New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-02
THE BACCARAT SCANDAL.
BEGINNING OF A NOTABLE TRIAL IN
LONDON
THE PRINCE OF WALES IN ATTENDANCE AS A
w1TNEss-THE PLAINTIFF. SIR WILLIAM
GORDON CUMMING. GIVES HIS VERSION
OF THE AFFAIR AT TRANBY CROFT,
AND is CONSTRAINED BY
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL.


AND is CONSTRAINED BY
SIR CHARLES RUSSELL.
London, June 1.-The famous baccarat scandal trial.
the action Of Sir William Gordon Cumming against MT
and Mrs. Lycett Green, Mrs. Arthur Wilson. Arthar
Wilson and Berkeley Levett, for SANDER, was begun
before Lord Chief Justice Coleridge to-day In 'he
Queens Bench Division Of Her Majestys High court
Of Justice.
Long before the hour, IL a. m. fixed for the NEAR
Ing the courtroom was filed with crowds OF iasnoi
able people. Lord Colerdge, in dlsposng Oh the sess
in the courtroom had TO resist much pressure Ho"i
prominent persons who seemed to be under the I'M
preston that they had right to be present ana ta'
was for the Lord Chief Justice 10 see that this aeged
right was respected. Lord Coleridge, however gave
orders that admission to be only by speciai
ticket and he announced that he would be aple "
accommodate only few Of the most Distinguished ap-
plcants with seats beside him on the bench reserVhs
The main body of the court for members OF the oar
witnesses jurymen and about thirty-hve ne"spap,'
representatives Women pgedominated In the auoF
enee. ,o, ~
The first excitement was caused by the a'iiV"i an, ~
The courtroom Of Sir william Gordon CumHiins' INC
plaintiff accompanied by his counsel. Solicitor
Clarke and Mr.. Gill; Opposed to these are OF ,niriS,
RUSSELL Mr.. Asqulth Q. c., and Arthur hnssei.' VIM
arrived promptly accompanied by the defencahOS'
Mr. and Mrs Lycett Green, Mr.. and MIS- hr'n"i
wilson and Berkeley Lovett. II was intenoed tnaO
the Attorney General Sir Richard webster. ana s'r
Charles Russell should be the leading counsel ior 'e
attendants but owing to the fact that Sir Richard
Webster is Obliged to appear in the Berkeley peeraSe
case now before the Committee on Privileges OF tn9
House of Lords, he was compelled to resign MS
brief nj the last moment The painth was oool
and calm, but apparently not In the best OIL hulor'
The Prince of Wales entered the court shortly aitef
IL O'Clock, accompanied by Sir Francis Knoiiys
X. c. NJ. Co. his private secretary. They psssed
through the courtroom and were escorted to seats On
the bench at the left OF the Lord Chief Justice.
No sooner was the Prince seated than the
Jury were sworn, and Lord Chief Justice Coerldge
taking his seat tho bench, and addressing the
solicitor General the leading counsel for the panun
said In substance that he desired that the Prince OF
Wales should be kept in court short time as pos
vble and hoped that his learned brother would agree
so TO arrange matters. The socitor-General Iepneu
that he could not say exactly whom the Prince OF
Wales would be called upon to give his testimony
hut no begged to assure the Lord Chief Justice that he
desired heartily to serve the Princes convenience as
Far as possible The Lord Chief Justice thanked him
for his courtesy in this matter, and wished IL 10 Do
remembered that the Prince OF Wales did not attend
the court as spectator but in obedience to the law.
The murmur of suppressed appreciation which followed
this remark showed that the Prince has certainly not
lost popularity by his attendance at court, when lie
could easily have escaped attendance on the plea OF
Illness and have had his testimony taken by COM
mission. .
Sir Edward Clarke opened the case for the pia'ntl'
He said that the charge was most serious ohe' III
volvng the honor and affecting the whole future career
OF a gentleman Of hitherto unspoted reputation VINO
had served his country with distinction for twenty
three years. who had risen TO the rank Of Lieutenant
Colonel OF the Guards and who, during MS hohoFs"o
career had medals for valor in the trenches Oele
Telel-K eber. Sir william Gordon Cumming cohuhu9u
the solcltor-Gencral, wealthy gentleman, moving
I'm the best society who owned estates IN England ana
Hall aCr IL Dpad
with the intimate friendship Of tie Prince OF wales
who In 1881 invited him to be his guest at Sand
bingham. Since that period the Prince OF wales had
several times repeated that invitation yet Sir Wllia
was now charged with cheating at cards. with the
object OF dsraudng OF his most intimate friends
Continuing in a slow, clear voice. the SoActor-Gen-
eral detailed the circumstances OF the now famous card
party at Tranby Croft Arthur Wilson'S home, during
the Doncaser meeting, in September, 1880 FAC
carat said the SolcitorGener had never before been
PLAYED at Tranby Croft. There was no baecarat table
OF Tranby Croft the evenings OF september ana D,
$780, when the eventful Of baccaat were played
there and three whist tables were used The Solicitor
General then gravely and in detail explained the mys
eres Of the game of baccarat and in conclusion said
that upon the occasion referred 10 the "bank' was
limited to 600, and that when that was lost tho
game was ended. 1t would be his duty to put the
Prince of Wales and General owen Williams in the
wnessbox, and their testimony would satisfy the jury
that they nothing wrcng on the part OF Sir William
Gordon Cumming, whose system Of play to double
his stakes II he los until he recovered his losses, and
then he reverted TO his original stakes. Counsel com
mented the fact that 1t was not until September
TO- $780, the third day OF baccarat playing, that the
slightest suspicion was breathcd in regard 10 the
plaintiff, when the latter gave Lord Coventry absO
Lutte denial of the charges made against him. aerwsrd
again denying these charges before the Prince Of Wales
and before General owen Williams.
The solicltor-Genera then read the document which
Sir William Gordon Cumming signed after the dis
covery Of his alleged cheating at cards. and in which he
undertook the price Of his fellow players silence
on the subject never again to play cards. The lawyer
said that Sir William had made great mistake in
signing this document, bat he explained that the
plaintiff had allowed himself to be persuaded by his
old friends General owen Williams and Lord Coventry,
hoping that in doing he would avoid the scandal
which his friends seemed to dread. Sir William Gordon
Cumming, General owen Williams and Lord Coventry,
he added all members Of the Turf Club, and they
General Williams and Lord Coventry would not have
allowed the plaintiff TO have remained member Of
that club II they believed the charges brought against
him at Tranby Croft, in September, 1890. sir Edward
Clarke concluded his address by making brilliant,
eloquent and passionate appeal to the Jury behalf
Of lbs client. who, he asserted plainly the victim
OF circumstances and of false desire 10 avoid
scandal which would have implicated his hosts at
Iranby Croft and his old friends who played baccarat
with him there.
lie answered Sir Edward Carke's questions in clear
voice. which could be heard all the room, and
kept his back turned toward the Prince of Wales,
fact which was commented upon unfavOaby by the
audience. While giving his testimony he leaned on
the edge Of the witnessbox calmly surveying the court
and It's occupants and occasionally nOdding slightly
TO an acquaintance. After detailing his career he
proceeded to give his version Of the TTanby Croft af
fair The plaintiff said that the Prince of Wales acted
as banker upon the occasion referred TO. and that Gen
erL Williams was the croupier Plaintiffs attention
was not called on the first night, september s. to tho
complaint made against him. On the following even
ing he sad when Dressing for dinner, Lord Coventry
and General Williams came TO him in his bedroom at
Tranby Croft, and the former said
Cumming, something very disgraceful has occurred
Some people staying here have objected TO yonr man
ner Of playing baecarat.'
To this plaintiff replied: any God; what No you