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 Two of his plays are now running at London theatres, but his name has been withdrawn from the bills.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 Standard Union - 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 by 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.

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. 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 interior 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 on one part of the case, they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

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.

Mr. Wilde was not in court this morning.

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.

The "Evening News" has received the following letter from 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."

Later. - It was learned late this afternoon that a warrant has been issued in the Bow Street Police Court for the arrest of Oscar Wilde.

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