West Coast Times - 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' son) which were found in the pockets of old clothes when given away. The defence is based on revelations in these letters.

Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with the view of showing "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine "Chameleon" with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they are merely the expression of an artistic faculty. His letters to Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted he gave one of his alleged blackmailers £21 and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case was adjourned, defendant being admitted to bail.

Nelson Evening Mail - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, April 4.

Oscar Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination, with a view of showing "Dorian Grey" and some articles in the magazine 'Chameleon,' with which he is connected, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they are 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 alleged blackmailers £21 and lunched with him in a private room afterwards. The case was adjourned, the defendant being admitted to bail.

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