The Argus - Thursday, April 4, 1895

The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of having criminally libelled Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known author and dramatist, was commenced to-day.

From the social position of the parties the case has excited unusual interest, and immense crowds assembled at the court during the proceedings.

Lord Queensberry was committed for trial on March 9, when he declared that he wrote the alleged libel on a card and left it with the hall porter at Mr. Wilde's club with the view of bringing matters to a head, and in order to save his son, Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, who is 24 years of age, from Mr. Wilde, in the interests of morality.

Evidence was given to show that Mr. Wilde had paid heavy blackmail in order to recover certain letters written by him in a very gushing strain to Lord Alfred Douglas. These letters had been found in the pockets of some old clothes belonging to the latter which had been given away.

The case for the defence is based on the revelations contained in these letters.

The Sydney Morning Herald - Friday, April 5, 1895

THE trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of having criminally libelled Mr. Oscar Wilde, the dramatist and poet, was begun in London on Wednesday.

EVIDENCE was given to show that Mr. Oscar Wilde paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of Queensberry, and that these letters were found in some old clothes that had been given away. On revelations contained in these letters the defence - that of justification - is based.

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