The Irish News and Belfast Morning News - Monday, April 8, 1895

LONDON, SATURDAY.The doors of Bow Street Police Court were besieged at a comparatively early hour this morning, it being known that Mr. Oscar Wilde, who had been arrested on the previous evening, would be placed in the dock. That part of the building in which extradition cases are usually taken was speedily thronged to its utmost capacity, and the appearance of the prisoner was eagerly awaited.

Sir John Bridge took his seat a few minutes after eleven. Wilde was simultaneously brought up from the cells. He was attired in a heavy overcoat which he wore at the Old Bailey. He entered the dock with an easy air, and having deposited his silk hat upon the seat, bowed slightly to the magistrate, and then leant forward upon the rail, and listened attentively to Mr. Gill’s opening.

Mr. GILL, in stating the case for the prosecution, mentioned a series of charges that they would undertake to prove against the prisoner. In the first case the names of Taylor and Parker were introduced.

Charles Parker, a good-looking, well-dressed youth of 19 years of age, went into the witness box, and was giving evidence when Mr. GILL caused a momentary flutter of excitement by announcing the arrest of Taylor.

Pending Taylor’s arrival in the dock, Mr. C. O. Humphreys, Wilde’s solicitor, elicited from the magistrate that to-day’s proceedings would be of some length.

Taylor, a young man strongly resembling Parker in appearance and address, though somewhat older, was then brought in, and took his stand beside Wilde.

Parker then continued his evidence.

Alfred Wood, formerly a clerk, was next examined, and gave important evidence.

Arthur Mayor, who had been a guest of Wilde’s at the Albemarle Hotel, Anton Migge, Masseur; and Margaret Cottar, a chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, were examined, and On the application of Mr. GILL, the magistrate remanded the prisoners until Thursday next.

His Worship declined to accede to the application for bail.

LONDON, SUNDAY NIGHT.Up to ten o’clock to-night no further arrest was made in connection with the Oscar Wilde case.

THE PRISONER AT HOLLOWAY.

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING.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, occupation of which is provided for by the 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 bound 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 the prisoners at jail awaiting trial.

THE DOUGLAS FAMILY AND MR. WILDE.

LONDON, SATURDAY.A correspondent of the London "Sun" called at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel, London, yesterday afternoon, with the view of obtaining from Mr. Wilde his own statement as to why he had decided to withdraw the prosecution and consent to a verdict against himself. Lord Douglas of Hawick said Mr. Wilde felt quite unable at the moment to bear seeing anyone. The young Lord, however, added that on Mr. Wilde’s behalf he was willing to answer any questions he could. He was, he said, himself, together with his brother Lord Alfred, under subpoena for the prosecution. He himself would have been quite willing to go into the box, and his brother was most anxious to be allowed to do so, and was exceedingly grieved that Mr. Wilde had prevented him. It was to prevent that, and because he felt "that no man could bear to have every little act and indiscretion of his life, and every word and thought produced against him and perverted in the basest way and placed in their worst possible light," that Mr. Wilde had resolved to retire from the prosecution. "You may say from me myself," went on Lord Douglas of Hawick, "that I and every member of our family, excepting my father, disbelieve absolutely and entirely the allegations of the defence. It is, in my opinion, simply a part of the persecution which my father has carried on against us ever since I can remember. I think Mr. Wilde and his counsel are to blame for not showing, as they could have done, that was the fact." His Lordship cited several alleged circumstances in support of his statement, and concluded by asserting, with considerable emotion, that scandal after scandal had been heaped upon them till he felt utterly unable to hold up his head.

In reference to above the Rev. Lord A. Douglas writes:—"My nephew, Lord Douglas, was certainly not authorised by my mother, my sister, and myself to say as reported. ‘Every member of our family except my father disbelieves absolutely and entirely the allegations of the defence.' We do most certainly believe them, and must repudiate any sympathy with the statement of my nephew."

[REUTER’S TELEGRAM.]

NEW YORK, SATURDAY.Oscar Wilde’s name will be removed from the bills of the programmes of the Lyceum Theatre when "An Ideal Husband" is running.

The Yorkshire Evening Post - Monday, April 8, 1895

"You are not an artist," said Wilde at the Old Bailey when Mr. Carson refused to take some piece of shameless immorality as "a work of pure beauty." "No, I am not an artist," rejoined Mr. Carson, "and when I hear some of your answers I am very glad of it."

MR. CARSON'S MODESTY.

Mr. Carson, far from joining in the general chorus of approval which has greeted his masterly display of cross-examination, says that he never had a much easier case. "Carson is the coming Russell of his day so far as cross-examination is concerned," remarked one M.P. the other night. It was curious, and at the same time rather pleasant (remarks a Parliamentary writer) to observe bitter political opponents patting Mr. Carson on the shoulders, and saying, "Well done!" You might have seen Mr. Tim Heaiy and Mr. Swift MacNeill acting so.

HOW SOME LETTERS WERE SECURED.

One of the principal witnesses who was to have been called to support Lord Queenberry's case left his lodgings in London some time ago rather hurriedly, leaving his rent unpaid. An agent of the solicitor called to inquire after the missing lodger, and was told that nothing was known of him, but on payment of the rent due he could have a box which had been left behind. Needless to say, the rent was paid and the box taken away in triumph. When opened it was found to contain a score or so of important letters.

WILDE AT MAGDALEN.

Oscar Wilde while at Oxford was the only Demy who was in the best Magdalen set, and who frequented the Junior Common-room, of which he was the life and soul, for he kept the table in a roar with his constant flow of Irish wit. He occupied charming rooms looking over the Cherwell and Magdalen Bridge, which were known as "Prince Rupert's Rooms." Dining at the Mitre Hotel, being driven by his friends on drags and tandems, a little languid boating on the upper river, a good deal of "loo" and "nap," were (the Morning says) the amusements of Mr. Wilde's undergraduate days. Though he had not been to an English public school, he more than held his own against the sixth form men from Eton and Harrow, for he took a first-class with the greatest ease in Moderations and "Greats," and was a brilliant classical scholar.

TAKING OFF THE NAME.

Mr. Sydney Grundy writes to the Telegraph:—"I wonder on what principle of law, or justice, or common sense, or good manners, or Christian charity, an author's name is blotted from his work. If a man is not to be credited with what he has done well, by what right is he punished for what he has done ill?

OSCAR WILDE'S INCOME.

A correspondent writes that from his plays and literary work Oscar Wilde was earning £10,000 a year.

LORD ALFRED DOUGLAS'S DEVOTION.

Questioned by a reporter as to what he was going to do now, Lord Alfred Douglas replied, "If Mr. Wilde should be locked up I shall get a house near the prison and live there till he comes out."

IN THE "BLACK MARIA."

After the hearing of the trial on Saturday, Wilde and Taylor were removed to the gaoler's quarters to await their conveyance to Holloway. The prisoners were kept strictly apart. Wilde could not restrain his penchant for talking, and referred to the harshness oi the magistrate in refusing to allow bail. Apparently he was not aware of the fact that the gravity of the charge precluded all possibility of temporary freedom. Every consideration was shown to Wilde, notwithstanding his peevishness. He meekly followed tha officer, pausing only for an instant at the steps of the van to have a deep-drawn sigh. A minute afterwards the door of the "Black Maria" had closed upon him, and in less than half-an-hour Wilde was within the gates of Holloway Gaol.

IN THE CELLS.

When Wilde arrived at Holloway Gaol he was conveyed to one of the better class cells, the occupation of which is provided for by the prison regulations on payment of about a shilling a day. It has been arranged that one of the prisoners at Holloway shall perform the menial duties which every prisoner is bound 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 the prisoners at the gaol awaiting trial.

"Q."

The Marquess of Queensberry, before he brought the quarrel between himself and Oscar Wilde to a head, had for three months been quietly living at Kinmount House, his seat in Dumfriesshire. On leaving, he made a short sojourn at Carlisle, and then went up to London. Whatever new discoveries he made there, he appears not to have acted on the spur of the moment. In fact, he was in town for some three weeks before he took the final step. His son, Lord Alfred Douglas, is some 25 years old, not, as was stated the other day, 19 or 20.

UNDERGRADUATES TOGETHER.

Mr. Edward Carson and Mr. Oscar Wilde were undergraduates together in Trinity College, Dublin, upwards of 20 years ago, and were, indeed, members of the same class. Oscar Wilde was a scholar of Trinity, and one of the best classics of his year. Mr. Carson's Academic career was, comparatively speaking, undistinguished.

THE JURY'S INTENTION.

It is said that the jury at the Old Bailey were prepared to return a verdict acquitting Lord Queensberry soon as the case for the prosecution was closed. An intimation to this effect was, it is believed, conveyed to the judge, and may not improbably have reached Sir Edward Clarke's ears. Whether this had anything to do with the abrupt termination of the case we cannot say.

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