Sydney Evening News - Saturday, April 6, 1895

London, April 5, 6.30 p.m. -- Oscar Wilde has published a letter to the effect that he abandoned the case against the Marquis of Queensberry to avoid calling Lord Alfred Douglas as a witness against his father.

At the instance of the Treasury a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Oscar Wilde. The police at the conclusion of the proceedings at the Old Bailey detained three essential witnesses.

7.30 p.m. -- Oscar Wilde has been arrested. It is not yet stated what charge will be preferred against him. The theatres at which pieces by Oscar Wilde are being performed have removed his name as the author from the playbills and programmes, but will continue playing the pieces for the present.

9.30 p.m. -- Detectives had been watching Wilde for two days. When arrested, and the warrant was read to him, Wilde made no reply.

Lord Alfred Douglas afterwards had an interview with Wilde in his cell at Bow-street Police Station.

Wilde will appear at the Bow-v street Police Court to-morrow.

In his letter to the press Wilde says he is willing to bear the ignominy to avoid compelling Lord A. Douglas to give evidence against his father, though Lord Alfred was eagerly willing to do so.

The Argus - Monday, April 8, 1895

At the trial to-day of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of criminally libelling Oscar Wilde, the well-known author and dramatist, which resulted in the acquittal of the accused, the counsel for Oscar Wilde, in announcing his withdrawal from the case, explained that the literary works and letters of his client justified Lord Queensberry's pleas, and expressed an opinion that Wilde had posed as an immoral person. He stated that he therefore withdrew from the case, in order to avoid the production of the appalling evidence against his client that he saw would be forthcoming if the case were continued.

This announcement was greeted by loud cheers from those present in the court, and while his counsel was making the statement Oscar Wilde hurriedly left the court.

No warrant for the arrest of Wilde has yet been applied for, but Mr. Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, has, in order to prevent any miscarriage of justice, sent to the Public Prosecutor a statement on the subject, and notes of the evidence that would have been given by the witnesses to be called on his client's behalf.

[Published in Saturday's Second Edition.]

LATER.

Oscar Wilde has published a letter, in which he states that he abandoned the case against Lord Queensberry in order to avoid calling Lord Alfred Douglas as a witness.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Oscar Wilde, and the police have detained three essential witnesses.

LONDON, APRIL 6.

After the trial Lord Alfred Douglas and two other men remained in conference with Oscar Wilde, the interview lasting several hours. They subsequently lunched with him in a private room at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. The party then drove to Oscar Wilde's bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money.

Oscar Wilde was afterwards lost sight of until last evening, when he was arrested at an hotel in Sloane-street.

Lord Alfred Douglas, who was with Wilde, accompanied him to the watch-house, and was greatly distressed at not being allowed to bail him out.

This morning the man Taylor, who was mentioned in the libel case proceedings as having introduced Wilde to several young men, was also arrested.

At the Bow-street Police Court to-day Wilde and Taylor were charged with serious criminal offences.

Several witnesses gave evidence which proved the case against Wilde.

LONDON, APRIL 7.

After the hearing of the evidence in the charge against Oscar Wilde and Taylor, at the Bow-street Police Court yesterday, the accused were remanded, bail being refused.

THREAT BY LORD QUEENSBERRY.

LONDON, APRIL 6.

The Marquis of Queensberry sent a message to Oscar Wilde after the trial declaring that he would shoot him if he took his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, abroad.

ACTION BY THEATRICAL

MANAGERS.

WILDE'S NAME WITHDRAWN

FROM THE PLAYBILLS.

LONDON. APRIL 6.

In consequence of the revelations made at the trial, the managers of the London and American theatres where Oscar Wilde's dramas, "The Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being in Earnest," are being played have withdrawn the author's name from the playbills.

SENSATION IN PARIS.

LONDON, APRIL 7.

The revelations in connection with the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry and the arrest of Oscar Wilde have caused a great sensation in Paris.

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