Compare Documents

[...] is sinking deeper and deeper [...] where it becomes increasingly difficult to follow it. The fine verbal fencing of the first day has done little to relieve the horrible darkness of the succeeding passages of the trial, and even the Old Bailey recoiled with loathing from the long ordeal of terrible suggestion that occupied the whole of yesterday when the cross-examination left the artistic literary plane and penetrated the dim-lit, perfumed rooms where the poet of the beautiful joined with valets and [...] bond of the silver cigarette [...] And when Oscar Wilde left [...] the little light that had relieved the [...] of the picture died out, as Mr. [...] to paint a horrid nocturne of [...] suggestions, a thing of [...] only [...] but wholly horrible.

Curiosity, however, was as strong to-day as ever, and brought together if possible a larger crowd than that which on the two preceding days has filled the court. It was known that the defence had a large number of witnesses, [...] how many were to be called of the 15 persons as to whom Mr. Wilde was examined was unknown.

THE ABSENT OSCAR.

Day by day, in the miserable hour of waiting that precedes the sitting of the court, the scene is is curiously the same. Everyone is in the same seat, wedged in the same angle, or standing in the same corner: looking around not a face seems missing that was present on the morning the trial begun. As the time wears on, Lord Queensberry enters and leans nonchalantly against the dock, and after looking about him a moment climbs inside and sits down to read a paper. Everyone is looking for the prosecutor, who does not put in an appearance in court, though several letters addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Old Bailey, London," are awaiting him.

When the Judge taken his seat he is handed a cablegram from America, which he reads slowly.

FOR THE DEFENCE.

Mr. Carson at once went on with his speech. He had dealt fully, he said, with the literature in the case, and almost hoped that, so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned, he was absolutely on that ground [...] in bringing to a climax the connection between Mr. Wilde and his son. The rest of his duty was more painful, to comment on the remaining portion of the case. He had to bring before them the young men, one after the other, to tell their tales, for an advocate a most distasteful task. One word he would say—let those who would blame these young men remember they were mere sinned against than sinning. Mr. Carson then dealt with Mr. Wilde’s admission in cross-examination.

The learned judge sat with his face hidden in his hands, never raising it till Mr. Carson [...] the awful character of his speech by a protest against the slippancy of Mr. Wilde’s answers in the box. "No doubt he thought he was making smart repartees, souring off counsel, that is as it may be." Then to the [...] again.

SIR EDWARD INTERPOSES.

In the middle of Mr. Carson’s speech, Sir Edward Clarke rose and interposed. At once there was an electric shock, everyone knew something had happened.

Sir Edward, looking pale, said "My Lord, I interpose with a sense of great responsibility to make a statement as to what my friend said yesterday in addressing the jury on the question of the literature involved in this case and [...] references he had drawn from the [...] with regard to the letters by Mr. Oscar Wilde yesterday. My friend began his address this morning by saying he hoped yesterday that he had said [...] dealing with [...] to [...] detail with the other [...] who represent Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] have before them a [...] They could not [...] a judgment might be [...] improbably induce the [...] Lord Queensberry in [...] justification to [...] that he should be relieved .. forward [...] which [...] Under these [...] lordship [...] Mr. Oscar Wilde [...] guilty, having reference to that part of the particulars in connection with the literature of the case.

MR. CARSON SPEAKS.

Mr Carson, in a few words, raised no objection, but insisted on the point that Lord Queensberry had justified the libel, had said it was for the public benefit it should be published, and the verdict must be taken on those issues.

WHAT THE JUDGE SAID

The learned Judge then said that if both parties acquiesced it was not within his province or that of the jury to stand in the way of taking a [...] which would avoid going into prurient [...] But there would be no limitation of the verdict. The libel is either justified or not; there can be no limitation to the terms of the verdict, and I shall direct the jury to return a verdict that the libel was true in substance and a fact, and that it was for the public benefit that it was published.

THE VERDICT.

After a few moments consultation together on the part of the jury, the foreman intimated that they had arrived at their verdict that the libel was true.

The Clerk of Arraigns : Do you find the plea of justification proved?—Yes.

Mr. Carson: Lord Queensberry may be discharged ?

Mr. Justice Collins: Oh, certainly.

Lord Queensberry at once stepped out of the dock and joined his solicitor in the wall of the court.

There was applause in court, which, in contradiction to usual custom, was not immediately suppressed. There was little excitement outside the Court, very few people being present.

WHERE OSCAR WAS.

Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey, but did not enter the court. He had a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. The Exchange Telegraph Company has authority for stating that no warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry’s solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor :

"37, Norfolk-street, Strand."The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Esq.,"Director of Prosecutions.

"Dear Sir—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial."Yours faithfully,CHARLES RUSSELL,"The Treasury, Whitehall."

AT THE HOLBORN VIADUCT.

When Oscar left the Old Bailey he drove, in company with a companion, in his carriage which was in waiting, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Shortly afterwards he was joined by Lord Alfred Douglas and another person and the four remained closeted in a private room. At one o’clock the four ordered luncheon to be served in another private room. Wilde’s carriage remains outside the hotel.

When the court adjourned last evening Mr. Carson, Q. C., was in the middle of one of the most pitiless and scathing opening speeches ever heard within the four walls of the Old Bailey. Mr. Oscar Wilde had dicussed at length the grounds for accusing the Marquess of Queensberry of criminally libelling him. He had been searchingly cross-examined. Now Mr. Carson was undertaking to demonstrate that even the cross-examination had fallen short of exposing the real gravity of the case against Mr. Wilde. The earlier stage of the case had been redeemed from utter offensiveness by the brilliancy of Oscar's sparring with a dogged assailant. Now Oscar was out of it, and the proceedings treatened to sink into matter unreportable.

Oscar could not be seen this morning, and excited exclamations began at half-past ten to find sensational reasons for the unexpected non-appearance. The Marquess of Queensberry arrived before the half-hour, and was very civilly handed into the dock and relieved of his overcoat and hat. Sitting there like a rather rusty house-servant, with an untidily-tied white scarf sticking up above the ill-fittng collar of his discolored coat, he quietly perused a newspaper till the three premonitory taps announced the coming of Mr. Justice Collins, when he came up to attention at the front of the dock.

MR. CARSON LOOKED HAGGARD

and ill, and his saturnine face appeared even more drawn and lined than is usual, when he rose to resume his denunciatory address. Still Mr. Wilde had not arrived. It was the more painful part of the case, said Mr. Carson, to which he was now coming. It would be his painful duty to bring before the jury the young men whose names had already been mentionned. Let those who were inclined condemn these lads for allowing themselves to be dominated, misled, and corrupted by Mr. Oscar Wilde. But at least let them remember the relative positions of the parties, and they would realise that the younger men had been more sinned against than sinning.

There was a close similarity, said Mr. Carson, between the history of all the cases, and there could be no doubt that Taylor's position was that of procurer for Wilde. It was Taylor who first met the lad named Parker in a restaurant in Picadilly. If his relations with Wilde were innocent, what an idea of Wilde's tastes he must have had to bring a groom and a valet to dine woth him. Charlie Parker would tell for himelf the story of what happened when,

PLIED WITH WHISKY AND CHAMPAGNE,

he was taken by Wilde to the Savoy Hotel. When they had heard the story the jury would wonder less that gossip and scandal reached Lord Queensberry's ears than that "this man Wilde" had been tolarated in society in London as long as he has. "No doubt in many of his answers yesterday Mr. Wilde thought he was making a smart repartee, and scoring off counsel." But now the bail was at Mr. Carson's feet, and he kicked it pitiliessly. As if by prophetic instinct of what in a few moment was to happen, he added with reference to the seeming candor of Mr. Wilde as to his friendship with these lads, "he knew we had all the evidence," and he preferred to discount it as far as possible in advance.

SIR. E. CLARKE WITHDRAWS.

At this point Sir Edward Clarke touched Mr. Carson's arm, and whispered a word in his ear. "Will your lordship excuse me?" said Mr. Carson, and returned his seat. Sir Edward Clarke was in earnest conversation with Mr. Mathews. Then, very slowly, he rose to address the judge. "Your lordship," he said, "I rise to make a statement under a feeling of very great responsibility. My learned friend Mr. Carson yesterday addressed the jury upon the question of the literature involved in this case, and upon the inferences to be drawn from the admissions made by Mr. Oscar Wilde in regard to letters, and began his address this morning by saying he hoped yesterday that he had said enough upon these topics to induce the jury to relieve him from the necessity of dealing in detail with the other issues of the case. It must have been present to your lordship's mind that those representing Mr. Oscar Wilde in this case had before them

A VERY TERRIBLE ANXIETY

that they could not conceal from themselves that the judgment that might be formed of that literature of conduct which had been admitted might not improbably induce the jury to say that when Lord Queensberry used the words of the libel, he was using words for which there was sufficient justification to entitle a father who had used these words in these circumstances to the upmost consideration, and to be relived from a criminal charge in respect to the statement. And, my lord, in our clear view that that may not improbably be the result upon that part of the case, I and my learned friends, who desire to be associated with me in this matter, have to look forward to this--that a verdict given in favor of the defendant upon that part of the case might be interpreted outside as a conclusive finding with regard to all points of the case; and the position in which we stood was this--that, without expecting to obtain a verdict in this case, [...] be going on from day to day, it might be with long evidence to investigate matters of

A MOST APPALLING CHARACTER.

In these circumstances I hope your lordship will think that I am taking a right course--which I take after communicating with Mr. Oscar Wilde--and it is to say that, having regard to what has already been referred to by my learned friend with respect of the matters connected with the literature and letters, I feel he could not resist a verdict of not guilty--having regard to the words "posing as." In these circumstances I hope your lordship will think I am not going beyond the bounds of duty, and that I am doing something to save and prevent what would be a most terrible task, however it might close, if I know interpose to say on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde that I would ask to withdraw from the prosecution. And if your lordship does not think at this time in the case, after what has taken place that I should be allowed to do that, on his behalf I am prepared to submit to

A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY

having reference, if to any part of the particulars at all, to that part connected with the publication of "Dorian Gray."

THE SENSATIONAL END.

This statement had been followed by everybody in court with the most breathless attention, and a long-drawn inspiration audibly followed its closes.

Mr. Carson said he had no right to interfere with the application his learned friend had made. He could only say so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned that if there was a plea of not guilty it would involve a verdict that he had succeeded in his plea of justification. With that Mr. Carson was quite satisfied.

Mr. Justice Collins: Inasmuch a the prosecuter in a verdict of not guilty against the accused, I do not think it is any part of the function of the judge or jury to insist on going through prurient details which can have no bearing on the matter already concluded by the assent of the prosecutor to an adverse verdict. But as to the jury putting any limitations on the verdict as to the justification, if the words used are justified

THEY ARE JUSTIFIED,

if they are not they are not. The verdict of the jury must be guilty or not guilty, and I understand the prosecutor to assent to a verdict of not guilty. There can be no limitation. The verdict will be not guilty. I shall put to the jury two things--that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published in such a manner as to be

FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.

The jury at once reached a verdict accordingly, amid loud applause.

Mr. Carson: Lord Queensberry may be discharged?

Mr. Justice Collins: Oh, certainly.

There was again loud applause, and little attempt was made to suppress it, as Lord Queensberry stepped out of the dock and joined his solicitor to the wall of the court. Amid general excitement over the sensational nature of the end to a sensational case, the court was rapidly emptied of its crowded audience.

It appeared that Mr. Oscar Wilde had been somewhere in the precincts of the court. His brougham was in waiting, and he stepped rapidly into it, calling to the coachman to drive to the Holdorn Viaduct Hotel. Before the carriage had stopped at the door of the hotel he thrust his arm and a gold-headed cane out of the window, and signalling to a man who stood there, apparently waiting, hoarsely cried, "The verdict, not guilty ?" Afterwards Lord Alfred Douglas was also seen to go into the hotel.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW ?

The Exchange Telegraph Company states that Oscar Wilde went to the Old Bailey this morning, but did not enter the precincts of the court. He held a consultation with Sir Edward Clarke in a room off the court, and while the learned gentleman was making his statement to the judge Wilde hurriedly left the building. No warrant has been applied for, but on leaving the court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's sollicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:--

Dear Sir,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.

PRIVATE TALK AT BOW-ST.

At half-past two this afternoon Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, attended at Bow-st., accompanied by Detective-Inspector Brockwell, of Scotland-yard, and had a private conversation with Sir John Bridge. It is understood the learned counsel asked whether it would be convenient for the magistrate to ask a certain case to-day in reference to the recent libel suit at the Old Bailey.

"WAITERS" AT THE HOTEL.

There is some ground for supposing that the "prosecutor" had appointed the Viaduct libel as a rendezvous with his particular friends. Within half an hour of his arrival there several gentlemen arrived hurriedly and were conducted at once to the rooms which have been reserved for Mr. Wilde since yesterday. The brougham, with two smart little brown horses, was driven slowly up and down the Viaduct, pausing once while the coachman received instructions from Lord Alfred Douglas, who came out bareheaded with the hall porter. These movements were closely watched, in a number of interests, and it is reported that Scotland-yard was keeping a provisional eye on the hotel.

Lord Alfred Douglas and a friend left the hotel and drove to the London and Westminster Bank. St. James's-sq. They were seen to enter and draw money at the counter.

CURIOSITY AT THE COMMONS.

Our Lobby correspondent writes:--Members of Parliament shared the prevailing curiosity in regard to the Wilde-Queensberry case. It was nearly seven o'clock before Sir Edward Clarke reached the House last night, but the moment he set foot in the Lobby he was surrounded by hon. gentlemen anxious for information concerning the latest developments. Sir Edward Clarke never objects to discuss what has happened in court, but when people try to pump him beyond reason, he withdraws into his shell.