Daily World - Saturday, April 6, 1895

London, April 6.- Oscar Wilde was taken to a cell in the Bow street station after the charge indicated by his testimony in court was read to him. Mr. Alexander, of the St. James' Theatre, said that The Importance of Being Earnest would be kept on the stage pending the public verdict. It is reported that the Criterion, to which An Ideal Husband was to be transferred from the Haymarket, has decided to put the play on its stage.

Wilde's friend, Taylor, was arrested today. Wilde was arraigned this morning, charged with inciting young men to commit a foul crime, also with having committed the crime himself. Alfred Taylor was also placed in the prisoners' dock charged with being accessory to Wilde's crimes. Wilde greeted Taylor smilingly. The young man Parker was the first witness examined. He testified to his introduction to Wilde by Taylor, meetings between witness and Wilde, conversations and conduct at meetings (too filthy for publication). He swore he received money and presents from Wilde. Parker's story, if true, proves the case against Wilde. Counsel for defendants reserved the right to cross-examine Parker. Both Wilde and Taylor were remanded; bail refused.

The Westminster Gazette, commenting on the Wilde case, says: It proves that it is untrue to say art has nothing to do with morality. Wilde's art rests on the basis of rottenness and corruption.

Manitoba Morning Free Press - Monday, April 8, 1895

London, April 6. — Wilde’s friend Taylor was arrested to-day. Wilde was arraigned this morning, charged with inciting young men to commit foul crime; also having committed the crime himself.

When Wilde was arraigned at the Bow street this morning Alfred Taylor was also placed in the prisoners’ dock, charged with bring accessory to Wilde’s crimes. Wilde greeted Taylor smilingly.

A young man named Parker was the last witness examined. He testified to his introduction to Wilde by Taylor and the meetings between witness and Wilde, their conversations and conduct at the meetings. He also swore he received money presents from Wilde. Parker’s story, if true, proves a case against Wilde. Counsel for the defendants reserved the right to cross-examine Parker.

Wilde and Taylor were both remanded and bail refused.

The charge against Wilde is being prosecuted under the criminal Law Amendment act, which classes his offence as a misdemeanor, the maximum penalty for which is two years imprisonment for each conviction.

Although Oscar Wilde is languishing in jail as a criminal without bail on a heinous charge, he still has a number of influential friends who are zealous of his defense, notwithstanding that they are intimate enough with him to know most of the secrets of his private life. Lord Douglas of Hawick, second and eldest living son of the Marquis of Queensberry, is one of these. He is altogether the manliest looking of the family. Before the death of his eldest Brother, Viscount Drumlanrig, he was well and favorably known as plain Percy Douglas. He has unsmirched reputation and entirely differs in every respect from the effeminate next younger brother, Lord Alfred Douglas. Since his return from Australia last fall Lord Douglas of Hawick, has been an almost constant associate of Oscar Wilde. In an interview yesterday he said that every one in his family, excepting his father has refused to believe the accusations against Wilde. He himself, he said, was willing at any time to go upon the witness stand in Wilde’s behalf, and he was vehement in his denunciation of Wilde’s counsel for having withdrawn the suit. One thing is certain that no matter what may be the outcome of the case, whether Wilde goes free or is sent to prison, the death knell of Wildeism has been rung and the corpse is prepared for burial. The Prurient plays of Wilde and cognats productions, "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," and "The notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith," which are now called "Binerotie," are doomed and there is a strong reaction towards a healthier treatment of stage representations, while the current decadent literature will also get a set back. Archibald Edward Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter repudiating the statement made yesterday in the course of an interview by Lord Douglas of Hawick, eldest living son of the marquis, to the effect that no member of the family except his father believes the charges against Wilde. In refutation to his statement, the writer of the letter says: "My mother, my sister and myself believe the allegations made against Oscar Wilde."

London, April 6. — The Daily Telegraph says in a letter on Wilde’s case: "It was a just verdict and must be held to include with Wilde the tendency of his peculiar career. The meaning and the influence of his teachings, and all the shallow and specious arts by which he attempted to establish a cult and even set up few schools of literature and social thought."

The Daily Chronicle has a long letter on the Oscar Wilde case. It says: "Either Mr. Carson’s brief contained a series of wicked slanders of the prosecutor perjured himself unspeakably."

The Westminster Gazette, commenting on the Wilde case says: The case proves that it is untrue to say art has nothing to do with morality. Wilde art rests on a basis of rottenness and corruption.

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