The Irish News and Belfast Morning News - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, FRIDAY.The hearing of the action brought by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr. CARSON, continuing his address for the defence, said he hoped he had convinced the jury that the defendant was justified in bringing to a climax the association of his son with Wilde. It would be his painful duty to call several young men to tell their own tale. He would show that Taylor acted on behalf of Wilde. Mr. Carson remarked with much emphasis that it was a wonder the man Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long.

Mr. CARSON was continuing his argument, when Sir E. Clarke and Mr. Mathews retired from the court for a moment. Wilde had up to this point been absent. Sir E. Clarke on returning whispered to Mr. Carson, who resumed his seat.

Sir E. CLARKE then, addressing the Court, said he had to make a statement under the gravest responsibility. Mr. Carson, by saying yesterday that he hoped he had said enough regarding Mr. Wilde’s letters and literature to influence the jury, relieved him from the necessity of dealing in detail with the other issues. He therefore asked on behalf of Mr. Wilde to withdraw from the prosecution and submit to a verdict of "not guilty" in respect to that part of the particulars connected with the publication of "Dorian Grey" and "Chameleon."

Sir Edward Clarke’s statement produced a profound sensation in court.

Mr. CARSON said the verdict of "not guilty" involved a verdict also of justification.

Justice COLLINS said that if the jury found a verdict of not guilty they would also find that the justification set up was true in substance and in fact, and that the statement was published for the public benefit.

The jury, after a moment’s consideration, returned a verdict of "not guilty" against the Marquis of Queensberry, the foreman adding that what he had written was published for the public benefit.

The JUDGE thereupon ordered the Marquis of Queensberry’s discharge from custody, and certified for costs.

The Marquis, on descending from the dock, was heartily congratulated by his friends, and the court soon rapidly cleared.

The Press Association, on inquiring of Lord Queensberry’s solicitors (Messrs. Russell and Day), is informed that it is not his lordship’s intention to take the initiative in any criminal prosecution of Oscar Wilde, but after the finding of the jury this morning in the libel action the whole of the documents with proofs of the evidence upon which the defence had intended to rely were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor, the Hon. Hamilton Cuffe.

ARREST OF OSCAR WILDE.

LONDON, FRIDAY NIGHT.Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o’clock this evening, and conveyed to Bow Street Police Station, where he arrived at ten past eight.

The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half-past six, at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, Chelsea, where Mr. Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Mr. Wilde’s visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when Inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr. Wilde, it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct, but when the Inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conducted to a room in the establishment, where Mr. Wilde was engaged with his two friends. The Inspector informed him that he was a police officer, and that he would arrest him, a warrant being out for his arrest. Mr. Wilde made no reply.

The Press Association understands that the charge alleged against Mr. Wilde is that of committing acts of indecency. Having been searched, Mr. Wilde was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr. Wilde’s arrival at Bow Street a Mr Rosse, a friend of the prisoner, drove up to the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothes and other necessaries for Mr. Wilde, but after a short interview with the Inspector on duty, Rosse returned to his cab with the bar, having been refused permission to leave it. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow Street to inquire as to the possibility of the accused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner had been arrested on a warrant for an alleged criminal offence, which admitted of no bail until prisoner had appeared before the magistrate. Lord Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed that the prisoner had a cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites to make him as comfortable as the police regulations would allow. It will be Mr. Wilde’s privilege to receive food sent him from a neighbouring hotel if he so desires, pending his transference from the cell in the police station to the cells of the adjoining police court. At ten o’clock to-morrow morning Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will investigate the charge against Mr. Wilde, which involves a penal offence.

The Daily Inter Ocean - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, April 5. -- The action for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry came to a sudden end today, when Wilde withdrew his suit, thereby practically admitting his guilt of the charges made by Queensberry. A short time after the court proceedings closed Wilde was arrested at the Cadagan Hotel. He is spending tonight in a cell in the Bow Street Police Station.

The name of Oscar Wilde has been withdrawn from the playbills and advertisements of the two theaters, the St. James and the Haymarket, where two of his plays are running.

Before 10 o'clock today every available foot of space in the courtroom in the Old Bailey was filled with spectators, who were ready to spend the day in court. The Marquis at 10:20 a.m. entered court, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 a.m, Justice Collins entered and the court was opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was absent.

Mr. Carson Resumes His Speech.

Mr. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Mr. Carson said that he hoped he had demonstrated that the Marquis was justified in bringing to a climax in the way he did the connection between his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde. Continuing, counsel said that the wonder is that this man has been so long tolerated in London society.

Mr. Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of Wilde's counsel left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid a most impressive silence, the leading counsel for the plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client. He said that after consulting with his client-who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel adjourned, and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement-he asked to withdraw the suit. Counsel said that he did this more especially in view of the ex- tracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of modern social life. "Dorian Gray," and from the magazine, the Chameleon.

Mr. Carson here interposed, saying that if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involves a verdict of justification, as the case of his client must succeed upon that plea.

The Jury Is Instructed.

Justice Collins said that if the jury should consent to the course suggested and should return a verdict of not guilty, they were also to find that the justification set up by the defense was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit.

The jurymen consulted together for a moment, and then, without leaving their seats, they returned a verdict as directed by Justice Collins, namely that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel, and that the words he had written on the card which formed the basis of the suit were published in the interests of the public.

The verdict was received with loud applause in court, and Justice Collins made no attempt to check it. The Marquis of Queensberry was then discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling and surrounded by his friends.

A warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde was promptly applied for. Copies of all the witnesses' statements and shorthand notes of the trial had been furnished to the public prosecutor.

Officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of the government public prosecutions are directed, visited Bow Street Police Court several times this afternoon previous to the granting of the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon the occasion of their last visit, after a short consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John Bridge, the magistrate issued the warrant.

Caught at the Cadogan Hotel.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas at a hotel in Holborn. His brougham was waiting in front of the hotel. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to a bank, cashed a check, and returned to the hotel. Soon afterward both Wilde and Lord Alfred drove away.

Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloan street, and taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

Few persons witnessed Wilde's arrival there, and those who did maintained silence. At 8:10 p.m. Wilde was arraigned at the Bow Street Police Court. He was placed in the dock in the police station. Here he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. A police inspector read the charge aloud and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner remained apparently indifferent and made no reply. He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell.

Shortly after he had been locked up, one of his friends arrived in a carriage at the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothing and other necessaries, but the police refused to permit him to leave it.

Bail Is Denied Him.

Later Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde had been arrested for a criminal offense, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information. He was told by the inspector that Wilde had a blanket and other requisites in his cell to be as comfortable as the police regulations allowed.

The prisoner will be allowed to receive food from a hotel until tomorrow, when he will be arraigned in court on a charge involving a penal offense.

Wilde has written a letter to newspapers, in which he says:

It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness-box against his father. Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to go into the box, but I would not allow it. Rather than put him in such a painful position I determined to retire from the case, and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry.

The Leader publishes an interview with Lord Douglas, of Hawick, in relation to the Wilde scandal Lord Douglas says:

"I and every member of the family except father disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges. We think them simply part of the persecution father has carried on against us as long as I can remember, and that Mr. Wilde and his counsel are to blame for not showing, as they could have done, that that was the fact."

Took the Yellow Book to Jail with Him.

LONDON, April 6. -- The Morning says that Wilde received the notification of his arrest with languid nonchalance, plaintively asking whether he would be allowed to furnish bail when accompanying the detective who made the arrest he took under his arm a copy of the Yellow Book. When he arrived at Scotland Yard he asked whether he would be allowed a private cell and whether he would be allowed to smoke. When the charge was read to him he smiled.

The Chronicle says editorially:

It suffices us to know, as some return for the undamming of the putrid stream, that the way is cleared for increased wholesomeness in life. We seem for some unhappy hours to have been shuddering witnesses of a revival of society under the late Roman empire, or against the dark background of the Italian renaissance.

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