Compare Documents

London, April 3.-- At the trial at the Old Bailey to-day of the Marquis of Queensberry, on a charge of criminally libelling Oscar Wilde, a number of letters from the prosecutor to Lord Alfred Douglas were read. They were of a most effusive character. Asked as to one letter in which the words "you are the divine thing I want" occurred, prosecutor explained that it was "the natural expression of an artist to a beautiful personality."

Evidence was given that the Marquis of Queensberry visited the residence of Oscar Wilde, and threatened him, and that Wilde responded "you are the most infamous brute in London."

Prosecutor was severely cross-examined with a view to showing that his novel, "Dorian Gray," a story of modern life, which appeared in "Lippincott's Magazine," his articles in other magazines, and the 'Chameleon,' with which he is connected, inspired to criminal practices. Wilde insisted that the articles were merely the expression of an artistic faculty. The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were "prose poems," "extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation." He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers £21 and afterwards entertained him at luncheon in a private room. Wilde also admitted being on terms of intimacy with two lads not his social equals, and that he gave them considerable sums of money and expensive presents. He did this because he "liked them."

Prosecutor's epigrams, paradoxes, and extravagance caused much amusement in court.

The case had not concluded when the court adjourned.

The Marquis was admitted to bail.

April 4. -- Prosecutor admitted that he was acquainted with three men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor, on separate occasions, introduced five young men to him, and he had given them money. He was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He took pleasure in being in the company of bright and happy people. He had visited Taylor's rooms frequently. He was aware that Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he had, notwithstanding, continued his friendship with them. He once took Atkins to Paris. Taylor introduced to him a youth named Ernest Scarp, who afterwards became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas while on the voyage to Australia. He, prosecutor, had made presents to Scarp and another young man named Mavor because he liked them.

Certain letters were then read from youths already mentioned which showed that the writers were poverty-stricken. Some implored assistance in obtaining employment.

Other letters read showed that theMarquis of Queensberry endeavored to stop his son from visiting Wilde.

On one occasion Lord Alfred Douglas wired to his father that "he was a funny little man."

Further evidence showed that the Marquis afterwards called at Wilde's house, and a furious scene ensued. Wilde denied the Marquis's charges, and showed him the door. The Marquis also wrote complaining that his wife encouraged the visits of his son to Wilde. The friendship of prosecutor with Lady Queensberry and her sons remained unbroken.

[The Marquis of Queensberry has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1866, was Sybil, second daughter of Mr. Alfred Montgomery (brother of the Right Hon. Sir Henry C. Montgomery, Bart.), and granddaughter of Lord Leconfield. By this lady, who obtained a divorce in 1887, he has issue surviving two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Viscount Drumlanrig, was accidentally shot a short time since. He married secondly, in 1893, Ethel, daughter of Mr. Edward Charles Weldon, of Eastbourne. This marriage, like the first, did not prove a very happy one, and the lady obtained a decree of nullity early last year.]

London, April 3.

Immense crowds attended the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde. The evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde had paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis's son), which were found in the pockets of his old clothes when given away. The defence is based on the revelations in these letters.

April 4.

Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with a view to showing that "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine "Chameleon," with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted they are merely expressions of artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Douglas he said were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted he gave one of his alleged black-mailers L21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case is adjourned. Defendant was admitted to bail.

Oscar Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marquis of Queensberry visited his residence and threatened Wilde, to which that gentleman responded, "You are the most infamous brute in London.

At the hearing of the charge of libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry, Wilde, in cross-examination, admitted that he was acquainted with the young men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor had introduced him to five young men on separate occasions to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said that he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room, and was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Douglas when making a voyage to Australia. Wilde said he had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he liked them.

The letters read in court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavouring to stop his son from visiting Wilde. The son wired back to his father that Wilde was "a funny little man." The marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, where a furious scene took place. The latter denied at the time the charges levelled against him, and showed the marquis the door.

Wilde, continuing his evidence, said he wrote to the marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and the marquis's son remained unbroken.

Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty stricken, some of them imploring assistance or employment.

The Marquis of Queensberry wrote to his son saying that he believed he was crazy and suggesting he should leave the country.

April 5.

Oscar Wilde admitted close intimacy with a number of young men, but denied there was anything improper in it. He paid no regard to social inferiority if his friends were amusing. Lord Douglas's letters showed that he threatened to shoot his father if he attempted to thrash him. The marquis's letter referred to an eminent stateman, but the reference was political. Oscar Wilde's case is closed.

Mr Carson, in opening the defence, declared that plaintiff's proteges were among the most immoral persons in London. Wilde's intimacies were absolutely irreconcilable with his claims as an exponent of culture. His literature alone justified the charges against him. In conclusion, he claimed that the defendant's witnesses, amongst whom was Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case to the hilt.

The charge of libel against the Marquis of Queensberry finished to-day, a verdict of "Not guilty" being returned. The jury considered that the charges made by the Marquis of Queensberry were of public benefit. Wilde's counsel withdrew from the case, and Wilde himself left the court while his counsel was explaining that the plaintiff's literature and letters justified the plea of the defence that Wilde posed as an immoral person. He explained that the reason he withdrew from the case was so as to avoid the appalling evidence which would be adduced. The verdict was received with loud cheers.

Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry has sent the public prosecutor a statement of the witnesses and notes on the evidence in order to prevent a miscarriage of justice, and later in the day Oscar Wilde was arrested.

April 6.

Oscar Wilde publishes a letter stating that he abandoned the case in order to avoid placing Lord Douglas in the witness box. After the warrant had been issued for Wilde's arrest the police detained three essential witnesses. Lord Douglas and two men remained in conference with Wilde at the Viaduct Hotel, Holborn, for several hours after the trial, and lunched together in a private room. Subsequently they drove to the bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. He was then lost sight of until arrested in the evening at the hotel in Sloane street.

Lord Douglas was much distressed when he found he was unable to bail Wilde out.

After the trial the Marquis of Queensberry sent Wilde a message stating that he would shoot him if he took his son abroad. Taylor has also been arrested, and will be charged in conjunction with Wilde. The latter's name has been withdrawn from the playbills of London and American theatres.

The warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was issued at the instance of the Treasury.

Although Wilde's name has been removed from the playbills the companies continue to play his pieces for the present.

Oscar Wilde, in his letter to the press explaining his reason for abandoning the case, states that he is willing to bear the ignominy in order to avoid calling Lord Douglas to give evidence against his father, but says the son was eager and quite willing to enter the witness box.

Parisian society is astounded at Oscar Wilde's exposure.

April 8.

Since he was remanded with Oscar Wilde, Taylor has made statements which are likely to lead to many arrests.