Compare Documents

London, Friday. Sir Edward Clarke, who appeared for Wilde, to-day accepted the verdict of not guilty against the Marquis of Queensberry, and the jury found the plea of justification proved. The Marquis was at once discharged.

The Press Association, on enquiring 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. As it was surmised Wilde was in the precencts of the Old Bailey when the speech for the defence of Lord Queensbury was resumed. It was for the purpose of holding a conference with Wilde that his leading counsel left Court at the close of the consultation in one of the waiting rooms. Wilde hailed a hansom and drove away leaving Sir E Clarke to formally withdraw from the prosecution.

The letter written by Mr Russell and accompanying the documents is as follows:—"In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses statements, together with copy of shorthand notes of trial."

The London Evening News states that it has received four letters from Mr Oscar Wilde written on notepaper of a Holborn hotel:—"To the Editor—It would be impossible for me to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. Lord Alfred Douglas was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him do so. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to retire from the case and to bear on my own shoulders whatever ignomy and shame might result from my prosecuting Lord Queensberry."

Mr. Angus Lewis of the Treasury, who was accompanied by Detective-Inspector Brockwell, attended at Bow-street this afternoon and said he would like some private conversation with Sir John Bridge. The magistrate granted the request, and it is understood that Mr Lewis intimated that an application might be made during the day with reference to an important case which is at present engaging such public attention.

LONDON, April 5. -- Bulletin-The jury in the case of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry has found the plea of justification submitted by the Marquis of Queensberry was proved, and the Marquis was discharged from custody.

The verdict was received with loud applause from the court, which the Judge did not check.

A warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde, it is expected, will be promptly applied for.

Copies of all the witnesses' statements and shorthand notes of the trial have been furnished with the public prosecution.

STORY OF THE DAY.

Before 10 o'clock today every available foot of space in the old Bailey courtroom was filled with spectators, armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches and otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible.

The Marquis of Queensberry at 10:12 A. M. entered the 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.

Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech, which was not concluded yesterday, when the court adjourned.

Carson said 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 Douglass, and Wilde.

Continuing, counsel said he now approached a more painful duty.

It would be his task to call several young men who would tell their own tales and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer.

"It was no wonder that the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. The wonder is," counsel said, "that this man has been so long tolerated in London society."

"Wilde's conduct regarding the boy at Worthing," continued Carson, "was an instance of his disgusting audacity. He picked up this boy on a pier and introduced him to his family, dressed him up as a gentleman and put public colors upon his hat."

Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of the witness' counsel left the court room for consultation.

WILDE SURRENDERS.

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 a withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client.

The chief concern of Sir Edward Clarke seemed to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking the case for Wilde.

He said that after consulting with his client, who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel had adjourned and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement, he asked to withdraw the suit, and on Wilde's behalf submitted a verdict for the Marquis of not quilty in regards to the words "posing as a - - -."

Counsel said he did this more especially in the view of the extracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of modern social life "Lorian Gray," and from the magazine The Chameleon.

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

Justice Collins said as to the jury putting any limit on their verdict that the words "posing as a - - -," were either justified or not justified, if the jury consented to the course suggested, and were to 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 the words complained of were published for public benefit.

THE VERDICT.

The jurymen consulted together a moment and then without leaving their seats, returned a verdict as directed by Judge Collins, namely: that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel and that the words he had written on a 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. The defense, it appears, had a long array of witnesses on hand, including waiters employed in the hotels of Paris, London and other cities which Wilde had frequented.

WILDE MAKES A STATEMENT.

Oscar Wilde has written a letter to the newspapers in which he says: "It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglass 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 which might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry."

The authorities are reticent as to what course will be pursued, but today application was made at the Bow Street Police Court for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde and the magistrate granted the application.

The officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of the Government public prosecutions are directed, visited the Bow street Police Court several times this afternoon, previous to granting the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest.

Upon the last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boys.

After a short consultation between the Treasury officials and Sir John Brige, during which several questions were addressed to the detective and the boys, the magistrate issued the warrant.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglass 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 after, both Wilde and Alfred drove away.

OSCAR ARRESTED.

Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel.

He was taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.