The Times - Saturday, April 6, 1895

The Central News says:-- "After conferring briefly with his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, at the Central Criminal Court yesterday morning, Mr. Oscar Wilde proceeded in company with Lord A. Douglas and two other men to the Holborn-viaduct Hotel. The party remained in conference in a private room until 1 o'clock, when they partook of luncheon. At a quarter past 2 the four men drove off in Mr. Wilde's brougham, which had been waiting outside the hotel for a considerable time. Their destination was a bank in St. James's, where a large sum of money was drawn out on a cheque payable to 'self.' From that point Mr. Wilde was lost sight of."

Lord Queensberry's solicitors yesterday stated that it was not his lordship's intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Mr. Oscar Wilde, but after the finding of the jury in the libel action the whole of the documents, with proofs of the evidence upon which the defence had intended to rely, were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor.

On leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:-- "37, Norfolk-street, Strand. Re: Oscar Wilde. The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Director of Public Prosecutions, The Treasury, Whitehall.--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."

At Bow-street, after the luncheon interval, Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, intimated to Sir John Bridge, who had taken the place of Mr. Vaughan, that he might have occasion during the afternoon to make an important application. The nature of the case did not transpire. Nothing more was said in public, but it was understood that Mr. C. F. Gill, Mr. Angus Lewis, and Mr. Charles Russell waited upon Sir John Bridge in his private room and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Oscar Wilde. Among those in attendance at the Court during the afternoon were Detective-Inspector Brockwell, of Scotland-yard, and two of the youths referred to during the hearing of the case against the Marquis of Queensberry.

Later in the day Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested by Inspector Richards at an hotel in Sloane-street. The inspector, who had with him Sergeant Allen, made the arrest about half-past 6 o'clock. When the senior officer asked for Mr. Wilde he was told that he was not there, but on the inspector's insisting, he was conducted to his room. Mr. Wilde had with him two friends, and the inspector stated the object of his visit. Mr.Wilde made no reply, and the party at once drove to Scotland-yard in order to meet Inspector Brockwell, who had the warrant for the arrest. The warrant was read to the prisoner, who made no reply, and after some delay he was brought to Bow-street, arriving there at 8 10 in a four-wheeled cab. Mr. Wilde was the first to alight, and walked straight into the station, followed by the detectives. He did not appear to be at all affected by the circumstances of his position. He was at once placed in the dock, and stood there with his hands in his pockets while the charge was taken down by Inspector Digby. When the charge had been entered Mr. Wilde was taken to the cells. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow-street in order to see whether he could bail out Mr, Wilde, and appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could his application be entertained. He then offered to procure extra comforts for the prisoner, but this also was not allowed by the officer on duty. Mr. Wilde occupies an ordinary cell, but will be allowed to supply himself with any extra food he thinks fit. He will be brought up to-day at 10 o'clock at Bow-street.

The Central News says:--"Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended yesterday he sent this message to Mr Wilde:-- 'If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"

Mr. Oscar Wilde's name was yesterday removed from the play-bills and programmes of the Haymarket and St. James's Theatres, where his plays An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest were performed respectively.

Messrs. Ward, Parks, and M'Kay (85, Gracechurch-street), solicitors, write to us as follows with regard to toe Chameleon:--"On behalf of Messrs. Gay and Bird, the publishers of the first and only number of this publication, we ask you to be good enough to allow us to say through your columns that our clients of their own act stopped the sale directly they were aware of the contents of the magazine. Such sale was not stopped at the request of a contributor or any one else. They were requested to renew the sale and refused. Had the trial proceeded, we should, at the proper time, have tendered our clients to give the above facts in evidence."

The Queenslander - Saturday, April 13, 1895

The criminal libel action brought by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry resulted, as already announced by cable, in a verdict of not guilty, Mr. Wilde's counsel having previously withdrawn from the case.

Mr. Oscar Wilde hurriedly left the court while his counsel was explaining that his literature and letters justified the plea that Mr. Wilde posed as an immoral person, and that he (counsel) therefore withdrew from the case in order to avoid the appalling evidence that would probably be submitted. This statement was received with loud cheers.

No warrant for the arrest of Mr. Wilde has been applied for, but Mr. Russell, solicitor for Lord Queensberry, has sent to the Public Prosecutor a statement regarding the witnesses and notes of the evidence taken in the case, with a view to preventing a possible miscarriage of justice.

Later.

Mr. Wilde has published a letter in which he states that he abandoned his case against the Marquis of Queensberry in order to avoid calling Lord Alfred Douglas as a witness.

A warrant has now been issued for the arrest of Mr. Oscar Wilde. The police have also detained three of the essential witnesses at the late trial.

Later.

Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested this evening.

LONDON, April 6.

It has transpired that Lord Alfred Douglas and two men remained in conference with Mr. Wilde for several hours after the conclusion of the trial yesterday, and they had lunch together in a private room at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. They then drove to the Bank of England, where Mr. Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. He was afterwards lost sight of until he was arrested in the evening at a hotel in Sloane-street.

Lord Alfred Douglas is reported to be much distressed at being unable to get Mr. Wilde released on bail.

It is stated that the Marquis of Queensberry sent Mr. Wilde a message after the conclusion of the trial stating that he would shoot him if he took Lord Alfred Douglas abroad.

Taylor, who figured prominently in the case, was arrested to-day. The two were brought up at the Bow-street Police Court to-day, when several witnesses proved the case up to the hilt.

Mr. Oscar Wilde's name has now been withdrawn from the playbills of the London and American theatres where his dramas, "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest," were being played.

LONDON, April 7.

The Paris newspapers publish comments on the Oscar Wilde case, and express themselves as being petrified at the disclosures that have been made.

Mr. Wilde, who was arrested on Friday evening, was brought up at the court on Saturday, and was remanded until Thursday next, bail being refused.

LONDON, April 8.

Since being remanded at Bow-street Police Court on Saturday with Oscar Wilde, the man Taylor has made some sensational statements to the police, which are likely to lead to the arrest of many more persons.

It is widely known that Taylor's lodgings ware regularly used by four of the witnesses examined in connection with the case on Saturday last, besides many other visitors.

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