Belfast News-Letter - Monday, April 8, 1895

London, Saturday.—This morning Oscar Fingall O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested last evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, on a charge of a very grave kind, was brought up before Sir John Bridge at Bow Street Police Court. For half an hour before the doors opened a large crowd had gathered in front of the court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then admitted. These were at first allowed to take their seats in the large court, but after an interval of more than half an hour it was announced that the case would be taken in the Extradition Court, and a wild rush was made for places in that small and inconvenient room. A few of the public were subsequently admitted. The prisoner, who was brought into court at eleven o'clock, wore a black frock coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern at any time during the proceedings.

The charge sheet was signed by Inspector Thos. Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.

Mr. C. F. Gill (instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted), and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.

Mr. Gill said he appeared in the case for the Public Prosecutor.

Mr. Humphreys said he appeared for the prisoner.

Mr. Gill said he was there to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of inciting to commit or of committing certain gross indecencies under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. No good purpose would be served by going into these matters in an opening speech. He would merely indicate generally the character of the evidence he proposed to produce before Sir John, and the nature of the charges, while the, question of what he would be ultimately committed upon would depend upon the nature of the evidence produced. The first charge related to the conduct of the prisoner with the young man Charles Parker in 1893. Wilde was then staying at the Savoy Hotel, where he lived from April 2 to .March 29, and at the same time there was living at a place in Little College Street, Westminster, in the upper part of a house a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely connected with the prisoner Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged in acting for Wilde. Prisoner would be charged with conspiring with that man. Prisoner was in the habit of visiting that man Taylor at Little College Street, and his Worship would have evidence as to what took place at that address, where the prisoner Wilde was in the habit of going. Parker was a servant out of place, having been a valet, and was in the company of his brother William when they met Taylor at the St. James's Restaurant. Taylor was a stranger to them : he stood them drink, and invited them to visit him at Little College Street. Having got them to that place, he made certain suggestions, and mentioned Oscar Wilde as a man to whom he would introduce them. They met Wilde at a dinner at Kettner's, when Wilde made a selection of Parker, and went with him to the Savoy Hotel. The learned counsel described what took place there, and on subsequent occasions at two other addresses with Wilde. He gave Parker money, and visited him where he lived in Canova Square, till a woman noticing the appearance of the man Wilde, which once seen was not likely to be again forgotten, caused such trouble that Parker had to leave. Parker was now living a respectable life, and came as a most unwilling witness, but he had to do so. The learned counsel added that there were a number of other cases which would be gone into. The prisoner had already had an opportunity of giving his version of the affair, and he could do so again if he chose. It was a most unpleasant case to go into, but one of enormous public importance. It was enormously important that it should be known to those young men the prisoner had come in contact with that there was only one end to such a life as that of the prisoner Wilde, and that was at the hands of justice. He then proceeded to call evidence.

The man Taylor, who was arrested1 this morning, was brought into the dock and charged in order that he might hear the evidence. He is a young man twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, and very well dressed.

Evidence was then called, and The prisoners were remanded until Thursday next, bail being refused.

The Press Association states that 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, the occupation of which is provided for by 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 bonnd 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 prisoners at the jail awaiting trial.

The Marquis of Queeosberry wishes to correct the statement that has been published with regard to his message to Oscar Wilde. It has been reported that as soon as the trial ended Lord Queensberry sent the following message to Mr. Wilde :—" If the country allows you to leave, all the better for the country ; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you." This statement is not correct. The message was sent some days ago, and not after the trial ended. Lord Queensberry did not say he would shoot Mr. Wilde. What he said was that if he persuaded his misguided son to go with him, he would feel quite justified in following him (Wilde) and shooting him, did he feel inclined to do so, and were he worth the trouble.

A Reuter's New York telegram says :—The management of the Lyceum Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "An Ideal Husband," is now running, have decided to remove the author's name from the bills and programmes. Miss Rose Coghlan, who has been playing "A Woman of No Importance" in the Western States, has resolved to omit the play from her repertoire.

The Dublin Evening Mail - Saturday, April 6, 1895

London, Saturday.The doors of Bow street Police Court were besieged at a comparatively early hour this morning, it being known that 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 o’clock. Wilde was simultaneously brought up from the cells. He was attired in the 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 leaned forward upon the rail and listened attentively to Mr Gill’s opening.

Mr Gill, in opening the case for the prosecution, said there was a series of charges against the prisoner of gross criminality. After the case had been gone into he would state specifically on what charges he asked for the prisoner to be committed. The first case was that with regard to a young man named Charles Parker. The evidence would show that a man named Taylor, living in Little College street, was engaged as an agent for Wilde. The prisoner would be charged with conspiring with Taylor.

Charles Parker, a good-looking, well-dressed youth of 10, then entered the witness box, and was detailing the circumstances of his introduction by Alfred Taylor to the prisoner when Mr Gill caused a momentary flutter of excitement by announcing the arrest of Taylor. Pending his 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 was then examined at considerable length.

After some evidence from William Parker, brother to Charles, Mr Gil put into the box a witness against the prisoner Taylor—namely, Mrs Ellen Grant, 15 College street.

Alfred Wood, formerly a clerk, was next examined, and deposed that certain letters were handed to Wilde by him and paid for, and the witness went to America.

ANOTHER ARREST.

London, Saturday.The man Taylor, who is alleged to have acted as an agent for Oscar Wilde, was arrested this morning and taken to Bow street.

WILDE DISGRACED IN AMERICA.(REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.)

NEW YORK, SATURDAY.The management of the Lyceum Theatre, where Oscar Wilde’s play, "An Ideal Husband," is now running, have decided to remove the author’s name from the bills and programmer: Miss Rose Coghlan, who has been playing "A Woman of No Importance" in the Western States, has resolved to omit the play from her repertoire.

LORD A. DOUGLAS AND WILDE.

Lord A Douglas appears to have made an injudicious statement, in reference to which his uncle, the Hon and Rev A Douglas, writes:—"My nephew, Lord Douglas, was certainly not authorized 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."

LETTER FROM WILDE.

The London Evening News states that it has received the following letter from Mr Oscar Wilde, written on the 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 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 ignominy and shame might result from my prosecuting Lord Queensberry."

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