Evening journal., 1891-06-10
He CHEATSAT BACCARAT
That Is the Brand Gordon Cum
ns.a ming Bears.
THE DEFENDANTS GET A VERDICT

LONDON, June 10-The jury in the bac-
carat trial gave verdict for the defend
ants in the libel suit of Sir William Cor
don Cumming against Wilson aud others.
The jury was fifteen minutes in reaching
It's conclusion.
The Prince Of Wales was not in court,
having gone to the Ascot races Sir Cor.
don Cumming was greeted with a cheer.
On the opening Of the court General Owen
Williams one Of the defendants attempt
ed to protest against Sir Edward Clarkes
attack upon him Monday, but Lord Cole
ridge silenced him.
The lord chief justice then began his
charge, which was favorable TO the defend
ants. lie said that II the jury found thai
the defendants in what they said about Sia
William Gordon Cumming had spoken the
truth they should render a verdict in ths
defendants favor
II, however, the jury believed the state
ments Of the defendants to have been
broadly untrue, and that the plaintiff did
not eemmit the acts ascribed to him, tbs
verdict must be for Sir William.
The Evidence Alone to BE Considered.
His lordship entreated the jury TO keep
their minds steadily upon the evidence
The extraneous matter which had been
brought into the arguments Of counsel
must be eliminated from the minds OF the
jury In the consideration Of the facts Az
this apparent ailusion to the remarks Of
Sir Edward Clarke concerning the Prince
OF Wales there were many significant
exchanges of glances In the courtroom
fha taf lsuft al
tested against the observation which had
been made by counsel, that there was
more IN the case than was allowed to ap.
pear upon the surface, The jury must not
allow themselves TO be influenced by such
remarks,
There was never any more IN a case than
appeared in evidence That was the
province Of courts Of law, to bring out the
facts and only the facts and 70 procure a
verdict thereon according 90 their merits.
The jury were debarred by their solemn
oaths from dealing with things beneath
the surface, II such things existed
A Strong Point Against Him.
The chief justice then touched upon the
| position OF the prince In this affair, and
the desire for secrecy in regard to the
scandal Was II not natural that, with
monarchical institutions, such a wish
/ should have existedY II must be remem.
| bered that such Incidents with the exag-
/ geration that might arise were nowadays
brought before a hard Judging world-not
before the loyal and suhseryient world Of
the Tudors-and whose sense and judg
ment had TO be consulted. Surely IL was
not a thing to be said against a man under
these circumstances that he was anxious
20 keep a scandal quiet.
While admitting the prima facie Inn
probability OF one in Sir William Gordon
| Cummings position and OF his wealth
cheating at cards, yet the lord chief justice
mnde It a strong point against Sir William
that he had failed to confront his accusers.
The court was unable 70 find IN the evf-
dence any contradiction of the statement
that Sir William had been told Of Mr..
Lycett Green's desire 70 be confronted by
him. The point was evidently telling
one for the jury. -.-A---'-
For the Defendants.
AT the conclusion Of the lord chief JUS
tice's address the jury retired. The sus-
pense was great as the jurors returned TO
their seats. After the clerk had polled the
jury the lord chief justice said, s~>
Gentlemen Of the jury, have you agreed
upon verdictp
Yes almost whispered the foreman.
standing up and bowling toward Lord
| Coleridge.
rs il for the plaintiff or Cor the de-
fendantsy" asked the lord chief justice.
For the defendants, y answered the fore
man in a low voice.
There was a tremendous stir. the court
rapping vainly for order Both applause
and Kisses were heard, but the former pre-
dominated.
Sir william Unmoved.
Sir William received the verdict against
him without any show Of feeling. He WAS
cheered rs he went away George Lewis
was accompanying Mrs Wilson and Mrs.
Lycett Green from the court when, ON
reaching the center of the lobby. kissing
and booing began and sYelled into a roar.
Lewis passed the ladies into another
| court, and the crowd gathered around the
door. Lewis, having waited some eight on
ten minutes and seeing no chance Of a
/ peaceful exit, made arrangements for the
ladies to pass over the judges bench and
out Of the building by the judges stair.
case, A juror Interviewed said there was
no doubt from the first moment the Jury
entered the private room how the verdict
would 60. As each juryman was asked
whether he was for Che plaintiff OF the de-
PENDANTS, the reply was understandings
given, " For the defendants"
One Of the jury, who sympathized with
the plaintiff, was struck with the unanimi
ty which prevailed, and although he would
have liked TO have found for the PLAINTIFF
he could not conscientiously do so in face
of the evidence.
General sympathy for Cumming.
In face Of the verdict it may seem cnrk
GUS that general sympathy is expressed
for Sir William Gordon Cumming. vee
such is the fact He left court in company
with Lord Middleton, his brother-in-law.
Some think Cumming will kill himself
Nobody thinks he will remain ia England.
The effect Of the verdict on militarv
circles is that Sir William Gordon Cum
ming major and lieutenant colonel of tha
Scots Fusilier Guards, will doubtless be
cashiered from the army, and expelled
from the Marlborough club, the Guards
club, the Turf club, and any other social
organizations to which he may belong.
Cumming 10 Marry Today.
1t is said that Gordon Cumming viii ha
married to the daughter of the late Com
modore Garner, of New York, today. He
is quoted as authority for the statement
Before the baccarat scandal was heard OF
It was made known to the friends Of both
families that Cumming and Miss Garnes
were going to marry each other. When