The Gazette - Friday, April 5, 1895

LONDON, April 4.-- The trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel was resumed to-day in the Central criminal court, Old Bailey, with the complainant in the witness box, Mr. Carson examining.

[The evidence dealt with very unsavory matters and was somewhat prolonged. In reply to one question by Mr. Carson, Wilde said the council had insulted him by asking it.]

Sir Edward Clark 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, in which the Marquis condemned his son for his conduct with Wilde. 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.

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

Mr. Carson, in opening the case for the defence, declared that all that the Marquis of Queensberry had said and done he stood by, withdrawing nothing. His sole object in all the steps he had taken was to save his son from the influence of Wilde. The man Woods had now returned to England, and would give the true version of the negotiations carried on between himself and Wilde for the return to the latter of a letter written by him. Mr. Carson referred to the letter from Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas as showing that Wilde had conceived for him an abominable passion. The court here adjourned.

The St. James Gazette makes the announcement that owing to the nature of the testimony being taken in the Wilde-Queensberry libel suit, the management of that paper have decided not to report the proceedings of the case any further.

The Boston Daily Advertiser - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, Apr. 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 complaintant again in the witness box, Mr. Carson cross-examining.

Mr. Wilde in 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. Wildewas questoned in regard to his acquaintanceship with two brothers named Parker. He replied that he knew them and had dined with them. He was not aware that one of them was a valet and the other a groom, both of them out of employment.

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 bookmalker. He first met Atkins at the rooms of a gentleman whose name he declined to give, but which he handed up to the judge.

He had given Atklns £3 upon one occasion and £15 on another. Besides he had given him presents of various articles. A youth named Maber had stopped with him in a hotel in London. Wilde said he was a nice charming young fellow.

He gave Maber a cigarette case worth £4. He knew also a youth named Grainger who was a servant to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of Queensberry.

Sir Edward Clarke in re-direct examination began by reading a number of letters written by the Marquis of Queensbery to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, in which the marquis condemned his son for his conduct with Wilde. 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.

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