Omaha daily bee., 1891-06-04
Soma Very Interesting Testimony Given ia
the Bacolrat Trial,
HOW THE BARoNET CHEATED THE PRINCE
Balfour Delivers a speech in London
i'll Defense of the Crimes Act
Why Decabain Fled
from Trial.


Russell, leading counsel for the defendant,
commenced his address on behalf of his
clients.
Sir Charles said "The brecos brenos
which had been drawn up in regard to the
baccarat scandal said that the plaintiff
should be watched Beyond the marked
table, however, there was no concert of
action OF any kind, but all who knew the
story Of the previous days play and Sir
William Gordon-C Cumming repeated the
actions complained OFF,
Renewed interest was shown upon the part
of the always most attentive audience gath
cred in the court of queens bench when Mr..
Arthur Wilson, son of the millionaire owner
Of Tranbycroft and one of the leading stock
holders Of the well known Wilson line of
steamers plying between Hull, London, New
York and many other ports entered the wit
ness box as the first witness for the defense.
Mr.. Wilson testified TO the fact that on the
first night OF the baccarat playing at Tranby
croft-SeptemberS She saw q red counter
representing 95 on 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 an
| other f5 counter in the palm of his right
hand. The baronet, according to this wit
ness, looked at Sir Edward Somer's hand and
seeing that he had "naturar' and u court
| card, he (Sir Wllliam) at once droppeo the
G5 counter from his right hand and was paid
| on both Of the counters he had thus placed on
| the table The evidence was given by Mr..
Wilson without any hesitation and in man
ner which seemed to impress the jury and
| which decidedly impressed the audience and
| caused great sensation in the court room.
| Continuing, Mr.. Wilson said that he saw the
thing rpnpnte1 nv Sir William
| the same evening and he then told
Mr.. Leavitt that the baronet was
| cheating at cards Mr.. Leavitt said that it
| was impossible" that the witness must be
mistaken. Mr.. Wilson added that he then
told Mr. Leavitt to watch Sir William. Mr..
| Leavitt said Mr. Wilson, followed his advice
| and he also saw the baronet cheating, as al
| ready described. Mr. Leavitt, upon being
| convinced by personal observation what Mr..
Wilson said was true, exclaimed "Ihis is
| too hot" Mr.. Wilson said that he saw Sir
| William cheat again. Cumming had IS
| counter on the table and if the card turned
| up was favorable to him he pushed !e2
counter forward with pencil which he held
| in his hand and was paid. The witness then
detailed the subsequent conversation which
| he had with MIR. Leavitt in the latters bed
| room, saying that when he told the latter of
| what he had seen Mr. Leavitt exclaimed:
"My God, TO think of Lieutenant Colonel Sir
| William Cordon-C Cumming being caught
cheating at cards" Continuing the witness
| said: II asked what on earth are we to do.'
To this Mr.. Leavitt replied; "For goodness
sake, don't ask me. He is in my own regi-
ment and was my own captain. What
am / to dol' Later on Mr.. Wilson said, ~
then told my mother Of what had done, and
mother said For goodness sake don't have
a scandal here / then told her that would
have proper table prepared for baccarat
playing so that repetition of the conduct we
had observed would be rendered impossible
Referring to question on the subject, young
Mr.. Wilson said that there was absolutely no
agreement to watch Sir William play on the
second night-September 8. The table used
on that occasion was long pantry table COW
cred with green baize. AS upon the pre-
vious night, the prince of Wales occupied the
position OF banker and General Owen Will
Jams that as croupier The witness believed
that the plaintiff again had a paper and some
of his counters on the table. He had other
counters in the breast pocket of his dress
coat. The plaintiff added the witness, had a
long, thick carpenters pencil in his hand. In
STAMPED. Sir William staked e5 counter
and the prince of Wales gave cards to
Lady Coventry, who took a seven,
which was considered a good card,
from the plaintiff. According to the wit
trys hand. The witness then saw
Sir William go out and gradually
advance toward the white line marked OF
the baccarat table Continuing, Mr.. Wilson
said, amid such breathless silence on the
part OF everyone in the court room that
literally tho dropping of pin would have
been heard, that it then came around to the
prince Of Wales turn to take card and he
took one and said, II am baccarat'' the card
being bad. Immediately upon hearing this,
said the witness, Sir William pushed just
over the line a el0 counter, four inches away
from the original counter. The plaintiffs
tableau won and the prince of Wales paid
him a "tiver,h overlooking the other counter
which the plaintiff had pushed over the line.
Thereupon Sir William exclaimed, BEG
pardon, sir, there is another 'tenner' which
you have forgotten This annoyed the
prince of Wales, who SAID II wish you
would put your stakes forward more con-
spicuously," paying the additional el0.
Later in the game said the witness, Sir
William Tipped another counter over the
were made the prince of Wales questioned
the witness, Mr.. Berkley Leavitt and Mr..
Lycett Green in regard to what they
had seen OF wrong nature dur,
ing the playing and Mr.. Green asked
confronted with the plaintiff. Replying TO
further questions Mr., Green said from the
time the action brought for damages against
the defendants was commenced he had never
said word in connection with the affair.
Upon cross examination the witness said
that he had no occupation and that he mad
been at Cambridge university for "A year.
but" he added, my father thought 1t only
waste of time my staying there" ROars
of laughter at Mr.. Wilson's expense followed
tions Mr.. Wilson said that baCcarat
played at Tranbycroft in 1889, "but father
objected TO it aud it was not played there
again until upon the occasion of the prince
of Wales visit in September, 1902
Sir Charles Russell in scathing terms de-
noLnced Sir Gordon Cumming for resting
under such an odious imputatlon as this,
adding: at was said that this was done in
order TO avoid n scandal which would involve
tho prince of Wales, but a man Of honor IL
there were nifty princes in the case, would
not have allowed his honor 10 be clouded for
any such consideration No, this won't do.
The only way IN which this scandal
affected the prince OF Wales was that he was
playing a friendly game of baccarat in a
house where there was a cheat. Sir William
Gordon. Cummings explanation for this
strange conduct Is that he lost his head.
have seen him in tho witness box, cool,
clever and intelligent. There was nothing
about his appearance or in his manner in the
witness OoX 10 show that he lost his head
there. Was ii the conduct OF man who had
lost his head whore he Coolly scanned the
document presented for his signature and
debarring HIN from ever playing cards again
and said, why, this win even prevent me
from regimental shilling whist He had not
lost his head then. He was content so long
as secrecy in regard TO his conduct was main
tained, Here are the facts said Sir Charles
in conclusion, 'and you must do your duty
however PAINFUL