The Evening Journal - Thursday, April 11, 1895

London, April 11.- Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor were arraigned for examination in the Bow st. police court this morning.

Wilde was defended by Commoner Clarke, who announced that he would not cross examine any of the witnesses until they testified at the trial of charge against Wilde.

Counsel for Alfred Taylor examined the young man Parker who admitted that he was 21 years of age and had been guilty of heinous offences with many person besides Wilde. Parker also admitted that he received £20 from persons whose pursuit it was to extort money from gentlemen.

A young man named Atkins was called to the stand. In 1892 he said Wilde had asked him to go to Paris with him as his secretary. He went to Paris with Wilde and remained there a few days. They dined together in splendid style. By Wilde's order he wore his hair curled. Wilde had given him a silver cigarette case, costing £3, and asked him not to mention the visit to Paris.

In reply to a question by the magistrate, Atkins said he has acted as Wilde’s secretary for about half an hour, when he was engaged in writing some letters about Wilde's play, "A Woman of no Importance."

A witness named Shelley detailed the circumstances of his dining with Wilde in 1892, and gave evidence unfit for publication. Subsequently he had written to Wilde, asking him to terminate their friendship.

The owner of the private hotel to St. James' place, mentioned in the previous proceedings, was placed upon the witness stand. He testified that Wilde had rooms in his house from October, 1893, until April, 1894, and was visited there by a number of young men, including Parker, Taylor and Atkins.

Police Inspector Richards testified that when he arrested Taylor he found in his pocket a letter addressed to Sidney Mayer which read:- "Come on at once and see Oscar at Tite street, Chelsea." Taylor also had another letter addressed to Wilde, reading:- "Dear Oscar - Have appointed a meeting with Maver."

The hearing was adjourned for a week and Wilde and Taylor were remanded without bail.

It to reported that Wilde has been ill since his confinement in jail.

The San Francisco Examiner - Friday, April 12, 1895

LONDON, April 11. - Oscar Wilde was arraigned for examination in the Bow-street Police Court this morning, and he looked haggard and worn. It was noticed that he has greatly changed since he appeared on the witness stand of the Old Bailey to prosecute his suit for libel against the Marquis of Queensberry. Wilde was much subdued, although he smiled once or twice at certain questions which were put to him. But he seemed to realize the gravity of the situation in which he found himself. He was dressed as faultlessly as ever, carrying his shining silk hat in his hand and displaying on his ungloved fingers many sparkling gems.

Taylor, Wilde's fellow-prisoner, behaved in the same sneeringly indifferent manner as upon his former appearance, and was evidently not as deeply impressed with the seriousness of the charge brought againts him as was Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor-General, appeared for Wilde, and two lawyers acted as counsel for Taylor. The prisoners are making a desperate fight. Their lawyers to-day delayed the proceedings in every possible way, and the examination of the accused promises to be a long affair. Taylor’s lawyer said they would recall all of the witnesses who were examined on Saturday last, as Taylor was not represented by counsel on that occasion.

PARKER ON THE STAND.

Charles Parker, the nineteen-year-old witness examined on Saturday last, and who gave at length on the stand the most minute details of his intimacy with Wilde, was again placed in the witness-box. Parker admitted that he received £20 from persons whose pursuit it was to extort money from gentlemen. He was subjected to cross examination by Sir Edward Clarke, but his testimony was not shaken.

The other witnesses of Saturday were not present in court, but by consent of counsel for the prosecution, who promised to produce them later on, the proceedings were continued as far as they were concerned. Mr. C. F. Gill, who acted as prosecutor for the Treasury Department, and who incidentally was Mr. Edward M. Carson's junior counsel in the defense of the Marquis of Queensberry, placed on the stand a man named Fred Atkins, twenty years of age, and described as a variety singer. Atkins said Wilde took him to Paris in 1893, as his secretary. He remained there a few days. They dined together in splendid style. By Wilde's order, he wore his hair curled. He denied any misconduct. Wilde had given him a cigarette case, costing £3, and asked him not to mention the visit to Paris. Atkin's acted as Wilde's secretary about half an hour, when he was engaged in writing some letters about Wilde's play, "A Woman of No Importance."

Witness names Shelley detailed the circumstances of his dining with Wilde in 1892. Afterward they had some wine together in a private room, when Wilde had flattered him, calling him a clever fellow and the like. He remained with Wilde throughout that night. Subsequently he had written to Wilde asking him to terminate their friendship.

Mr. Matthews, a partner in the publishing house of Lane, testified on the witness stand that he had seen a letter from Wilde to Shelley and a communication on the subject made to him (Matthews) by Mr. Lane, had led to Shelley's leaving their employ.

The owner of a private hotel in St. James place testified that Wilde had rooms in his house from October, 1893, until April, 1894, and was visited there by a number of young men, including Hayker, Taylor and Atkins. Finally the proprietor issued a writ for a week’s board in order to get Wilde out of the house.

REMANDED WITHOUT BAIL.

Police Inspector Richards testified that when he arrested Taylor he found in his pocket a letter addressed to Sidney Mavor, which read; "Come on at once and see Oscar at Tite street, Chelsea."

Taylor also had another letter, addressed to Wilde, reading: "Dear Oscar: Have appointed a meeting with Mavor."

The hearing was adjourned for one week and Wilde and Taylor were remanded without bail. Wilde, it is said, has been ill ever since his confinement in jail.

The publishing house of Ward & Lock has withdrawn Wilde’s book "Dorian Gray" from circulation. The chief librarian of the British Museum authorizes of denial of the statement circulated yesterday that the books and publications written by Oscar Wilde had been withdrawn from public use in the library in that institution. An Act of Parliament compels the Museum to keep in its possession and accessible to the public copies of all publications copyrighted in the United Kingdom, except such as may be personally libelous. The question of withdrawing Wilde’s works has not been considered at all. The rumor of their withdrawal was probably due to the difficulty experienced by inquirers for books in getting them, owing to the great rush of curious persons who desire to look through them.

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