The Toronto World - Saturday, April 6, 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.

Sir Edward Clarke, Wilde’s counsel, interrupted with the statement that he had come to the painful conclusion that, in view of Wilde’s literature, he could not expect the jury to find the Marquis of Queensberry guilty of libel on the actual words used by the defendant.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke ascented, 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 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 defence. Wilde was not in court. The Marquis of Queensberry’s solicitor 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 report of the trial as far as it had gone.

Mr. Lewis, Solicitor of the Treasury, applied at the Bow-street Police Court for a warrant for immediate execution, and Oscar Wilde was promptly arrested and taken to Scotland Yard. Two of his plays are now running at London theatres, but his name has been withdrawn from the bills.

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.

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