The record-union., 1891-06-09
special TO the RrcoRp-uN1oN.

Special 10 the RECoRD-UNIoN.
LONDON, June S.-When the trial of the
baccarat scandal case was resumed to-day
Sir Charles Russell took up his address
Tor the defense which was interrupted last
Saturday by the adjournment of court.
Sir Charles commenced by calling atten-
lion to Sir William Gordon Cummings
methods of playing baccarat, saying: "If
what Arthur Stanley Wilson has sworn
10 took place it excluded all that class of
suggestions OF which no trace appeared
N the correspondence between Sir Will
lam, General Williams and Lord Coven-
Try, to the effect that the accusation arose
rom misunderstanding the PLAINTIFF s
gystem of play" Sir Charles said in his
opinion the only course open to Sir Ed
ward Clarke, leading counsel for the plain
Liff, was to announce the whole accusa-
lion rs an invention.
When Sir Charles Russell sat down
Ghere was a murmur of surprise at
counsel for the defendants having closed
.lis address rather unexpectedly.
Solicitor General Sir Edward Clarke,
Leading counsel for plaintiff, took the
yited the attention of the jury. He then
commenced by saying it had been com
mon talk" that the Prince of Wales
continual presence in court during the
Jrial Of this suit had been for the purpose
of restraining the tongues OF the lawyers
engaged in the case from commenting
upon the Prince Of Wales connection
With it. This remark caused sensation,
out 1t was nothing to what followed.
Continuing, Sir Edward intimated that
She presence of the Prince of Wales in
court would not prevent him from max
ng any comment necessary, saying that
he (counseI) had a painful duty to per-
-Orrn, and that he intended to perform it
honestly and fairly. His opponents, he
continued, had always been careful to
allude to him counsel for PLAINTIFF as
the Solicitor-General," and, he added,
while am proud Of the title, 1 must re-
mind the jury that | appear in this case
simply as IN English barriSter, and / am
obliged to disregard the friendships, and
even my own interests, and comment on
The conduct and evidence of one of the
highest in the land"
Sir Edward Clarke. as he uttered these
words. turned squarely around until he
-aced the Prince of Wales, upon whom
every eve in the court was then fixed. and
who nervously crossed his legs, while the
audience was utterly aghast at what was
considered to be the audacity Of the Solic-
-tOr-General. In several directions the
whispered comment, ''Why, he is going
% attack the Prince of Wales ~ was
distinctly heard, and caused all attention
20 be riveted upon the plaintiffs counsel.
Continuing, the Solicitor-General re-
marked that Sir Charles Russell, for the
defendants, had said that "even if the
ury found for the plaintiff and disre-
.yarded the document the latter had signed
Mt Tranby Croft the military authorities
would take the matter up, and that Sir
William Gordon Cummings name would
DC stricken from the army list. | wish to
say in unmistakable TERMS" exclaimed
Sir Edward Clarke. raising his voice
until it echoed tellingly through the
courtroom, that it would be impossible
-or the authorities to do any such thing,
and to leave on that list the names of the
Field Marshal, the Prince OF Wales and
General owen Williams"
This bold statement seemed to COM
oletely take away the breath of the audi
once, and caused by far the greatest sem
sation of the entire trial. 4 hushed mur-
nur of astonishment, not unmixed with
dismay and some irritation, swept over
ghe courtroom. One must thoroughly
understand the almost religious worship
Of royalty which prevails throughout
Great Britain TO clearly understand the
-ull meaning of the crushing significance
Of the Solicitor-GeneraPs words, almost
urecIly at Lne nelf apparent.
Amid this storm the Prince of Wales
sat on the bench to the left of the Lord
Chief Justice, not a muscle of his face ap-
0arenuy twltching, leaning his head
upon his arm and endeavoring to appear
totally unconcerned.
The Solicitor-General also dwelt very
strongly upon the fact that the Prince of
Wales, General Williams and Lord Gov
entry all passed their opinions on Arthur
Stanley Wilson's statement, which the
after had since modified, and upon the
tact that the Prince of Wales, Lord Gov
entry and General Williams testified that
here had not been a single suspicious
act upon the part of Sir William Gordon
Cumming.
The Solicitor-General said, slowly, to
she jury: 1T is too late to undo much of
he mischief which has been DONE"
Turning to the Prince of Wales, and look
lng the latter direct in the face for about
she space of a minute, ne continued. in q
voice apparently shaken with emotion
And it may be too late to save the repu-
alton of some people mentioned in this
case, but again turning TO the jury, it is
not too late for you TO prevent the COM
pletion of the sacrifice of this gallant
onicer'
Sir Edward Clarke's speech was re-
garded as most eloquent and telling
effort, and as he closed his remarks there
cheering and hand-clapping throughout
he court, which caused the Lord Chief
Justice TO shout: 'Silence. This is not
theater." The Lord Chief Justices call
had a desired effect; the applause stopped,
but, as Sir William Gordon Cumming
arose from his seat a minute later, and
whlie the Prince of Wales and Lord
Coleridge were still on the bench, there
was 2 renewal of cheers and hand-clap-
ing, OF which the plaintiff appeared to
axe no notice. The jury, it was plainly
evident, appeared greatly impressed with
the speech of the Solicitor -G eneral, and,
as he ended it, the remark was heard
throughout the court: Cumming will
get a verdict, or at least the jury viii dis
agree"
Ihe court then adjourned until to-mor-
row, when the Lord Chief Justice will
sum up and the case viii be given to the