
flutter of excitement, followed by whis-
pered comment
The juror apparently had succeeded in
bringing out squarely and beyond anv
possible doubt the fact that the Prince of
Wales, in view OF the evi dence which had
been placed before him at Tranbycroft by
the ladies and gentlemen who played bac-
carat with Sir William Cumming, Septem-
Der and 9, had become convinced of the
plaintiffs guilt.
When the murmurs of astonishment,
which greeted the jurors question and the
princes answers, had subsidized, Sir Ed
ward Clarke, seeing that he must doevery-
thing possible TO regain the ground which
seemed to have been lost by the plaintiff
in the estimation of the jury, said, ad-
dressing the Prince of Wales:
81 take it that your highness' answer TO
the first question put TO you by the juror
was substantially that you had not seen any
malpractice during the game of bacca<at
played at Tranbycroft last September 2s
The prince assented to this and his ex-