The Delta independent., 1891-06-10
AN INTERESTING TRIAL.
-ondoners Watching the Issue Of the
Cummings Libel Case.

The interest in the scandalous rev.
Citations being made In connection with
the Prince Of Wales as "banker' at the
game OF cards where cheating, it is al
legged, was indulged in, is unabated, and
on the third day Of the trial of the cause,
tho scenes outside Of the Queens Bench
division OF her majesty's high court of
Justice in the new law courts on the
Strand, were sgsin repeated with hardly
any variation.
IL Is too early to sum up the effect OF the
testimony already taken, but it is safe TO
say, however, that both plaintiff In the
libel suit, Sir William Gordon Cumming,
and the defendants, Mr.. and Mrs. Lycett
Green, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Wilson, and
MIR. Berkeley Leavitt, to say nothing of
the Prince Of Wales, have not shown up
In very bright colors. Even the friends
OF the Prince Of Wales are said 10 admit
unwil!ingly that the testimony he gave
was far from being Of nature TO reflect
credit upon the future king of England.
Renewed interest was shown on the
part Of the always most attentive audi
ence gathered in the court of queens
bench, when Sir Arthur Wilson, son Of
the millionaire owner Of Tranby Croft,
and the leading stockholder of the we'll
known Wilson line of steamers plying.
between Hull, London and New YORK
and many other ports, entered the witness
box as the first witness Tor the defense.
MIR. Wilson testified TO the fac, that on
the first night Of the baccarat playing at
Iranby Croft, September S, he saw red
counter representing G5 on a piece of
paper in front of Sir William Gordon
Cumming. When the latter's tableau
won, Sir William had his hands in front
OF him, and he also had another 5-note
counter In the palm of his right hand.
The baronet according to this witness,
looked at Sir Edward Somers' hand, and,
seeing that he held u natural and u
dropped tho s5 counter from his right
hand and was paid on both OF the counters
he had thus placed on the table.
tn. next evening, as upon the previous
right the Prince Of Wales occupied the
position Of banker and General Owen
Williams acted as croupier The witness
believed that the plaintiff again had & pa
per and sone Of his counters on the table.
lie had ether counters in the breast pocket
Of his dress coat The plaintiff, added the
witness, had u long, thick carpenters
pcncil in his hand. In this pencil the
words "Tranby Croft were stamped.
Sir William staked c5 counter and the
Prince OF Wales gave the cards to Lady
Coventry. who took seven, which was
considered q good card, from the plaintiff,
according TO the witness, looked Lady
Coventry's hand and the witness then saw
Sir Williams hand go out and gradually
advance toward the white line marked op
the baccarat table.
Containing, Mr.. Wilson said, amid such
breathlcss silence on the part Of every one
in the court room that literally the
dropping OF PIN could have been heard,
that 1t then came round to the Prince of
Wales to take u card, and be took one, and
SAID, "a am baccarstm the card being bad
Immediately hearing this, said the wit
ness, Sir William pushed Just over the
line fl0 counter, four inches away from
the original counter. The plaintiffs
tableau won and the Prince OF Wales paid
him .'hver," overlooking the other
counter, which the plaintiff has pushed
over the line. Thereupon Sir William cx-
claimed: beg pardon, sir, there is
another 'tenner' here which you have for
gottcn.n
This annoyed the Prince Of Wales, who
said: 81 wish you would put your stakes
forward more conspicuously,n paying the
additional fio. Later in the game, said the
witness, Sir William Gicked another
counter over tho line with his pencil.
The evidence was given by Mr.. Wilson
without any hesitation and in manner
which seemed to impress tho jury and
which decidedly impressed the audience,
causing u sensation in the court room