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The second day of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor at the Old Bailey on charges of gross immorality is not likely to be made notable by any dramatic surprises. The gravity of the case remains, but its interest has been largely discounted by the Queensberry trial and the police-court proceedings. It is possible, but not now probable, that the case may terminate to-day. This would involve sitting late into the evening, however, and as the prisoners are only charged with misdemeanors, which do not involve the locking up of the jury, it is more than likely that the case will be again adjourned till Monday.

All the counsel engaged in the case were early in attendance, and Mr. Charles Mathews again passed through the dock to consult with Wilde in the cells below. There is a mistaken impression that the prisoners have passed the night in Newgate Prison. As a fact, they were taken back

IN THE PRISON VAN

to Holloway and slept in their accustomed cells. There was demonstration when the can arrived at the Central Criminal Court this morning. The prisoners were dressed as yesterday, and took sears at opposite ends of the dock. At no stage of the proceedings has there been any perceptible communication between the two. Wilde seems oblivious of Taylor's presence, but Taylor occasionally looks furtively across at his companion.

The lad Alfred Wood was recalled for cross-examination, and Sir Edward Clarke, first ascertaining that the witness returned from [...] asked "Did you come back to respectable employment?"

"I was taken very ill," he replied, in low, even tones, "and I have been very ill ever since."

I take this to mean you have not been in any describable employment? - Yes.

Parker has told us that you and Allen obtained £300 from a man, and that you gave him (Parker) £30. Is that true? - The witness hesitated, then replied, "I didn't get the money. It was not paid to me."

To whom, then? - To Allan, think.

You gave £30 to Parker? - I don't know what he had.

HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE?

- £175.

What for? - Well, it was given to me by Allan.

Then Mr. Wilde's giving you £30 to get away from this class of persons had not had a very satisfactory result? - I was in employment all the time I went to America.

How did you live when you came back? - On some money left by my father. I was not of age when I went to America.

Was that money spent before you had the £175? - No.

Cross-examined about the letters from Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, the witness admitted that he received a letter from Sir George Lewis asking him to go to Ely-place about them. he did not go, but it was not true that he had already had the letters copied. When Wilde asked him to give the letters up, witness returned two of them, but he knew that a third was in the possession of Allan. He did not know that Allan had had that letter copied. Pursuing his inquiry into the witness's present mode of life, Sir Edward Clarke found that he was now living in Holloway, and since his return from America had visited Charles Parker. he denied that he had described himself as Parker's brother.

Re-examined by Mr. Gill, the witness positively denied that he had known any of the people mentioned in this case, or had been guilty of any improper conduct before he fell in with Taylor, to whom he was introduced by a gentleman.

Mr. Gill: Any person whose name has been mentioned in this case? - No, said the witness, adding that there were

OTHER PEOPLE

whom he wished to escape by going to America besides those mentioned in the case.

Thomas Preece, a servant at 10, St. James's-place, which is a private hotel, described the rooms which Wilde occupied there from October, 1893, to April, 1894.

Atkins was the next witness. he was originally introduced to Taylor by one Schwabe, and by Taylor to Wilde and Alfred Douglas, at a dinner at the Hotel Florence, where, he swore, Wilde kissed the waiter. He went to Paris with Wilde as his private secretary.

Atkins described Schwabe as "about as old as I am--about 22," and describable queer incidents at the hotel in the Boulevard des Capucines, denying that he was himself guilty of any impropriety. Later this witness had an attack of smallpox, he added in cross-examination, and Wilde again came to see him at his own request, and promised to send him money. As to the witness's occupation, he had been living for three years with a man of 50 called Surtes, a bookmaker, as whose clerk he attended race meetings. they lived first at 124, Tachbrook-st., Pimlico, afterwards at Osnaburgh-st. The witness had also acted at music halls.

Sir Edward Clarke: Have you also been engaged to the business of

BLACKMAILING

- I don't remember. (Laughter.)

Has Burton not obtained money from persons on the ground that they have committed indecent acts with you? - No, sir.

Have you ever gone out into the streets in woman's dress? - (The witness laughed.) I swear I have not.

Sir Edward Clarke wrote out the name of a gentleman on a piece of paper. The witness swore he had never seen it before. He swore positively that he and Burton did not extort a large sum of money from a Birminghampton gentleman on 9 June, 1891. He admitted having passed by the name of Fred Lenney.

Were you and Burton ever taken to Rochester-row Police-station? - No.

Did not a gentleman go home with you from the Criterion to Tachbrook-st., and did not Burton come in a few minutes later and threaten that if the gentleman did not pay you would accuse him? - No.

Did you not take the gentleman's watch and chain, and give them to Burton? - No.

Were you not both taken to Rochester-row the next night, and did you not then give up the watch and chain? - No.

Sir Edward Clarke pursued the matter, but the witness

SULLENLY REPLIED NO

and no to every question. He admitted having lived at 35, Alderney-st., Pimlico, but denied that in August, 1892, dressed as a woman, he took a gentleman to the house. "I have never dressed as a woman in my life," he said.

Did not a gentleman give Burton a cheque for £200, made out in the name of St. Denis, which he supposed to be your name? - I swear that never happened.

Have you ever been to the Hotel Victoria in Northumberland-avenue? - I have never been inside it.

About two years ago did not you and someone else go there with two American gentleman? - I never did.

And did Burton appear there and extort a large sum of money from those gentleman? - I have never been there.

The witness admitted he had been with Burton to Nice and Monte Carlo in the spring of last year. They were simply amusing themselves there, and there was no quarrel. On their return the witness gave up what Sir Edward Clarke called "this old-established connection," and

HAD SEEN LITTLE

of Burton since. He heard from him at Monte Carlo about a week ago. Being pressed, he admitted that "there might have been a little row" at Nice, but there was no question of blackmailing a gentleman there. in the betting ring Burton was known as Watson.

The Mr. Grain took the witness in hand. "Ever been to Scarborough?" he asked. Yes, the witness had been with Burton to Scarborough to sing at the Aquarius. Did not meet the foreign nobleman whose name Mr. Grain wrote on a piece of paper, but heard his name mentioned by other young men. He had a big yacht lying out in the bay.

"Now I put it to you," said Mr. Grain, "did not you and Burton obtain money from that nobleman to the amount of nearly £500?"? No, the witness knew nothing of any such transaction. He had lived in the Bookingham Palace-rd. "Then look at the name on that piece of paper please," said Mr. Grain, producing another of the pipelights which have become so common in the case, and about which there is

UNBOUNDED CURIOUSITY.

But no, the witness had never heard the name and he was quite certain he never took an elderly City man to his room and robbed him of his pocket-book. Neither he not Burton afterwards went to the gentleman's office and threatened to expose the contents of the pocket-book unless the received a large sum of money. On the race-course he had met a man named Driver, a mere acquaintance, but Driver had not accompanied him on any of his singing tours.

The prisoners had followed this cross-examination with close attention. Taylor showed some excitement, but Wilde, lolling wearily on the corner of the dock with his head on his hands, was inscrutable. When the witness left the box Taylor raked the court with a bold stare, seeming specially to explore the dark corners of the gallery. His eyes soon returned to the witness-box when Sidney Arthur Mavor was called, and a slim, dandified young man, in a painfully high and stiff collar, stepped up to be sworn. He repeated his previous evidence, and said he was now in partnership with a friend in the City, and lives in North Kensington.

The case is proceeding.

London, Saturday.

The Trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor was resumed today the Central Criminal Court, before Mr Justice Charles and a common jury. When the jury answered to their names there was a much small attendance of the public than on yesterday. The prisoners took their seats in the dock bath alf past then and Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, resumed the cross-examination of Alfred Wood. The witness said it was after he told Wilde in 1893 that he wished to get away from the persons with whom up to that time he was associated that Wilde gave him the money with which he went to America. He returned in 1894 ill, and had not yet fully recovered.

May I take it that you have been in indescribable employment since? Yes. He received £175 altogether from the man Allen. He got employment in America with a chance of leading a decent life, but he returned and got associated with their people again. Witness wrote the name of the place where he was last employed. His work was that of a junior clerk. He did not remember when he left that situation. He had money left him by this father. The learned counsel next addressed questions to Wood on the subject of the letters of Wilde to Lord A Douglas. At the time he was supposed to have given up the letters there was one remaining which was not given up. It was in the possession of Allen, and never came back into his own possession. He knew that the particular letter was copied. He was the worse for drink when he first accompanied Wilde to Tite street, Chelsea. He had visited Charles Parker at Camera square since his return from America. Parker might have introduced him to the landlady as his brother.

Re-examined by Mr Gill — Wood gave evidence of his relations with Wilde. He was first introduced to Taylor by a gentleman who name had not been mention in this case. He found the letters in the pockets of some clothes given to him by Lord Alfred Douglas at Oxford.

Thomas Price, waiter, 10 and 11 St James’s place, proved Wilde’s occupancy of rooms at that address. Wilde was visited there by Taylor, Parker, Atkins, Scarfe, and other young men. Wilde did not often sleep at St James’s place.

Cross-examined — Wilde had books and papers there, and his suite of rooms was near the street.

Frederick Atkins deposed that he knew both prisoners. A gentleman introduced him to Taylor, and Taylor introduced him to Wilde at the Cafe Florence. Wilde invited witness to go to Paris as his private secretary, and he accepted. He again described the visit to the hairdresser’s, where Wilde and the operator conversed in French, and witness’s hair was curled (laughter). Witness asked him not to visit the Moulin Rouge. He went (laughter).

His Lordship — Have you told us all the said?

Atkins — Wilde said, "Don’t go to these women; they will ruin you." Wilde said this on several occasions.

Further examined — On return from Paris Wilde gave him a silver cigarette case. He visited Wilde at Tite street in response to a letter. On going to Tite street he handed Wilde the letter because it contained a post-script that he was t bring it with him. On his giving the letter to Wilde prisoner remarked, "Don’t say anything about going to Paris." He knew a youth named Mavor.

Had he any nickname? Yes, "Jenny."

Cross-examined by Sir E Clarke — The gentleman with Wilde in the hotel in Paris was the same who introduced witness to Taylor. He at first understood that he was going to Paris with that gentleman, but as he could not cross over at the time arranged Wilde, who was going to Paris, took him.

Had anything ever taken place between you and Wilde. No; he was certain he returned from Paris with Wilde; he had assisted Burton as bookmaker’s Clerck since Christmas 1891. Witness also acted as a comedian.

Have you and Burton been jointly engaged in the business of blackmailing? I don’t remember (laughter).

What other names have you gone by? Fred Denny.

Have you ever gone out into the streets in woman’s dress? No.

Sir Edward handed a slip of paper to Atkins accompanying it by the question, "Do you know the name written there?"

Atkins — No.

Did a Birmingham gentleman go with you on 9th June, 1891, to rooms occupied by you in Tachbrook street? Did Burton come into the room very shortly afterwards, and did you and Burton between you get a large sum of money from this gentleman? No.

You swear nothing of the kind took place? I swear it.

Had "Denis J Burton" taken this rom in Tachbrook Street for you? No; he took them for himself.

Did you on the 9th June, 1891, meet the gentleman whose name I have written down at the Criterion? No.

Did not the gentleman go with you to the rooms in Tachbrook street from the Criterion, and did not Burton come in, demand money, and threaten to have him locked up? No.

Did you take the gentleman’s watch and chain and give it to Burton? No.

And were you and Burton taken to Rochester street police station and did you there give up the watch and chain? no.

You say nothing of the kind happened? No.

Have you occupied rooms in Pimlico? No.

Did you in August, 1892, dress up as a woman and take a gentleman to your rooms in Pimlico? I never dressed up as a woman in my life.

Did you not get from the gentleman a cheque for £200? Not to my knowledge.

Did you and Burton about two years ago extort a large sum of money from two American gentleman at the Hotel Victoria. Northumberland avenue? No. I have never been there.

Did you and Burton attempt to blackmail a gentleman at Gaze’s Hotel, Nice? No.

And was there a quarrel between you and Burton? There might have been a little row. Burton was known in the betting ring as "Watson" and witness was called "Fred."

Cross-examined by Mr Grain — He was at Scarborough about a year ago fulfilling a singing engagement at the Aquarium there. He heard the name of a foreign count whose yacht was in the bay. He did not know the count. He did not obtain nearly £500 from this foreign nobleman, neither did Burton to his knowledge. He did not, while living in Buckingham palace road, steal a pocketbook belonging to an old city gentleman, then go to his office and threaten to expose the contents of the book unless he received a certain sum of money.

Mrs Applegate, of Osnaburgh street, deposed to visits of Taylor and Wilde to Atkins at that address.

Sidney Mavor, who described himself as holding a partnership in the city, was next called and examined by Mr Gill. He was introduced to Taylor at the theatre, and stayed with him at Little College street. He slept with Taylor on more than one occasion. He was introduced to Wilde at a dinner at Kittner’s. Wilde sent him a cigarette case. He stayed at the Albemarle Hotel with Wilde on one occasion. He took a bag to the hotel because, living at North Kensington, he thought it would be impossible to get home. Wilde had wished him to dine at the Albemarle, and he replied by telegram their bedrooms adjoined. He called Mr Wilde "Oscar," and he addresses him as "Sidney. "He was of no occupation at the time of his visits to Little College street. He lent Taylor money.

By Sir Edward Clarke — Nothing improper over took place between himself and Wilde. The dinner at which he was introduced to Wilde was given by a gentleman of very good social position.

Edward Shelly, an assistant to a Vigo street firm of publishers who acted for Wilde in 1891, was the next witness. He had appealed to Wilde for pecuniary assistant and he had befriended him.

The case was adjourned till Monday.