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LONDON, April 6.––Although Oscar Wilde is languishing in jail as a criminal without bail on a heinous charge, he still has a number of influential friends who are zealous in his defense, notwithstanding that number of influential friends who are zealous in his defence, notwithstanding that they are intimate enough with him to know most of the secrets of his private life.

Lord Douglas of Hawick, second and eldest living son of the Marquis of Queensberry, is one of these. He is altogether the manliest looking of these. Before the death of his elder brother, Viscount Drumlanrig, he was well and favorably known as plain Percy Douglas. He has an unsmirched reputation and entirely differs in every respect from his effeminate next younger brother, Lord Alfred Douglas. Since his return from Australia last fall Lord Douglas of Hawick has been an almost constant associate of Oscar Wilde. In an interview this afternoon he said that every one in his family, excepting his father, has refused to believe the accusations against Wilde. He himself he said, was willing at any time to go upon the witness stand in Wilde’s behalf, and he was vehement in his denunciation of Wilde's Counsel for having withdrawn the suit.

No matter what may be the outcome of the case, whether Wilde goes free or is sent to prison, the death knell of Wildeism has been rung and the corpse is prepared for burial. The prurient plays of Wilde and the cognate productions, "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," and "The Notorious Mrs. Ebbsmith," which are now called "Dinerotic," are doomed, and there is a strong reaction towards a healthier treatment of stage representations, while the current decadent literature will also get a setback.

Archibald Edward Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter repudiating the statement made to-day in the course of an interview by Lord Douglas of Hawick, eldest living son of the Marquis, to the effect that no member of the family except his father believes the charges against Wilde. In refutation of this statement the writer of the letter says:

"My mother, my sister and myself believe the allegations made against Oscar Wilde."

The charge against Wilde is meantime being prosecuted under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, which classes his offense as a misdemeanor, the maximum penalty for which is two years imprisonment for each conviction.

Manager Frohman announces that Oscar Wilde’s play, "An Ideal Husband," will be withdrawn from the Lyceum Theatre after this week.

London, April 6. - Oscar Wilde was arraigned before a magistrate this morning. His friend, Alfred Taylor, was arrested and taken to the Bow-st. police station. When Wilde was arraigned in the Bow-st. Police Court this morning Taylor was also placed in the prisoner’s dock. As Taylor stepped into the dock, Wilde smilingly recognized him. Taylor is a man of medium size, with sharp features and a fair complexion. Wilde and Taylor were remanded in custody. A request was made that the prisoners be admitted to bail, but the bail was refused.

Charles Parker, nineteen years old, was the first witness examined. He gave in detail the particulars of his introduction to Wilde by Taylor, and said that the latter told him Wilde was "good for money." Parker told the story which, if true, proves the case of the Treasury against Wilde. Counsel for Wilde and Taylor reserved their right to cross-examine Parker.

William Parker, a brother of the first witness called, was placed on the stand and confirmed the story of the first meeting between his brother and Wilde, in March, 1893.

Charles Parker was bound over in the sum of £85 to give evidence in the Old Bailey proceedings.

The landlady of the house in which Taylor lodged was next examined, and gave testimony regarding the youths who attended the tea parties given by Taylor. She said she had heard Taylor address somebody as "Oscar," but did not recognize Wilde as having been one of her lodger’s visitors.

Alfred Wood, the man whose passage to America was paid by Wilde, testified that he met Wilde at the Café Royal in January, 1893. He went to Wilde's house, No. 16 Tite-st., Chelsea, S.W. He said he was drunk at the time of this visit. Wilde, he said, had often given money to him, and had visited him at his lodgings, but he strenuously denied any wrongdoing. In regard to this point the witness was strongly pressed by the magistrate, but reiterated his denials of misconduct. Wilde had given £35 to him altogether, on the receipt of which sum he had handed over to Wilde a number of letters written by him. Subsequently he went to America, remaining abroad fourteen months. He desired to go to America he said, to get away from Wilde and certain other persons, who are now absent from England.

The next witness was a youth named Mavor, who absolutely denied that there had been anything wrong in his relations with Wilde.

Archibald Edward Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter repudiating the statement made today in the course of an interview by Lord Douglas of Hawick, eldest living son of the Marquis, to the effect that no member of the family except his father believes the charges against Wilde. In refutation of this statement the writer of the letter says:"My mother, my sister and myself believe the allegations made against Oscar Wilde."

The charge against Wilde is being prosecuted under the Criminal Law Amendment act, which classes his offence is a misdemeanor, the maximum penalty for which is two years’ imprisonment for each conviction.

"AN IDEAL HUSBAND" SHELVED HERE

Daniel Frohman has decided to withdraw "An Ideal Husband" after this week and will produce at the Lyceum Theatre on next Tuesday, April 16, a new play adapted from the French by Frederick Horner entitled "Fortune." This play will employ the following ladies and gentlemen of the Lyceum Theatre Company: Miss Isabel Irving, Miss Rhoda Cameron, Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, Herbert Kelcey, W.J. Le Moyne, Charles Walcot, Fritz Williams, Stephen Grattan, W.S. Hale, Ferdinand Gottschaik and Ernest Tarleton.