Evening journal., 1891-06-09
CALLED DOWN BYCl-AIIIR!EEEE:
Plain Talk to the Prince of
Wales.
TIE IHaRATIrUDE OF ROYALTY.
The Attorney Said Gordon Cumming
Sacrificed Himself 60 Save wales from
Disgrace and Then the Prince Con-
desnned Him without a Hearing.

LONDON, June q--Almost the sole topic
Of conversation is the attack of Sir Ed
ward Clarke upon the Prince OF Wales.
Sympathy is not altogether with Sir Ed
ward, for the prince is personally popular.
On the other hand, there is a strong and
growing feeling that Gordon Cumming IS
the victim of conspiracy which has had
another motive besides the preservation of
honor at cards, and that the Wilson's have
rather sought than avoided the notoriety
attendant upon the trial. The evidence
OF their plebeian antecedents as compared
with the family record Of Gordon Cum.
ming has caused feeling against them in
that aristocratic society in which they have
been attempting TO hold their own and the
general opinion in the clubs and lobbies Is
that whatever the outcome Of the trial the
Wilson's will never again shine in high
society
The Prince MAY Save Them.
The Prince Of Wales is evidently deter
mined to save them if he can, and he has
caused young Wilson 10 be elected To the
Marlborough, which is the princes private
club This, however, does not mean an
open sesame for the young man to club so
ciety in London, for the prince has found
crate his dictation, and that is one reason
why be started the Marlborough, where he
could reign supreme Il the company Of the
cads whom he sometimes chooses for asso-
ciates.
How win u Ends
The outcome Of the trial is q subject OF
wide speculation. The jurors are mostly
London tradesmen. "A verdict satisfactory
20 the prince would be 10 the personal in
terest Of any one of them, for there is moth
ing London tradesman loves so much as
20 put the royal OF prineely arms on his
bags and his boxes. Cumming, therefore,
has powerful influence against him apart
from the evidence. On the other hand,
the natural English sympathy for the un-
der one in the fight is with him. and jury
men are not as subservient as some years
ago.
he Scored the Prince.
In the course Of his address to the jury
Sir Edward Clarke gave the prince quite a
scoring He went on to say that there was
nothing in the charges that could not be
explained by Sir Williams system Of play.
The Prince Of Wales had condemned an
intimate friend without a hearing. Look
ing the prince in the eye, Sir Edward asked
what the reason was that required the sign
ing OF the document IL was to save the
Prince of Wales There was the strange
and subtle influence Of royalty TO dictate
Cumming's action-the influence which
had adorned history and made many
knight do an unknightly and dishonoring
deed to save the king, because they gave
their honor az freely as they would give
their lives for the interest Of the dynasty
to conceal the foibles Of prince lSlight
applause, which was checked
II Was to Save the Prince.
The document WAS signed to save the
prince from scandal. The motto Of the
Cumming was, Without fear" The
plaintiff had gone into the witness box
without fear. confident that the verdict
of the jury would wipe the stain from his
record of noble service in a gallant regi
ment. Sir William Gordon Cumming was
loyal to the prince He was willing Co
sacrifice himself in order to save the repu
tation of one the recollection Of whose
friendship will always be bright in bic
memory. Then turning to the jury Sir
Edward said 1T is too late TO undo much
OF the mischief that has been done" Then
facing the prince and looking directly in
his face, Sir Edward said:
1T may be too late 20 save the reputa-
tion of some mentioned in this case but
not too late to prevent the completion Of
the sacrifice Of a gallant officer"
Not Afraid 70 Talk Out.
Sir Edward said that il had been com
mon talk that the Prince Of Wales con
tiuual presence in court during the trial
OF this suit had been for the purpose of re-
straining the tongues Of the lawyers en-
gagged in the ease from commenting upon
the Prince of Wales connection with It.
But the presence OF the Prince Of Wales
in court would not prevent him from
making any comment necessary. He had
painful duty 20 perform and intended Ia
perform it honestly and fairly, His op-
ponents, he continued, had always been
careful TO allude 20 him as the solicitor
general aud he added;
'While ] am proud Of that title ! mus,
remind the jury that / appear in this cast
simply as an English barrister, and ] am
Obliged to disregard friendships aud even
my own interests and comment on tn,
conduct and evidence of one of the highest
in the land
Tho Prince Must Go Too.
Sir Edward Clarke, as he uttered thesl
last words, turned squarely around unit
be faced the Prince Of Wales, upon whom
every eye in court was then fixed and whi
nervously crossed his legs, while the audi
ence was utterly aghast at what was con
sidered TO be the aodacity Of the solicito
general
Sir Charles Russell for the dc ,ndants
had said that ''even If the jury found 70
the plaintiff and disregarded the docu
ment the latter had signed at Tranb
Croft the military authorities would TAX
the matter up and Sir William Gordo
Cummings name would be stricken frol
the army list.
Il wish to say in unmistakeable terms,
exclaimed Sir Edward Clarke. that
would be impossible for the authorities
do any such thing and to leave on thu
list the names Of Field Marshal the Prin,
of Wales and General Owen Williams"
He Tried TO Look Unconcsrned.
This bald statement seemed TO cor
pletely take away the breath Of Il
audience, and caused by far the create
sensation Of the entire trial
One must thoroughly understand the
most religious worship Of royalty whi
prevails throughout Great Britain TO cies
" understand the full meaning. the crus
ing significance OF the solicitor genera
words, aimed directly az the heir apparel
II was as If thanderelap had sudden
shaken the building. Amid this storm {
prince sat immovable not a muscle Of
face apparently twitching. leaning
head upon his arm and endeavoring tc
pear totally unconcerned.
The speech was regarded as eloque
and telling, and there was spontaneous
plause at the end. Lord Coleridge order