Ballinrobe Chronicle - Saturday, April 13, 1895

Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested on the preceding evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, on a charge of a very grave and shocking description, was brought up on the 6th inst. before Sir John Bridge at Bow-street Police-court. For half-an-hour before the doors opened a large crowd had gathered in front of the Court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then admitted. These were at first allowed to take their seats in the large court, but after an interval of more than half an hour it was announced that the case would be taken in the Extradition Court, and a rush was made for places in that small and inconvenient room. A few of the public were subsequently admitted. The prisoner wore a black frock coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern at any time during the proceedings. The prisoner was charged with several acts of impropriety. The charge-sheet was signed by Inspector Thomas Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.

Mr. C. F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted, and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.

Mr. Gill said he appeared in this case on behalf of the Public Prosecutor to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges, partly under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, but having regard to the nature of the case, he (counsel) did not think it desirable that he should trouble the magistrate with many opening observations. No good purpose would be served by going into the matter in an opening speech, and he would therefore only indicate generally what the character of the evidence was that he proposed to introduce, and after that he would ask that the prisoner should be formally committed. The case which he proposed to go into in the first instance, related to the conduct of the prisoner as regarded a young man named Charles Parker. It would appear that at the end of 1893 the prisoner was staying at the Savoy Hotel. He stayed there from March 2 to March 29. At the same time there was living at Little College-street, Westminster, in the upper part of the house, a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely connected with Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged to act for the prisoner in certain ways. The prisoner was in the habit of visiting Taylor at Little College-street, and in the course of the case the Court would hear of the condition of things that existed at this house, and of the rooms occupied by this man. Parker was a servant out of a place, but he had been in the employment of a gentleman as valet. Being out of employment, he was in the company of his brother, William, who was a groom. At the end of February or the beginning of March, in St. James's Restaurant, they were approached by Alfred Taylor. Counsel then described the way in which the boys were introduced to Wilde, and various circumstances which subsequently occurred. Continuing, he said the police had had an enormously difficult task to obtain evidence, but they had some time ago been all over the house in College-street. There were also several other cases of the same kind which it was proposed to go into.

Charles Parker was then called, and gave evidence bearing out the opening statement.

In the course of his examination, Mr. Gill interrupted the proceedings to state that he had just been informed that the man Alfred Taylor had been arrested, and it would save time if he were now brought into the dock, so that he might also hear the evidence.

Sir J. Bridge. Very well.

Mr. Humphreys, representing Mr. Wilde, asked how long the case would now go on.

Sir J. Bridge: A case of this sort ought to be dealt with as speedily as possible, and I shall propose to sit until four or five o'clock, if necessary.

The proceedings were stopped for several minutes, and when Taylor, a smart-looking man, entered the dock, Wilde bowed to him.

Sir J. Bridge explained to Taylor that the evidence already given related also to a charge against him, and it should therefore be read over.

This having been done, Parker continued his statement.

Mr. Humphreys having retired owing to other important engagements, his place, as representing the defence, was taken by Mr. Travers Humphreys, who said they had been taken completely by surprise in this matter, and he asked that he might be allowed to cross-examine any of the witnesses who might be called to-day on a future occasion.

Taylor, on being asked by the magistrate, also said he reserved the cross-examination.

Witness was bound over to give evidence at the Old Bailey.

William Parker, brother of the last witness, gave evidence of his introduction to Oscar Wilde. He only saw him once.

Mrs. Grant, living at Little College-street, spoke of the number of persons who frequented the house, and said she knew it was being watched by the police.

Sidney Mayvon said he had been to Little College-street and the Albemarle Hotel with Wilde, but the latter had never given him money.

After further evidence of a nature not fitted for newspaper reproduction, the case was adjourned. Bail was applied for on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde, and refused.

Belfast News-Letter - Monday, April 8, 1895

London, Saturday.—This morning Oscar Fingall O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested last evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, on a charge of a very grave kind, was brought up before Sir John Bridge at Bow Street Police Court. For half an hour before the doors opened a large crowd had gathered in front of the court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then admitted. These were at first allowed to take their seats in the large court, but after an interval of more than half an hour it was announced that the case would be taken in the Extradition Court, and a wild rush was made for places in that small and inconvenient room. A few of the public were subsequently admitted. The prisoner, who was brought into court at eleven o'clock, wore a black frock coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern at any time during the proceedings.

The charge sheet was signed by Inspector Thos. Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.

Mr. C. F. Gill (instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted), and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.

Mr. Gill said he appeared in the case for the Public Prosecutor.

Mr. Humphreys said he appeared for the prisoner.

Mr. Gill said he was there to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of inciting to commit or of committing certain gross indecencies under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. No good purpose would be served by going into these matters in an opening speech. He would merely indicate generally the character of the evidence he proposed to produce before Sir John, and the nature of the charges, while the, question of what he would be ultimately committed upon would depend upon the nature of the evidence produced. The first charge related to the conduct of the prisoner with the young man Charles Parker in 1893. Wilde was then staying at the Savoy Hotel, where he lived from April 2 to .March 29, and at the same time there was living at a place in Little College Street, Westminster, in the upper part of a house a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely connected with the prisoner Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged in acting for Wilde. Prisoner would be charged with conspiring with that man. Prisoner was in the habit of visiting that man Taylor at Little College Street, and his Worship would have evidence as to what took place at that address, where the prisoner Wilde was in the habit of going. Parker was a servant out of place, having been a valet, and was in the company of his brother William when they met Taylor at the St. James's Restaurant. Taylor was a stranger to them : he stood them drink, and invited them to visit him at Little College Street. Having got them to that place, he made certain suggestions, and mentioned Oscar Wilde as a man to whom he would introduce them. They met Wilde at a dinner at Kettner's, when Wilde made a selection of Parker, and went with him to the Savoy Hotel. The learned counsel described what took place there, and on subsequent occasions at two other addresses with Wilde. He gave Parker money, and visited him where he lived in Canova Square, till a woman noticing the appearance of the man Wilde, which once seen was not likely to be again forgotten, caused such trouble that Parker had to leave. Parker was now living a respectable life, and came as a most unwilling witness, but he had to do so. The learned counsel added that there were a number of other cases which would be gone into. The prisoner had already had an opportunity of giving his version of the affair, and he could do so again if he chose. It was a most unpleasant case to go into, but one of enormous public importance. It was enormously important that it should be known to those young men the prisoner had come in contact with that there was only one end to such a life as that of the prisoner Wilde, and that was at the hands of justice. He then proceeded to call evidence.

The man Taylor, who was arrested1 this morning, was brought into the dock and charged in order that he might hear the evidence. He is a young man twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, and very well dressed.

Evidence was then called, and The prisoners were remanded until Thursday next, bail being refused.

The Press Association states that when Mr. Oscar Wilde arrived at Holloway Jail on Saturday after the proceedings at Bow Street he was conveyed to one of the better-class cells, the occupation of which is provided for by prison regulations on payment of about a shilling a day. It has been arranged that one of the prisoners at present at Holloway shall perform the menial duties, which every prisoner is bonnd himself to perform, unless prepared to pay for a substitute. His meals will be supplied by a local caterer, and he will be allowed to receive a daily visit from a friend. He will, however, be obliged to forego cigarette smoking and to attend the parade of prisoners at the jail awaiting trial.

The Marquis of Queeosberry wishes to correct the statement that has been published with regard to his message to Oscar Wilde. It has been reported that as soon as the trial ended Lord Queensberry sent the following message to Mr. 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." This statement is not correct. The message was sent some days ago, and not after the trial ended. Lord Queensberry did not say he would shoot Mr. Wilde. What he said was that if he persuaded his misguided son to go with him, he would feel quite justified in following him (Wilde) and shooting him, did he feel inclined to do so, and were he worth the trouble.

A Reuter's New York telegram says :—The management of the Lyceum Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "An Ideal Husband," is now running, have decided to remove the author's name from the bills and programmes. Miss Rose Coghlan, who has been playing "A Woman of No Importance" in the Western States, has resolved to omit the play from her repertoire.

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