London Star - Tuesday, May 7, 1895

The newest surprise in the Wilde case is in regard to the personality of the two sureties accepted this morning by Mr. Vaughan at Bow-st., for the prisoner's reappearance if admitted to bail. Mr. Travers Humphreys, the prisoner's junior counsel, instructed by his brother, Mr. Humphreys, the solicitor, reminded the learned magistrate of the circumstances under which the jury at the Old Bailey had acquitted the prisoner on some counts of the indictment, while being unable to agree upon others, and the subsequent consent of Baron Pollock to

ENLARGE THE PRISONER,

pending his re-trial, on his own recognisances, in £2,500 and two sureties of £1,250 each. He was now provided with two sureties to whom Mr. Angus Lewis (who was present on behalf of the Treasury) would offer no objection, and with whom the police, after making inquiries, were perfectly satisfied. They were Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam.

Mr. Vaughan asked, "Is there any objection?" and Mr. Angus Lewis replied, "No objection at all." "Let them appear," said the magistrate, and Mr.

STEWART HEADLAM,

blue-shaven and semi-clerical, stepped into the witness-box, and was sworn. He deposed that he lived at 31, Upper Bedford-place, W.C.

"And you are worth £1,250 after all your just debts are paid?"

"I am!" replied the Rev. Stewart, in the solemn tones of a man brought suddenly to face with the marriage ceremony

"Are you willing to become bail for the appearance of Oscar Wilde?''

"I am."

Then Lord Douglas of Hawick was sworn. he gave his name as Percy Sholto Douglas, and is of course the eldest surviving son of the Marquess of Queensberry. Although older brother to the "slim-gilt soul," he

IN NO WAY RESEMBLES

him, being rather fleshy than thin, dark instead of fair, and dressed after the manner of the philistines, in black frock-coat with silk lapels and the ordinary stand-up collar and black cravat of Piccadilly. He gave as his address Chalcot House, Long Ditton, and seemed confident that he, too, was worth £1,250 after all his just debts are paid. He was also willing to become bail.

"Very well," said Mr. Vaughan, in this curt manner indicating that the sureties were accepted. It remained to deal with the prisoner's personal recognisances, and Mr. Vaughan directed that he should be at once brought from Holloway to Bow-st. in a cab.

Interview with Mr. Headlam:

The Rev. Stewart Headlam, interviewed by a Press Association representative at the close of the proceedings at Bow-st., as to the reasons which induced him to become surety of Mr. Wilde, made the following statement:--I have undertaken this responsibility on public grounds. I felt that the public mind had been prejudiced before the case began, and I was anxious to give Mr. Wilde any help I could to enable hi, to stand his trial in good health and spirits.

At the close of the case Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam, accompanied by one of Messrs. Humphreys's clerks, entered a cab and drove to Holloway Gaol.

Wilde's Own Recognisances.

Mr. Oscar Wilde will attend at Bow-st. Police Court to-day to enter into his own recognisances in £2,500 before his release.

At a quarter past two Wilde had not arrived at Bow-st., but was said to have left Holloway in charge of Sergeant White, the chief gaoler. The necessary formalities connected with the giving up of a prisoner had no doubt caused this delay. Lord Douglas of Hawick returned to the court about two o'clock and was joined by the Rev. Stewart Headlam, who had been smoking a meditative cigarette on the sunny side of Bow-st. It was said that Mr. Vaughan would see Wilde in his private room.

Irish Daily Independent - Wednesday, May 8, 1895

London, Tuesday Evening.

The application for Mr Oscar Wilde to be released on bail was made at Bow street this morning before Mr Vaughan. Mr Travers Humphreys appeared on behalf of the prisoner, while the Treasury was represented by Mr Angus Lewis. Mr Humphreys briefly recapitulated the history of the case up to the application made yesterday to Baron Pollock, and said that he was now prepared with the necessary securities. Both of them were persons of substance and their names had been submitted to and approved by the Treasury. One was the Rev Stewart Headlam and the other Lord Douglas of Hawick, otherwise Viscount Drumlenring, eldest son of the Marquis of Queensberry.

Both these gentlemen were called, and swore that they were worth £1,250, the amount of the bail fixed for each surety by Baron Pollock.

Mr Vaughan said that he was perfectly satisfied with the bail tendered, and he ordered Wilde’s immediate release.

Mr Stewart Headlam, interviewed by a Press Association representative at the close of the proceedings, as to his reason for becoming surety, said, "I have undertaken this responsibility on public grounds. I felt that the public mind had been prejudiced before the case began, and I was anxious to give Mr Wilde any help I could, to enable him to stand his trial in good health and spirits."

At the close of the hearing today Lord Douglas of Hawick and Rev Stewart Headlam, accompanied by one of Messrs Humphreys’ clerks, entered a cab and drove to Holloway Jail, where, after Mr Oscar Wilde has entered into his own recognisances before the governor of the prison, he will be at once released.

Wilde left Holloway Jail this afternoon. He drove from the jail in a four-wheeler to Bow street, where he went into the clerk’s room and signed what is known as the bail book, after which, accompanied by Lord Douglas of Hawick, has re-entered the cab and drove off.

The Press Association, in a later telegram, says — Detective Inspector Brockwell, Sergeant White, jailer at Bow street, and a clerk of Messrs Humphreys’ and Son, Wilde’s solicitors, arrived at Holloway Prison at 20 minutes past one this afternoon for the purpose of receiving Oscar Wilde, and taking him to Bow street, so that he would enter into his own recognizances before being restored to liberty. The necessary formalities at the prison took some little time, but just before two the party emerged through the wicket-door, and took seats in a waiting cab. Wilde wore a dark cloth overcoat, grey trousers, and a silk hat. There was a wearied expression about his pale features strongly indicative of sleepless nights, and it could plainly be seen he was in anything but robust health. His body also seemed slightly bent.

Neither at the prison gate nor at Bow street was there the slightest demonstration, and during the journey Wilde is stated to have maintained almost absolute silence, being seemingly intensely absorbed in thought. At Bow street, the two sureties, the Rev Stewart Headlam and Lord Douglas of Hawick, were waiting, and the proceedings in connection with Wilde’s recognisances of £2,500 having been completed the accused was released.

He is immediately drove to the Midland Hotel, St Pancras, accompanied by his sureties, and it was subsequently stated he was suffering from extreme prostration, and quite unable to undergo the fatigue of an interview. It is expected he will leave London tomorrow, and his solicitors, at his own request, have offered to keep the authorities fully informed of his movements, and his precise whereabouts, between now and he 20th instant, when he will in due course give himself up to the police. In the course of the afternoon, it was stated, Wilde had an interview at the Law Courts with Sir Edward Clarke Q C.

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