The Irish News and Belfast Morning News - Wednesday, May 8, 1895

LONDON, TUESDAY.The expected application for Mr. Oscar Wilde to be released on bail was made at Bow Street this morning, before Mr. Vaughan. Mr. Travers Humphreys appeared on behalf of the prisoner, while the Treasury was represented by Mr. Argus Lewis. Mr. Humphreys briefly recapitulated the history of the case up to the application made yesterday to Baron Pollock, and said that he was now prepared with the necessary sureties. Both of them were persons of substance, and their names had been submitted to and approved by the Treasury. One was Rev. Stewart Headlam, and the other Lord Douglas, of Hawick, otherwise Viscount Drumlanrig. Both these gentlemen were called, and swore that they were worth £1,250, the amount of bail fixed for each surety by Baron Pollock. Mr. Vaughan said he was perfectly satisfied with the bail tendered, and he ordered Wilde’s immediate release.

Mr. Stewart Headlam, interviewed by a Press Association representative at the close of the proceedings as to his reason for becoming surety, said—"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 him to stand his trial in good health and spirits"

At the close of the hearing to-day Lord Douglas of Hawick and Rev. Stewart Headlam, accompanied by one of Messrs. Humphreys’ clerks, entered a cab, and drove to Holloway Jail.

Detective-Inspector Brockwell, Sergeant White, jailer at Bow Street, and a clerk of Messrs. Humphreys & Son, Wilde’s solicitors, arrived at Holloway Prison at twenty minutes past one this afternoon for the purpose of receiving Oscar Wilde, and taking him to Bow Street, so that he might enter into his own recognizance before being restored to liberty. The necessary formalities at the prison took some little time, but just before two the party emerged through the wicket door, and took seats in a waiting cab. Wilde wore a dark cloth overcoat, grey trousers, and a silk hat. There was a wearied expression about his pale features strongly indicative of sleepless nights, and it could plainly be seen he was in anything but robots health. His body also seemed slightly bent.

Neither at the prison gate nor at Bow Street was there the slightest demonstration, and during the journey Wilde is stated to have maintained almost absolute silence, being seemingly intensely absorbed in thought.

At Bow Street the two sureties—Rev. Stewart Headlam and Lord Douglas Hawick—were waiting, and the proceedings in connection with Wilde’s recognisances of £2,500 having been completed, the accused was released. He immediately drove to the Midland Hotel, St. Pancras, accompanied by his sureties, and it was subsequently stated he was suffering from extreme prostration, and quite unable to undergo the fatigue of an interview.

It is expected he will leave London to-morrow, and his solicitors, at his own request, have offered to keep the authorities fully informed of his movements and precise whereabouts between now and the 20th inst, when he will in due course give himself up to the police. In the course of the afternoon it was stated that Wilde had an interview at the Law Courts with Sir Edward Clarke.

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.

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