Nelson Evening Mail - Monday, April 8, 1895

London, April 6.

Oscar Wilde has been arrested.

Oscar Wilde publishes a letter stating that he abandoned the case in order to avoid placing Lord Douglas in the witness box. After a warrant had been issued for Wilde's arrest, the police detained three essential witnesses; Lord Douglas and two men remained in conference with Wilde at the Viaduct Hotel for several hours after the trial, and lunched together in a private room. Subsequently they drove to a bank, where Wilde withdrew a large sum of money. He was then lost sight of until arrested in the evening at an hotel in Sloane-street. Lord Douglas was much distressed when he found he was unable to bail him out. After the trial the Marquis of Queensberry sent Oscar Wilde a message stating that he would shoot him if he took his son abroad. Taylor has also been arrested, and will be charged in conjunction with Wilde. The latter's name has been withdrawn from the playbills of the London and American theatres.

[Special.]

April 4.

In the course of his evidence, Oscar 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 the latter responded with "You are the most infamous brute in London!"

Evening Post - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, 4th April.

At the trial of the Marquis of Queensbery on the charge of libelling Oscar Wilde, the plaintiff was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with the view of showing that "Dorian Grey," and some articles in the magazine Chameleon, with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they were merely an expression of 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 blackmailers £21, and lunched with him in a private room afterwards.

The case has been adjourned, and the defendant admitted to bail.

[SPECIAL.]

London, 4th April.

In the course of his evidence, Mr. Wilde explained the effusive language of the letters addressed to Lord Alfred 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 the latter responded with—"You are the most infamous brute in London!"

Latest.United Press Association.(Received April 5, 11.45 a.m.)

London, 4th April.

In cross examination Wilde admitted that he was acquainted with young men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins. Taylor had on separate occasions introduced him to five young men, to whom witness had given money, but he was not aware that any of them were gentlemen's servants. He derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, happy people. Witness had frequently been in Taylor's room. He was aware that both Taylor and Parker had once been arrested, but he had continued their friendship. Once he took Atkins and a youth named Price to Paris, and introduced them to another youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas when making a voyage to Australia. Witness had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he liked them.

Letters read in Court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavouring to stop his son visiting Wilde. The son wired back to his father that Wilde was a funny little man. The Marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, when a furious scene took place. The latter denied the charges levelled against him, and showed the Marquis the door.

Wilde said he wrote to the Marquis complaining that his wife encouraged his son's visits. Wilde's friendship with Lady Queensberry and her sons remained unbroken. Certain letters from the youths already named showed that the writers were poverty-stricken, some imploring assistance or employment.

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar