Compare Documents

London, April 4 - The trial of the Oscar Wilde libel suit was resumed today. The cross-examination of Wilde continued. He admitted attending forenoon tea parties at the house of a man named Taylor, where he said he met a youth named Mavoire, who had since disappeared. Wilde was aware that Taylor bad been arrested. He did not know that Taylor was notorious because of his practise of introducing young men to older ones. Taylor had introduced him to five young men. Witness made the young men presents because they were poor.

Wilde said he knew two brothers named Parker. He had dined with them. He was not aware that one was a valet and the other a groom. He had given one money on an occasion of his taking tea with his (Wilde) in the latter's private rooms. When Taylor and one of the Parkers were arrested they wore women's clothes. They were charged with felonious practices. Wilde said Taylor's arrest did not affect his friendship for him.

Wilde knew two men named Atkins. They went to Paris and stopped together. Wilde paid the fares, but declared it was an infamous lie to say they were guilty of misconduct. Witness said he had been to a hotel with a youth named Maber. Wilde said he was a "nice, charming young fellow." Wilde knew a youth named Granger, and became angry when asked if he had ever kissed Granger. He declared counsel was insolent. Wilde denied that any person ever saw him in a compromising situation. This ended the cross-examination. In re-direct examination letters written by Queensbery were read. In them the Marquis condemned his son for his conduct with Wilde, reviled Rosebery, Gladstone and the Queen for the appointment of his son to the peerage of Drumlanrig. In the letter the Marquis declared Lord Douglas not his own son.

The St James Gazette announces that owing to the nature of the testimony in the Wilde libel suit, that paper will not further report the proceedings.

London, April 4— At the conclusion of Wilde's re-direct examination the prosecution closed.

Before leaving the stand Wilde explained his fondness for the society of youthful males by saying he disliked the old and sensible, while the company of the young, happy, careless and original had a wonderful charm.

Counsel for the defense, in his opening, declared that Queensberry wanted to sever his son from Wilde, who, according to his own admission, was the friend of a man known to be a procurer of boys for vicious purposes. Counsel declared the letter from Wilde to Lord Douglas showed that Wilde had conceived for the latter an abominable passion. The case was then adjourned.

LONDON, April 4 - The trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the marquis of Queensberry for libel was resumed today in the central criminal court, Old Bailey, with the complainant again in the witness box, Mr Carson cross-examining.

Mr Wilde, an answer to a question, said he had been introduced to the man Wood by a man named Taylor. He had frequently visited Taylor’s house to attend afternoon tea parties. Taylor, he said, had a habit of burning perfumes in the room, but candles or gas were not lighted. Upon every occasion of his visiting Taylor’s house he had met a youth named Mavori, who had since disappeared. Mr Wilde said he was aware that Taylor had been arrested, but he did not know that Taylor had made himself notorious.

Taylor, he admitted, however, had introduced him to five young men. He had made them presents of money for the reason that they were poor.

Mr Wilde was questioned in regard to his acquaintanceship with two brothers named Parker. He replied that he knew them and had dined with them. He had given one of them money on the occasion of his taking tea with him (Wilde) in the latter's private rooms in St James st.

Mr Carson - When you read of Taylor's arrest did it make any difference in your friendship for him?

Mr Wilde - I was greatly distressed and wrote to him. His arrest did not affect my friendship.

Mr Wilde admitted his acquaintanceship with a man named Atkins, who was employed by a bookmaker.

Wilde said he had called Atkins by his Christian name. Atkins went to Paris with him. A youth name to Maber had stopped with him in a hotel in London. Wilde said he was a nice, charming young fellow. He gave Maber cigarette case worth $20. He also knew a youth named Grainger, who was a servant to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the marquis of Queensberry.

Mr Carson asked Wilde if he had ever kissed Grainger.

Wilde, who had succeeded remarkably hitherto in maintaining his composure, began to lose his temper. He declared that he had never kissed Grainger, and announced the insolence of Mr Carson in pursuing the line of questioning he had followed.

Mr Carson, he said, had insulted him throughout the cross examination.

This ended the cross examination.

Sir Edward Clarke then questioned the witness in redirect examination. He began by reading a number of letters written by the marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas.

He also read a letter written by the marquis reviling Lord Rosebery, Mr Gladstone and the queen because of the appointment of his son to the peerage of Drumlanrig.

In one of the letters the marquis declared that Lord Alfred Douglas was not his son.

At the conclusion of Mr Wilde’s redirect examination the case of the prosecution was closed.