Sunday World - Sunday, May 12, 1895

Oscar Wilde was released from Holloway Prison on bail at 1 55 on the afternoon of Tuesday last. His two sureties were Lord Douglas of Hawick, and the Rev Stewart Headlam.

The Rev Stewart Headlam, interviewed at the close of the proceedings as to the reasons which induced him to become surety for 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 him to stand his trial in good health and spirits."

On leaving Bow street a free man Oscar Wilde, with Lord Dougls of Hawick and the Rev Stewart Headlam, entered a cab, which was drive at a rapid pace to the Midland Hotel at St Pancras, which was reached about three o’clock. Here rooms were engaged by this lordship. Apparently a consultation was held between Wilde and his sureties, for it was not until four o’clock that the Rev Stewart Headlam left the hotel by the main entrance. Later on in the afternoon Wilde was visited by an old personal friend, and he was also busily engaged for a considerable time with two of Messrs Humphreys and Sons’ clerks over his private affairs, and the pending new trial. He was stated to be suffering from extreme prostration and weakness, and quite unable to undergo the fatigue of an interview. 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 Wilde will in due course give himself up to the police.

Evening Herald - Tuesday, May 7, 1895

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 securities. Both of them were persons of substance, and their names had been submitted to and approved by the Treasury. One was the Rev Stewart Headlam and the other Lord Douglas of Hawick, otherwise Viscount Drumlanrig, eldest son of the Marquis of Queensberry.

Both these gentlemen were called, and swore that they were worth £1,250, the amount of the bail fixed for each surety by Baron Pollock.

Mr Vaughan said that 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 reasons 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, where after, Mr Oscar Wilde has entered into his own recognisances before the governor of the prison, he will be at once released.

The Press Association states that Oscar Wilde left Holloway Jail this afternoon.

Wilde left Holloway Jail this afternoon. He drove from the jail in a four-wheeler to Bow street, where he went into the clerk’s room and signed what is known as the bail book, after which, accompanied by Lord Douglas of Hawick, he re-entered the cab and drove off.

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