The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-02
IT WAS A BRACE GAME
The Prince of Wales Baccarat
Bank at Tranbycroft.
SIR GORDON cuMMlNo CHEATED.
His work Being discovered, the GAM
bier Sues His Accusers and Asks
the Court to whitewash Him.

Loypos, June 1.-The famous Baccarat
scandal trial, otherwise the action of Sir
William Gordon Cumming against Mr..
and Mrs. Lycett Green, Mrs. Arthur VIII
son. Mr.. Arthur Wilson and Berkeley
Lovett, for SANDER, was commenced before
Lord Chief Justice Coleridge today. Long
before the hour fixed for hearing the case
the courtroom filled with crowds of fash
ionabie people, who had been lucky
enough to obtain tickets. Judge Coier-
idge had given orders that admission TO
the court was to be by special tickets only.
He announced that he would be able 10
accommodate only few of the most dis
tinguished applicants with seats beside
him on the bench. He would reserve the
main body of the court for members OF the
bar, witnesses, jurymen and about thirty
FIVE newspaper representatives. The re-
suit was that crowds of angry, disap-
pointed people were seen outside the
court.
The FIRST tremor of excitement was
caused by the arrival in the courtroom of
Cumming, the plaintiff, accompanied by
his counsel, Solicitor General Clarke and
DR.. Gill. Opposed to these legal lights are
Sir Charles Russell, Mr.. Asquith and Ar
thur Russell, who came in, accompanied
by the defendants The plaintiff was cool
and calm, but apparently not in the best
humor.
1t was intended that Attorney-General
Webster and Sir Charles Russell should be
the leading counsel for the defendant, but,
owing to the fact that Webster was
obliged to appear in another case, he was
compelled to resign at the last moment.
Sir Charles Russell will act as leading
counsel for all the defendants.
The heir apparent entered court shortly
after IL o'clock, accompanied by his pri-
yate secretary. The prince took his seat
near Justice Coleridge. His entrance was
the signal for court proceedings to COM
,nence. No sooner was the prince seated
than the Jury was sworn. Chief Justice
Coleridge took his seat on the bench and
addressed Solicitor-C .neral Clarke, leading
counsel for the plaintiff. He said, in sub
stance, that he desired that the Prince of
Wales should be kept in court as short
time as possible. To this the solicitor gen.
eral assented.
Sir Edward Clarke, amid almost breath
less silence. then opened the case for the
plaintiff. He detailed the circumstances
OF the now almost famous card party at
Tranbycroft, Arthur Wilson's residence,
during the Doncaster meeting, in Septem-
her, 1890. "Baccarat," said the solicitor,
had never before been played at Tranby-
croft" He said that il would be his duty
to put the Prince of Wales and General
Owen Williams in the witness box, as their
testimony would satisfy the jury that they
saw nothing wrong on the part of Cum
ming. He concluded his address by max
ing q brilliant, eloquent and passionate
appeal to the jury in behalf of his client,
who, he claimed, was plainly victim of
circumstances and false desire to avoid
a scandal, which would have implicated
his hosts at Tranbycroft and his own
friends who played baccarat with him
there. At the conclusion of the solicitors
speech, Sir William Gordon Cumming,
the plaintiff, was called to the witness box.
The plaintiff said that the Prince of
Wales acted as banker upon the occasion
referred to, and that General Williams
was croupier. His (plaintiff's) attention
was next called on the night of September
to the complaint made against him. The
following evening, while dressing for din
ner, Lord Coventry and General Williams
came to him in his bedroom at Tranby-
croft. The former said that some people,
staying there, said he (Cumming) had,
while playing baccarat the previous even
ing resorted to foul play. The plaintiff
said that he then replied that it was a foul,
abominable charge and deliberate false
hood, adding, addressing Lord Coventry
and General Williams: "What am l to
dot You two are my old friends. For
goodness sake say what is to be done"
The plaintiff then remarked that he adj
ded to this request that he placed the
whole matter entirely in their hands, and
that after dinner, at the suggestion of Lord
Coventry and General Williams, he (plain-
tiff) had an interview with the Prince of
Wales to whom he repudiated the charge
brought against him and said: "Your
royal highness will see what terrible
thing this is for mel, who have
been attempting for twenty years to
lead the life of an officer and gentleman"
To this, according to the plaintiff, the
prince replied: 'What can you do?
There are five accusers." Cumming an
swered: "My first impulse is to publicly
insult my accusers upon the race course
tomorrow" To this the Prince of Wales,
plaintiff testified, replied: "What is the
use OF that2 There are five against you"
Sir William said that half an hour after
ms Interview with the prince he was sum-
moned TO another room, where he found
Coventry and General Williams, who told
him that the only way to avoid "horri-
lie scandal was TO sign a document,
which was produced and read, The plain
TIT said that, although il was tantamount
TO an admission of guilt, he was persuaded
to sign IL, believing that he could trust his
honor to Williams and Coventry. Cum
ming concluded his testimony with the
same denial that he ever cheated at cards
at Tranhycroft or anywhere else. The
cross-examination of plaintiff was then
commenced by Sir Charles Russell. lead
ing counsel FOR defendants. The court,
after hearing further testimony for the
plaintiff. adjourned. The Prince Of Wales
remained throughout the examination.
Plaintiff said he had no reason to sus-
pect malice on the part of any of the de-
PENDANTS.
Sir Charles Russell then glanced at a
paper, and, turning toward the plaintiff.
continued: And does this express your
opinionf" Readingl: 1.-The worst of it
Is that feel that they are acting perfectly
conscientiously in the matter and they be-
heved that they did see me resort to foul
play"
Pardon me-" cried Sir William quickly,
drawing himself up. his eyes sparkling
and his whole manner denoting consider
able excitement, "are you reading from
any letter of mine7"
Sir Charles Russell replied: Yes: does
1t express your feelingsf"
YES" replied plaintiff, sharply. Then
Sir William under crOss-eyarninariov ~