The Ottawa Citizen - Saturday, April 6, 1895

London, April 5.- The judge in the Oscar Wilde case said if the jury were justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case, they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and supplemented their 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 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 defence.

Mr. Wilde was not in court this morning.

The Westminster Gazette says:- Mr. Wilde hurriedly left the building during Sir Edward Clarke’s statement. A warrant for his arrest has not yet been applied for.

Wilde and a companion drove from the old Bailey to Holborne Hotel, where they were joined soon my Lord Alfred Douglass 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 hotel paper of Holborne Viaduct Hotel: "It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglass 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."

The Arrest.

London, April 5.- Oscar Wilde has been arrested and taken to the Scotland yards. It is learned that the solicitor who applied at the Bow street police court for the warrant for immediate execution, was Mr. Lewis, solicitor of the treasury.

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

In his interview this evening, Mr. Alexander, of St. James’ theatre, said also that "The Importance of Being in 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.

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

The Evening Journal - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, April 5.- The Old Bailey court room was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech in behalf of the Marquis of Queensberry. It would be his special duty, he said, to put on the witness stand, men who would speak freely of the nature of their connection with the plaintiff Wilde. The ages of these men varied from 18 to 23 years. They were of the class of servants, valets, etc., not belonging to Mr. Wilde's station in life, not interested in literature or art, yet they addressed this distinguished dramatist by his Christian name, Oscar, he in turn calling them Charlie, Freddie, etc. Mr. Carson said he would produce overwhelming evidence of the abominable immorality of this man Wilde.

Sir Edward Throws up the Sponge.

Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr. Carson, and said he had undertaken a great responsibility in defending Wilde against the charges made against him 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, viz.: that Wilde was posing as a devotee of unnatural practices. He had consulted with Wilde in the interim of the adjournment of the court, and in order to 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 Verdict.

The judge interposed and said if the jury were justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case, they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case. The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and supplemented their 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 public interest.

Queensberry Cheered.

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 cost of the defense. Mr. Wilde was not in court this morning.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Sir. 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 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 perfectly right in the matter.

Tree Did the Right Thing.

The judge said there was not the smallest around for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety. Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the judge said Mr Tree could not properly 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 defence intended to call to the stand, together with a full shorthand report of the trial as far as it had gone.

After the Trial Was Over.

Wilde and a companion drove from the Old Bailey to Holborn Viaduct Hotel where they were joined soon by Lord Alfred Douglas and 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 note […] of Holburn 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. (Sgd.) Oscar Wilde."

A warrant was issued for Wilde’s arrest this afternoon.

The Marquis of Queensberry has sent this message to Wilde:- "If the country allows you to leave, all the better for the country, but if you take my son with you I will follow wherever you go and shoot you."

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