The Cork Examiner - Saturday, April 6, 1895

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.

Times Union - Friday, April 5, 1895

LONDON, April 5. - The case of Oscar Wilde against the marquis of Queensberry for libel was brought to a close this morning in a verdict in favor of the defendant.

The jury found not only that the defendant was not guilty of libel, but in a subsidiary verdict declared that the marquis of Queensberry's charges were true and had been made for the public good.

The Old Bailey court-room was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech in behalf of the marquis of Queensberry. It would be his painful duty, he said, to put upon the witness stand men who would speak freely. They were of the class of servants, valets, etc., not belonging to Mr. Wilde’s station in life, not interested in literature or art, yet they addressed this distinguished dramatist by his Christian name, Oscar, he, in turn calling them Charlie, Freddie, etc. Mr. Carson said he would produce overwhelming evidence of the abominable immorality of this man, Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr. Carson and said he had undertaken a great responsibility in defending Wilde against the charges made against him by the marquis of Queensberry. In regard to the literature which Wilde had published and upon which Mr. Carson had questioned him, he (Sir Edward) had come to the painful conclusion that it could not be expected that the jury would find a verdict of guilty on the actual words used by the defendant, viz.: that Wilde was posing as a devotee of unnatural practices. He had consulted with Wilde in the interior of the adjournment of the court and in order to save the court the painful details connected with the rest of the case, he was prepared to accept a verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde’s literature.

The judge interposed and said if the jury were justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case they must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and supplemented their verdict with the declaration that the charges made by the defendant against Wilde, which constituted the libel complained of, were true and that they had been made in the public interest.

When the verdict was rendered the marquis of Queensberry left the dock amid loud cheers. The judge granted an order requiring Wilde to pay the cost of the defense. Mr. Wilde was not in court when the verdict was rendered.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Mr. Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Mr. Carson explained to the court last evening that Mr. Tree received a copy of a letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, and thereupon sent for Wilde and handed him the copy. Mr. Carson said that Mr. Tree had cabled the information to him and it tallied perfectly with the account given by Wilde in the witness box. Mr. Carson added that he thought Mr. Tree had acted perfectly right in the matter. The judge said there was not the smallest ground for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety.

Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the judge that Mr. Tree could not properly have done otherwise then he did.

The marquis of Queensberry’s solicitor sent to the public prosecutor a copy of the statements of all the witnesses which the defense intended to call to the stand together with a full shorthand report of the trial as far as it had gone.

Sir Edward Clarke held his consultation with Wilde within the precincts of the court this morning.

The Westminster Gazette says: "Mr. Wilde hurriedly left the building during Sir Edward Clarke’s statement. A warrant for his arrest has not yet been applied for."

Wilde and a companion drove from the Old Bailey to the Holborn hotel where they were joined soon afterwards by Lord Alfred Douglas and a companion. The four took luncheon together in a private room. Wilde's carriage remained in front of the hotel.

The Evening News has received the following letter from Wilde, written upon the notepaper of the Holborn Viaduct hotel:

It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my prosecution of the marquis of Queensberry. OSCAR WILDE.

OSCAR WILDE ARRESTED. Taken to Scotland Yard on a Warrant This Afternoon.

LONDON, April 5. - Oscar Wilde has just been arrested and taken to Scotland Yard. At 3 o'clock this afternoon a solicitor whose name is not given applied to the Bow street police court and obtained a warrant for immediate execution. The court officers refused to give the name of the person upon whom the warrant is to be served, but it was learned late this afternoon that the warrant was granted against Oscar Wilde.

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