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to go upon the witness stand in Wilde’s behalf, and he was vehement in his denunciation of Wilde’s counsel for having withdrawn the suit.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.

The New York Times - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, April 5. -- Oscar Wilde has been arrested. He was taken to a cell in the Bow Street Station.

His case against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel resulted in a verdict in favor of the defendant. The jury found not only that the defendant was not guilty of libel, but declared, in a subsidiary verdict, that the Marquis of Queensberry's charges were true, and bad been made for the public good. The Solicitor of the Treasury immediately obtained a warrant for Wilde's arrest.

The Old Bailey Courtroom was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech on behalf of the Marquis of Queensberry. It would be his painful duty, he said, to put upon the witness stand men who would speak freely of their acquaintance with the plaintiff, Wilde. The ages of these men varied from eighteen to twenty-three years. They were of the class of servants and valets, not of Mr. Wilde's station in life, not interested in literature or art, yet they addressed the distinguished dramatist by his first name.

Mr. Carson said that he would produce overwhelming evidence of the immorality of this man Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr. Carson. He said he had undertaken a great responsibility in defending Wilde against the charges made by the Marquis of Queensberry. In regard to the literature which Wilde had published, and upon which Mr. Carson had questioned him, he (Sir Edward) had come to the painful conclusion that it could not be expected that the jury would find a verdict of guilty on the actual words used by the defendant.

He had consulted with Wilde in the interim of the adjournment of the court, and, in order to the save the court the painful details connected with the rest of the case, he was prepared to accept a verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde's literature.

The Judge interposed, saying that, if the jury was justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty on the entire case.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and supplemented its verdict with the declaration that the charges made by the defendant against Wilde, which constituted the libel complained of, were true and that they had been made in the public Interest.

When the verdict was rendered the Marquis of Queensberry left the dock amid loud cheers.

The Judge granted an order requiring Wilde to pay the costs of the defense.

Mr. Wilde hurriedly quitted the court.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Mr. Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Mr. Carson explained to the court last evening that Mr. Tree received a copy of a letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, and thereupon sent for Wilde and handed him the copy. Mr. Carson said that Mr. Tree had cabled this information to him, and it tallied perfectly with the account given by Wilde in the witness box. Mr. Carson added that he thought Mr. Tree had acted rightly in the matter

The Judge said that there was not the smallest ground for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety.

Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the Judge that Mr. Tree could not have done otherwise than he did.

The Marquis of Queensberry's solicitors sent to the Public Prosecutor a copy of the statements of all the witnesses which the defense intended to call to the stand, together with a full shorthand report of the trial as far as it had gone.

The Marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press:

"I have sent this message to Wilde: 'If the country allows you to leave, ail the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"

Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public, and the civil officers are only awaiting the authority of the Treasury Department to make the arrests.

Wilde and a companion drove from the Old Bailey to the Holborn Hotel, where they were joined soon afterward by Lord Alfred Douglas and a companion. The four took luncheon together in a private room, Wilde's carriage remaining in front of the hotel.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon the notepaper of the Holborn Viaduct Hotel:

"It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry."

After leaving the Holborn Hotel, Wilde went to the Westminster Bank, where he threw out the funds to his account. He was constantly shadowed. He returned to the hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas only. Remaining a few minutes they drove to Ely Place and thence to the Cadogan HoteL

Before Wilde was taken to his cell, the charge, indicated by his testimony in court, was read to him. He stood with hands in his pockets, silent and apparently unconcerned.

A United Press reporter visited the Haymarket and St. James's Theatres, where Oscar Wilde's plays are running. Mr.Morell, one of the managers of the Haymarket, in reply to the question how the result of the case would affect future business, said he would rather not express an opinion. He would say, however, that Mr. Wilde's name had been taken out of the bills and advertisements of "An Ideal Husband," and from this the public could form its own conclusions.

Mr. George Alexander, manager of the St, James's Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," is running, said:

"When the scandal was first rumored business here was slightly affected, but it is now normal. Mr. Wilde's name has been withdrawn from the bills and advertisements of his comedy, which is the most innocent play in the world. It does not contain a line that could hurt the most tender susceptibilities. Whether the trial will cause a change in the business of the future remains to be seen."

He said also that "The Importance of Being Earnest" would be kept on the Stage pending the public verdict. If he should be compelled to withdraw it, some 150 persons would be thrown out of work, as he had nothing ready to replace it.

It is reported that the Criterion, to which "An Ideal Husband'' was to be transferred from the Haymarket, has declined to put the play on its stage.

The audiences at the Haymarket and St. James's Theatres, where Mr. Wilde's plays are being given, were rather small this evening, but they made no hostile demonstration. At the St, James's there were few persons, excepting those who had bought their tickets in advance. The gallery was somewhat critical, and two or three audible comments confused the players slightly.

The Daily Telegraph will say to-morrow in a leader 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 new schools of literature and social thought."

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Daniel Frohman, manager of the Lyceum Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's drama, an "Ideal Husband," is being played, said last night, when asked what action he would take regarding the use of Wilde's name in connection with the play, that he had ordered Wilde's name erased from the programmes and advertisements, and that he had just canceled a lot of contracts for printing matter relative to the piece upon which the author's name figures.

The play itself, he said, was a moral one, and there was nothing in it that would shock even the most sensitive. The play will be continued at the house, he said.

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