Ballinrobe Chronicle - Saturday, May 11, 1895

Legal formalities at Bow-street Police-court revealed on the 7th inst. the well-kept secret of who were the two gentlemen who had agreed to be the required sureties in £1250 each for the appearance of Oscar Wilde at tho next Old Bailey Sessions. Mr. Travers Humphreys introduced in this remarkable juxtaposition the Ref. Stewart Headlam and Lord Douglas of Hawick.

Mr. Angus Lewis, for the Treasury, intimated that no objection would be raised on his side; and both the proposed sureties baring satisfied the Court that they were solvent to the extent of £1250 each and willing to become bail, their recognisances were accepted.

About twenty minutes past two a four-wheeled cab drove into Bow-street from the direction of Longacre conveying from Holloway Oscar Wilde and Chief-Inspector White, while Inspector Brockwell, who originally had the prisoner in charge, sat with the gaoler. Wilde was dressed, as usual, with scrupulous care in dark frock-coat and silk hat, and when he alighted in the station yard he walked, erect and self-possessed, with all the old air of being superior to, and untouched by, circumstances. He was brought into the court building by a private door leading to the inner end of the official corridor, and without being taken into the court itself was conducted at once to the private office of Mr. Alexander, the chief clerk, where his recognisances were taken—a purely formal proceeding. Presently Wilde and his sureties quietly left the court by the magistrate's private door in Broadcourt, and walked rapidly away in the direction of Drury-lane. Thence the three drove straight from Bow-street to the Midland Grand Hotel in a hired cab which had been waiting at the back of the court. Mr. Wilde, in answer to inquiries addressed to him by a reporter, declared that he had nothing to say; but he seemed much relieved by the prospect of a little freedom and fresh air after so many weary days' confinement.

It was supposed that Mr. Wilde might intend taking an immediate trip to Scarborough, or some other of the Yorkshire watering-places, as it had been announced that he would spend the interval between his release and his next appearance at the Old Bailey at the seaside. A train for the North left the station at four o'clock, but he did not travel by it. Mr. Headlam left the hotel at this hour, and walked away down Eustonroad smoking a cigarette, Lord Douglas having in the meantime engaged rooms for the afternoon at the Midland Grand. Later in the afternoon Mr. Wilde was visited by an old personal friend, and he was also busily engaged for a considerable time with two of Messrs. Humphreys and Son's clerks over his private affair and the pending new trial. He was then stated to be suffering from prostration and weakness, and unable to undergo the fatigue of an interview.

Mr. Wilde's solicitors, at their client's own request, have intimated to the authorities that they are perfectly prepared to keep them fully informed as to his movements and precise whereabouts between now and the 20th inst., when Mr. Wilde will, in due course, give himself up to the police.

The Rev. Stewart Headlam, interviewed as to the reasons which induced him to become surety for Mr. Wilde, banded to the reporter the following statement in writing : I have undertaken this responsibility on public grounds. I felt that the public mind had been prejudiced before the case begun, and I was anxious to give Mr. Wilde any help I could to enable him to stand his trial in good health and spirits.

London Star - Tuesday, May 7, 1895

The newest surprise in the Wilde case is in regard to the personality of the two sureties accepted this morning by Mr. Vaughan at Bow-st., for the prisoner's reappearance if admitted to bail. Mr. Travers Humphreys, the prisoner's junior counsel, instructed by his brother, Mr. Humphreys, the solicitor, reminded the learned magistrate of the circumstances under which the jury at the Old Bailey had acquitted the prisoner on some counts of the indictment, while being unable to agree upon others, and the subsequent consent of Baron Pollock to

ENLARGE THE PRISONER,

pending his re-trial, on his own recognisances, in £2,500 and two sureties of £1,250 each. He was now provided with two sureties to whom Mr. Angus Lewis (who was present on behalf of the Treasury) would offer no objection, and with whom the police, after making inquiries, were perfectly satisfied. They were Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam.

Mr. Vaughan asked, "Is there any objection?" and Mr. Angus Lewis replied, "No objection at all." "Let them appear," said the magistrate, and Mr.

STEWART HEADLAM,

blue-shaven and semi-clerical, stepped into the witness-box, and was sworn. He deposed that he lived at 31, Upper Bedford-place, W.C.

"And you are worth £1,250 after all your just debts are paid?"

"I am!" replied the Rev. Stewart, in the solemn tones of a man brought suddenly to face with the marriage ceremony

"Are you willing to become bail for the appearance of Oscar Wilde?''

"I am."

Then Lord Douglas of Hawick was sworn. he gave his name as Percy Sholto Douglas, and is of course the eldest surviving son of the Marquess of Queensberry. Although older brother to the "slim-gilt soul," he

IN NO WAY RESEMBLES

him, being rather fleshy than thin, dark instead of fair, and dressed after the manner of the philistines, in black frock-coat with silk lapels and the ordinary stand-up collar and black cravat of Piccadilly. He gave as his address Chalcot House, Long Ditton, and seemed confident that he, too, was worth £1,250 after all his just debts are paid. He was also willing to become bail.

"Very well," said Mr. Vaughan, in this curt manner indicating that the sureties were accepted. It remained to deal with the prisoner's personal recognisances, and Mr. Vaughan directed that he should be at once brought from Holloway to Bow-st. in a cab.

Interview with Mr. Headlam:

The Rev. Stewart Headlam, interviewed by a Press Association representative at the close of the proceedings at Bow-st., as to the reasons which induced him to become surety of Mr. Wilde, made the following statement:--I have undertaken this responsibility on public grounds. I felt that the public mind had been prejudiced before the case began, and I was anxious to give Mr. Wilde any help I could to enable hi, to stand his trial in good health and spirits.

At the close of the case Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam, accompanied by one of Messrs. Humphreys's clerks, entered a cab and drove to Holloway Gaol.

Wilde's Own Recognisances.

Mr. Oscar Wilde will attend at Bow-st. Police Court to-day to enter into his own recognisances in £2,500 before his release.

At a quarter past two Wilde had not arrived at Bow-st., but was said to have left Holloway in charge of Sergeant White, the chief gaoler. The necessary formalities connected with the giving up of a prisoner had no doubt caused this delay. Lord Douglas of Hawick returned to the court about two o'clock and was joined by the Rev. Stewart Headlam, who had been smoking a meditative cigarette on the sunny side of Bow-st. It was said that Mr. Vaughan would see Wilde in his private room.

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