Gordon-Cumming V. Wilson and Others; Speeches for the Plaintiff Delivered by Sir Edward Clarke (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891. Excerpt: ... evidence was treated as overwhelming on the night of the i0th, and is spoken of as overwhelming, as damning evidence against Sir William Gordon-Cumming to-day--these five witnesses come and swear that, in that document, there are six definite and material misstatements of fact. My.learned friend, Sir Charles Russell, triumphantly numbered them up on Friday afternoon--error i, error 2, error 3, going on to error 6 in the course of this single important statement. You are positively asked to condemn Sir William Gordon-Cumming in this case upon the evidence of people who now come, after all this lapse of time, and say that, in that record--verified by those gentlemen, who, whatever mistakes they may have made, felt so deeply their responsibility, who felt that the thing might hereafter have to be discussed; who felt that it was of vital importance to everybody that an accurate record of all the facts of the case should be set down and put away--you are asked to believe the evidence of these witnesses against Sir William Gordon-Cumming, that those gentlemen made six definite misstatements of fact. Now, Gentlemen, one or two of the alleged misstatements of fact are not of very great importance. I will read to you that precis, which has been read; it is called a precis, but it would be more proper to call it a record, because I see that in the course of the evidence--although during the last few days we have habitually spoken of it as a precis--General Owen Williams more properly called it a record of the circumstances. I will read it to you through again before I comment upon it. "For the Doncaster Race Meeting of 1890, the following party were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wilson at Tranby Croft." Then comes a list of names which I need not trouble you wi...