Royal Baccarat Scandal - Trial

Trial

Sir William decided to defend his reputation by suing his original accusers for libel in civil court. The defendants were George Loms, Lycett Green and his wife, Capt. Berkeley Levett (Scots Guards), Arthur Wilson (Sir Arthur's son) and his wife, George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry, and Lord Somerset. The Prince was not named as a defendant but he was called as a witness. The suit, Gordon-Cumming v. Wilson and Others, made the incident public knowledge, when it became known as the Royal Baccarat Scandal or the Tranby Croft Scandal. Sir William was represented by Sir Edward Clarke, one of England's most talented barristers, and the defence was led by Sir Charles Russell. The trial was heard by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Coleridge and began on 1 June 1891. Levett, Wilson and others were forced to testify in open court, and the proceedings became a society spectacle.

The Prince of Wales was reluctant to testify as a witness in such a case. He had been called to appear as a witness once before, in an adultery case in 1870 where he denied having an affair with Lady Mordaunt. However, his testimony was compelled when Sir Edward invoked Article 42 of the Queen's Army Regulations that as an officer, the Prince had been required to report the illegal action of Sir William, another officer. Sir Edward forced the Prince to admit he had not done so and to acknowledge his own participation in the evening's events.

Although Sir William performed well, he was unable to overcome the testimony of the defendants as to what they had witnessed as well as the evidence of Sir William's signed confession (which he now stated he had only signed to prevent involving the Prince in a public scandal). The trial ended on 9 June and the jury deliberated for only ten minutes before finding in favour of the defendants.