Bristol Mercury - Saturday, April 6, 1895

The hearing of the charge against the Marquis of Queeasberry of criminally libelling Mr Oscar Wilde was resumed yesterday morning at the Central Criminal Court, London, before Mr Justice Henn Collins. The defence was a justification of the libel.

Mr Carson, continuing his address for the defence, said he hoped he had convinced the jury that defendant was justified in bringing to a climax the association of his son with Wilde. It would be his painful duty to call several young men to tell their own tale. He would show that Taylor acted as a procurer for Wilde. Mr Carson remarked, with much emphasis, that it was a wonder the man Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long.

Mr Carson was continuing his argument when Sir Edward Clarke and Mr Mathews retired from the court for a moment. Mr Wilde had up to this point been absent. Sir Edward Clarke on returning whispered to Mr Carson, who resumed his seat.

Sir E. Clarke, then addressing the Court, said he had to make a statement under the gravest responsibility. Mr Carson on Thursday said that he hoped he had said enough regarding Mr Wilde's letters and literature to influence the jury, and to relieve him from the necessity of dealing in detail with other issues. Those representing Mr Wilde had, therefore, before them a terrible anxiety, and could not conceal from themselves what the judgment of the jury might be, and that the jury might say Lord Queensberry was justified in using the words he had done. The position he (Sir Edward) stood in was that without expecting to obtain a verdict he would be going on from day to day investigating circumstances of the most appalling character. Under these circumstances, he hoped his Lordship would think he was taking the right course. After consulting Mr Wilde in reference to the letters and literature, he felt that he could not resist a verdict of not guilty in regard to the words, " posing as a -." He, therefore, asked on behalf of Mr Wilde to withdraw from the prosecution and submit to a verdict of not guilty in respect to that part of the particulars connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and the "Chameleon."

Sir Edward Clarke's statement produced a profound sensation in court.

Mr Carson said a verdict of not guilty involved a verdict also of justification.

Mr Justice Collins said that if the jury found a verdict of not guilty they would also find that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published for the public benefit.

The jury, after a few moments' consideration, returned a verdict of not guilty against the Marquis of Queensberry, the foreman adding that what he had written was published for the public benefit.

The Judge thereupon ordered the Marquis of Queensberry's discharge from custody, and certified for costs.

The Marquis, on descending from the dock, was heartily congratulated by his friends, and the court soon rapidly cleared.

As was surmised, Mr Wilde was in the precincts of the Old Bailey when the speech for the defence of Lord Queensberry was resumed. It was for the purpose of holding a conference with Mr Wilde that his leading counsel left the court. At the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms Mr Wilde hailed a hansom and drove away, leaving Sir E Clarke to formally withdraw from the prosecution.

Mr Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o'clock last evening, and conveyed to Bow street police station, where he arrived at ten minutes past eight. The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half past six at the Cadogan hotel, Sloane street, Chelsea, where Mr Wilde it appears drove after leaving the Holborn Viaduct hotel. Mr Wilde's visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when Inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr Wilde it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct but when the inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conducted to a room in the establishment where Mr Wilde was engaged with his two friends. Mr Wilde, in custody of two officers, was at once conducted to a cab, which conveyed the party to Scotland Yard, whence he was driven to 330w street. He was at once placed in the prisoner's dock in the charge room, but he made no reply to the charge. Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow Street to inquire as to the possibility of the accused being bailed out but it was, explained that the prisoner had been arrested on a warrant charging an offence which admitted of no bail until the prisoner had appeared before a magistrate, Lord A. Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant, will investigate the charge.

The Daily Inter Ocean - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, April 5. -- The action for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry came to a sudden end today, when Wilde withdrew his suit, thereby practically admitting his guilt of the charges made by Queensberry. A short time after the court proceedings closed Wilde was arrested at the Cadagan Hotel. He is spending tonight in a cell in the Bow Street Police Station.

The name of Oscar Wilde has been withdrawn from the playbills and advertisements of the two theaters, the St. James and the Haymarket, where two of his plays are running.

Before 10 o'clock today every available foot of space in the courtroom in the Old Bailey was filled with spectators, who were ready to spend the day in court. The Marquis at 10:20 a.m. entered court, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 a.m, Justice Collins entered and the court was opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was absent.

Mr. Carson Resumes His Speech.

Mr. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Mr. Carson said that he hoped he had demonstrated that the Marquis was justified in bringing to a climax in the way he did the connection between his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde. Continuing, counsel said that the wonder is that this man has been so long tolerated in London society.

Mr. Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of Wilde's counsel left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid a most impressive silence, the leading counsel for the plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client. He said that after consulting with his client-who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel adjourned, and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement-he asked to withdraw the suit. Counsel said that he did this more especially in view of the ex- tracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of modern social life. "Dorian Gray," and from the magazine, the Chameleon.

Mr. Carson here interposed, saying that if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involves a verdict of justification, as the case of his client must succeed upon that plea.

The Jury Is Instructed.

Justice Collins said that if the jury should consent to the course suggested and should return a verdict of not guilty, they were also to find that the justification set up by the defense was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit.

The jurymen consulted together for a moment, and then, without leaving their seats, they returned a verdict as directed by Justice Collins, namely that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel, and that the words he had written on the card which formed the basis of the suit were published in the interests of the public.

The verdict was received with loud applause in court, and Justice Collins made no attempt to check it. The Marquis of Queensberry was then discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling and surrounded by his friends.

A warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was promptly applied for. Copies of all the witnesses' statements and shorthand notes of the trial had been furnished to the public prosecutor.

Officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of the government public prosecutions are directed, visited Bow Street Police Court several times this afternoon previous to the granting of the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon the occasion of their last visit, after a short consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John Bridge, the magistrate issued the warrant.

Caught at the Cadogan Hotel.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas at a hotel in Holborn. His brougham was waiting in front of the hotel. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to a bank, cashed a check, and returned to the hotel. Soon afterward both Wilde and Lord Alfred drove away.

Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloan street, and taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

Few persons witnessed Wilde's arrival there, and those who did maintained silence. At 8:10 p.m. Wilde was arraigned at the Bow Street Police Court. He was placed in the dock in the police station. Here he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. A police inspector read the charge aloud and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner remained apparently indifferent and made no reply. He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell.

Shortly after he had been locked up, one of his friends arrived in a carriage at the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothing and other necessaries, but the police refused to permit him to leave it.

Bail Is Denied Him.

Later Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde had been arrested for a criminal offense, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information. He was told by the inspector that Wilde had a blanket and other requisites in his cell to be as comfortable as the police regulations allowed.

The prisoner will be allowed to receive food from a hotel until tomorrow, when he will be arraigned in court on a charge involving a penal offense.

Wilde has written a letter to newspapers, in which he says:

It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to go into the box, but I would not allow it. Rather than put him in such a painful position I determined to retire from the case, and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry.

The Leader publishes an interview with Lord Douglas, of Hawick, in relation to the Wilde scandal Lord Douglas says:

"I and every member of the family except father disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges. We think them simply part of the persecution father has carried on against us as long as I can remember, and that Mr. Wilde and his counsel are to blame for not showing, as they could have done, that that was the fact."

Took the Yellow Book to Jail with Him.

LONDON, April 6. -- The Morning says that Wilde received the notification of his arrest with languid nonchalance, plaintively asking whether he would be allowed to furnish bail when accompanying the detective who made the arrest he took under his arm a copy of the Yellow Book. When he arrived at Scotland Yard he asked whether he would be allowed a private cell and whether he would be allowed to smoke. When the charge was read to him he smiled.

The Chronicle says editorially:

It suffices us to know, as some return for the undamming of the putrid stream, that the way is cleared for increased wholesomeness in life. We seem for some unhappy hours to have been shuddering witnesses of a revival of society under the late Roman empire, or against the dark background of the Italian renaissance.

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