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 Two of his plays are now running at London theatres, but his name has been withdrawn from the bills.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 Boston Globe - Friday, April 5, 1895

LONDON, April 5 - The case of Oscar Wilde against the marquis of Queensberry for libel was brought to a close this morning in a verdict in favor of the defendant.

The jury found not only that the defendant was not guilty of libel, but in a subsidiary verdict declared that the marquis of Queensberry’s charges were true and had been made for the public good.

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 painful duty, he said, to put upon 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.

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.

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 judge interposed and said if the jury were justified in agreeing upon a verdict in one part of the case they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then returned a verdict of not guilty 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.

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 defense.

The Marquis of Queensberry’s solicitors sent to the public prosecutor a copy of the statements of all the witnesses which the defense intended to call to the stand, together with a full shorthand report of the trial as far as it had gone.

Sir Edward Clarke held his consultation with Wilde within the precincts of the 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.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon the notepaper of the Holborn 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. (Signed) "Oscar Wilde."

OSCAR WILDE ARRESTED. Besides the Marquis of Queensberry Threatens to Shoot Him.

LONDON, April 5 - At 3.30 o'clock this afternoon a solicitor applied at the Bow st police court and obtained a warrant against Wilde for immediate execution.

In an interview this afternoon the marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press: "I have 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 you wherever you go, and shoot you.'"

Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public, and the civil officers are only awaiting the authority to make the arrests.

Oscar Wilde was subsequently found by the detectives, who arrested him and took him to Scotland yard.

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