The South Australian Register - Monday, April 8, 1895

Oscar Wilde has written a letter to the Press, which has been published this morning, in which he states that he was forced to abandon his charges against the Marquis of Queensberry in order to avoid putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box.

The police, acting upon the instructions of the Public Prosecutor, have detained three of the most essential witnesses in the case.

In consequence of the disclosures in the recent libel action by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry, and upon the representations made by Mr. Russell to the Public Prosecutor, that functionary has issued a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde has been arrested, and will appear at Guildhall to answer the charges preferred at the instance of the Public Prosecutor.

Several hours after the termination of the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry, Oscar Wilde, who was accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas and two other men, was observed having his luncheon in a private room at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Afterwards Wilde drove to his Bank, whence he withdrew a large sum of money. The detectives, who were closely following his movements, then lost sight of him.

Later in the evening the detectives recovered his trail, and effected his capture at an hotel in Sloane-street.

Lord Alfred Douglas was very greatly distressed at the news of his capture and at his inability to obtain bail for his friend.

The Marquis of Queensberry sent a message to Oscar Wilde at the conclusion of the trial for libel, in which he threatened that he would shoot him if he attempted to take Lord Alfred Douglas abroad.

Taylor, the man whose name was so frequently referred to in the libel trial, was arrested today, and, with Oscar Wilde, appeared at Bow-street to answer the criminal charges laid against them by the Public Prosecutor.

Several witnesses were called who proved up to the hilt the case for the Crown, the witnesses citing many occasions on which meetings had occurred at hotels and at Taylor's rooms, Taylor, it was said, having acted as an intermediary for Wilde.

Sir John Bridge eventually, at the request of the authorities, remanded the prisoners until Thursday, refusing to grant bail.

Wilde's name has been withdrawn from the playbills of the theatres of London and the United States, where his comedies of "The Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" are being played.

Parisian society, among whom Wilde had his own select coterie, is petrified at the facts that are now becoming public.

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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