NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Baccarat Case, in which Sir William Gordon- Cumming sought damages from Mrs. Wilson, of Tranby Croft, and others, for slander in alleging that he had cheated at cards, ended on Tuesday in a verdict for defendants. The sympathy of the public was almost entirely with Sir William, the feeling being that he had been ill-used by his hosts, and had been sacrificed by the friends he consulted in order to protect the Prince oS Wales from the imputation of habitual gambling ; and his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, made a speech on his behalf which has added even to his reputation at the Bar. But the direct evidence was irresistible. Five persons, whom the prosecutor did not even charge with anything but a mistake, and one of whom was his personal friend and comrade, swore that they saw him increase his stakes when he had a good hand, which he had no right to do. The Lord Chief Justice gave a careful charge, a little too defensive as regarded the party at Tranby Croft, but impartial as regards the prosecutor ; and the jury 'retired only for ten minutes to discuss their verdict. Sir William Gordon- Cumming, whose record shows that he might have had a great career, and who married an American heiress the day after the verdict, the lady declining his offer to cancel the engage- ment, has withdrawn his name from his clubs, and will, of course, be removed from the Army. He suffers a heavy penalty, but the jury's verdict attributes to him as heavy an offence.
