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Grey River Argus - Friday, April 5, 1895
Immense crowds attend the trial of the Marquis of Queensbery on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde. Evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis's son) which were found in the pockets of old clothes when given away. The defence is based on the revelations contained in these letters.
The Press - Friday, April 5, 1895
LONDON, April 4.
Immense crowds attend the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde. The evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis's son), which were found in the pockets of his old clothes when given away. The defence is based on the revelations in these letters.
Mr Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Douglas as the natural expression of an artist attracted by a beautiful personality. The Marquis of Queensberry visited his residence and threatened Wilde, to which that gentleman responded with "You are the most infamous brute in London."
Wilde was subjected to stringent cross-examination with the view of showing that "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine, the Chameleon, with which he is connected, were of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they were merely the expression of an artistic faculty. His letters to Lord Alfred Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted that he gave one of his alleged blackmailers £21 and lunched with him in a private room afterwards.
The case was adjourned, the defendant being admitted to bail.