New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-05
THE PRINCES COUNTERS.
INTERESTING REVELATIONS AT THE BAG.
CARAT TRIAL

bt OTHER WITNESSES FUR The
DEFENCE - THE PROSECUTION PUTS
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS IN REGARD
TO DRINKING AT TRANBY CROFT.
London, June 4-The interest taken in the baccarat
rial to-day apparently great as upon the three
previous days Inside the Queens Bench Division Of
Her Majestys High Court Of Justice the same thrones
were gathered and there repetition OF the now
familiar The Lord Chief Justice, LORD Cole
ridge. in order to make more rapid progress with the
trial, opened court at 10 80 instead OF H. The
Prince OF Wales who had stayed until late in the morn
Ing at state ball. was among the early arrivals. He
was greeted by the audience rising to their feet. He
bowed pleasantly right and left, and seated himself as
usual on the left OF the Chief Justice Shortly after
ward Sir william Gordon Cumming entered the court
The anxiety which he has suffered is beginning to leave
Its traces his face outside OF the immediate circle
OF the Prince OF Wales and OF tho Wilson's and their
friends the women in court make secret OF the
fact that their sympathy is with Sir William Gordon
Cumming, though il Is difficult for them 10 explain their
reasons.
Arthur Stanley Wilson's crossexamination was con-
hnued 1t began with long and uninteresting dis
cussion the positions OF the tables used in playing
baccarat in September at Tranby Croft. Replying to
the questions of Sir Edward Clarke, the SoctOrGen
eral leading counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Wilson said
"whcn l gave the orders to change the tables. after
The disclosures OF the first nights play was ready
TO stake my life that Sir william Gordon Cumming
cheated. ] and my mother sat down to play on the
second night September o. believing that the calkne
which We had marked the table would prevent any
further attempt to cheat"
"ADd not a word was said to the plaintiff about it 2"
asked Sir Edward Clarke In apparent surprise
"Certanly not" replied young Wilson sharply
Hwhat was my word against that Of Sir William
Gordon Cumming3"
Continuing, the witness said On the second night
first noticed that there something wrong with
Sir William Gordon Cumming twenty minutes after the
beginning of play. Lady Coventry sitting be-
tween the plaintiff and General owen Williams l sat
around the The plaintiff did not put ms hands
over the line until he knew that his side won and
then he put over clio counter making his stake tlo
instead Of IS"
"Then,s asked Sir Edward Clarke "why did You not
say to SIR william Gordon Cumming You only
stahed esp
Mr.. Wilson answered "Decause there were ladies'
present. and it would have been an ungentlemanN
thing to have had a before them"
"And,p continued the Solicitor General, "you went
stalking your money after seeing the planun
cheat"
Eyes" replied Mr. Wilson coolly.
During the crossexamination of Mr.. Wilson, II
was also shown that the counters used In the baccarat
games at Tranby the personal property OF
the Prince Wales, and that they belonged 10 set
which the Prince carried about with him when visiting
the country houses Of his intimate friends, for the
This has been well known all along, but the fact that
his ownership OF the counters has been dragged out
In court by the leading counsel for the plaintiff is
looked upon direct and positive evidence that sir
william Gordon Cumming is SHOWING his teeth"
and is not inclined to spare his former friend, the
Prince OF Wales any further. 1t has been common
gossip that on account Of The Prince OF Waes's con
nection with the affair, the present suit would never
be tried. The testimony taken to-day brought out
the first really important disclosure In regard TO the
Prince Of Wales
Courtroom rumor has it that Sir William Gordon
Cumming determined TO be revenged for some reason
or other upon the Prince Of Wales and young Wilson,
whose at really don't remember. Sir Edward" and
cool al fancy SOP series Of answers had almost dis
concerted the Solicitor General Mr.. Wilson for the
first time felt uneasy the witnessbox when Sir Ed
ward Clarke quietly asked
"Had you ever before the evening Of September
used the counters you played with during the course
Of that EVENING""
The witness flushed, nervousH glanced toward the
Prince of Wales who was closely following the test
mony and answered somewhat hesitatingly "No
never.'
aor with any similar counters3 ?" asked the soic
tor-General, nsinuatingy.
"No not to the best of recollection" Mr. Wilson
answered
"Had you ever seen these counters before the
Ing Of the 8th 7"
@Non
ado you know whose property they are ?" finally
said the Solicitor General, amid painful silence.
The witness again glanced toward the Prince. and
answered slowly: Yes.
"whose property are they ~ was Sir Edwards next
question,
After q moments hesitation Mr.. Wilson slowly an
.swered "They belong to the Prince Of WaJes.'
Nobody doubted after Sir Edward Clarkes first Ques
ton la this direction what he intended to draw from
the witness and few people were IN the dark as TO what
young Mr. Wilson's final reply to this series Of qucs
tons would be- Nevertheless, everybody felt relieved
when the murder was out"
As counsel for the defendants did not show any dis
position to roexamine this witness the latter returned
to his seat. But ne had hardly reached it when he
was recalled the witness box at the instance OF the
Lord Chief Justice who asked II he had rightly under
stood the witness 10 that the latter shared In the
winnings Of the plaintiff
Certainly not my lord" answered Mr.. wilson al
most indignantly.
Sir Charles Russell leading counsel for the defend
ants than addressed Lord Chief Justice remarng
Both Sir Edward Clarke and 1, my lord, are agreed
that the acts committed the plaintiff alone bene-
fted by then.'
Berkeley j. T. Levett, a lieutenant in the Scots
ousrds the regiment Of which Sir William Gordon
Cumming was Major and Northumberland, and Of
the defeodans In the suit brought by the latter was
the next witness. He was pale and exceedingly
nervous. Replying to Sir Charles Russells ques-
tons he said that he had known Sir William Gordon
Cumming intimately since 1883. The witness, In
substance, then confirmed Mr.. Wilson'S testimony in
regard to what took place at Tranby Croft september
a and TO- He said that when the first night Mr.
Wilson told him of sir William Gordon Cummings
strange scons while playing baccarat, and then told
him 20 look for himself and become convinced that the
Bsronet was cheating, he did SO, and saw the plain
tiff on the second third coup, handle his counters
As already detailed and when the banker declared
coup. Sir william added two more s5 counters and
afterward received els for them
The witness was absolutely certain that afte
Ssree more coups he again saw Sir William Gordon
Cumming add another 60 counter to his STAKES
after the banker had declared the cards. Witness the
turned TO Mr. Wilson and said It's too hot"
The lieutenant then repeated in substance the con