The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-03
THE ROYAL WITNESS
The Prince of Wales Testifies in
the Baccarat Case.
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL is AIRY
In His Cross Examination-Ths Case for the
Plaintiff Looks Very DOubtful-Wales
Believed He Cheated.

| tition Of the scenes OF yesterday. Long
before IL o'clock, the hour fixed for open
ing the court, all the seats were filled
Many of those present brought lunches, Sc
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 cross examination questions by Russell
the plaintiff said he took the present Legal
proceedings because the baccarat scandal
had become public matter of conversation
and comment, .and because it had reached
the clubs to which he belonged, the Turf
club and the Marlborough club among
others, and had he not taken action in the
matter lis clubs would certainly have done
so. Sir Charles then read two letters from
General Williams. They were addressed
to ''Dear Bill,n and referred to the com
plants made by plaintiff that the pledge of
secrecy given when he signed the docu-
ment agreeing never to play cards again
had been broken.
In reply TO defendants counsel's aues-
tons, Sir William said he applied to Colonel
Stracy, OF the Scots guards in January last
for permission TO retire from the army on
half pay. He added Colonel Stracy re-
document Of the nature of the one already
described could not be overlooked.
a letter from General Williams to Cum
ming was then read and placed in evidence.
1t was addressed MY dear Bill" and it's
contents were that nothing was left TO him
(plalntiff) but to place himself unre-
servediy il the hands of his commanding
oficer, Colonel Stracy, as he had done.
The letter also contained the following !:
You are quite at liberty to tell Colonel
Stracy that you signed the document;under
extreme pressure and the promise of
secrecy" Witness here said: ''I have
never for moment ceased to deny the &C
cusation made against me-" Later Oh Sir
William denied ne said to Barkley Levett:
Gould you not say that you were mis-
takensn
A sensation was created at this point by
Sir Charles Russell, who, after hearing
this last denial from plaintiff, remarked
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 murmur Of comment
passed over the people in court as Sir
Charles Russell uttered these words. The
plaintiff evidently noticed the effect they
hs5, for almost Immediately afterwards
his manner seemed to lose some of its
iauuty carelessness, and he acknowledged
that he had said something of that sort TO
Berkeley Levett." This caused another
sensation. and it seemed to be admitted
counsel for defendants had scored mis- first
real decided advantage.
The Prince of Wales was next called to
the witness box. The prince gave his ties .
timony in a clear voice and with unruffied
brow. In substance, the prince said: II
have known plaintiff for twenty years and
have been his friend for the past ten years.
He visited my house several times; our In
timacy continued unimpaired until last
September. / observed nothing suspicious
in plaintiffs play at Trauby Croft l was
first informed Of the reports current in re-
gard TO Sir William by Lord Coventry"
Continuing the prince said a sad event
(the charges brought against Sir William)
broke up the party at Tranby Craft. He,
(the prince) sealed the document up, put il
in packet and sent it to his secretary who
was not aware of the nature OF the contents.
The latter, said the prince, remained in
safe place until sent for in connection with
the present proceedings. The document
inside the packet, the prince explained, was
the statement of three gentlemen and two
ladies, Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett Green, Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur Wilson and Mr.. Berkeley
Levett. The prince then said: 81 did not
see any or the five persons in question
until after Sir William had an interview
with me and denied the charge brought
,
story several days afterwards, Lord Gov
entry and General Williams prepared
statement of what had taken place and
handed il to me-"
Cross examined by Russell, Wales was
asked: do you recollect whether in addi-
ton TO the three gentlemen referred TO, you
also saw Lord Edward Somerset and Cap
tain Somerset at Tranby Croft!"
The prince replied: Il believe did,
w a m tar do
by the other three gentlemen" asked Sir
Charles.
YES" replied the prince.
'Had you also been informed that two
ladies, whom you did not at that time see,
had alleged they also witnessed the cheat
ingi"
81 was not''
tinued Sir Charles, could you charge your
memory as to whether any of the three
gentlemen said anything about withdraw
ing a portion of the stake, and that Sir
William Systematically played large stake
on the table when he won, which was or
dinarily placed there"
In answer to this question. the prince
said: AZ do not recoliect that any such
statement was made "
Sir Charles next question was: ''Was
the memorandum a suggestion of yours or
Of another in which you acquiesced in the
suggestion made by Lord Coventry"
Il was greatly distressed at the occur
renee. | was present at an interview with
Sir William in the presence of General
Williams and Lord Coventry. 1 think he
(Sir William) asked me whether believed
the statement made about him, out l do
not recall what replied"
ssDo you Iecollect any reference to the
Duke of Cambrioge!" was the next ques-
ton.
Decidedly" replied the prince
Did you desire, under the circumstances,
TO act as leniently as possible, out of regard
for Sir William Gordon Cumming.
.sMost certainlys The date of the docu-
ment was omitted by Lord Coventry and
affixed to 1t after it had been signedn
'.Have you met Sir William since the oc-
currence at Tranby Croft.n asked Sir
Charles.
NO" answered the prince.
"And have you intimated you cannot
meet him."
1t would be more agreeable not to do
sou
At this stage juryman caused a sensa-
ton by rising in his place and asking in a
loud voice: "Are the jury to understand
you were the banker on these two occas-
ions and saw nothing Of the alleged NAL
practices"
The prince hesitated for moment as if
undecided as to whether he ought or ought
not to reply. Finally he said, with half
smile: 'Itis very easy for a banker when
dealing cards not to see anything, espec-
tally when in the company of friends in
country houae."
s'You do not for moment suppose that
any one will play unfair." the juror asked
.sWhat was your opinion at the time the
charges were made against the plaintiffs"
To this the prince savagely replied:
1.-The charges made against him were so
nm . MIN ON tho I n al NOT any other coursa