The Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Thursday, April 4, 1895

London, April 4– The prosecution in the libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry was concluded to-day, after Wilde has been under cross examination yesterday and to-day altogether for six hours. He was briefly put under the redirect by his counsel before resting his case. In opening for the defense, Mr. Carson, counsel for the marquis, bitterly arraigned Wilde and stated the nature of the defense which will be an attempt to prove the charges which Queensberry made in the libel alleged. Most of the London papers are printing the testimony of the suit almost verbatim. The St. James Gazette is an exception and had taken a stand editorially against such publication.

During the course of his remarks in opening the defense, Mr. Carson alluded in complimentary terms in the course of Mr. Beerbohm Tree in forwarding to the plaintiff a copy of the anonymous letter handed to the English actor, whereupon Justice Collins said: "There is no occasion to mention the name of Mr. Beerbohn Tree."

Mr. Carson, in reply, remarked, "Nor should I do so, my lord, had it not been that I received a cable message from Mr. Tree to-day, asking that his connection with the case be fully explained."

"Every one understands that Mr. Tree’s connection with the case is in every way honorable and praiseworthy." said the justice, in conclusion.

Wilde returned to the court room for a few minutes before adjournment. Among the letter produced in court and addressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, was one saying that Wilde was "a cur and a coward." Such was the interest taken in the proceedings that the services of an extra force of police were required outside the Old Bailey in order to disperse the large crowds which assembled in the neighborhoood in order to see the principals in this notorious case.

The Washington Times - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, April 4. -- The second day's hearing of the Wilde-Queensbury libel suit was attended by a number of notable persons, and the plaintiff's side of the case was called.

Wilde, in his answers to the questions put to him, exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. He also lost his temper. Mr. Carson's questions were, in the main, pitiless and unprintable.

Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, then began the redirect examination of his client by putting in certain letters of the Marquis of Queensberry, in which he called upon his son, Lord Alfred Douglass, to cease his "infamous intimacy" with the plaintiff, saying that his "blood turned cold at the sight of their infamous faces." He added, "If you do not cease to let him disgrace us, I shall feel justified in shooting him on sight."

To this letter Lord Alfred Douglass replied by telegraph to his father, saying:

"What a funny little man you are."

After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed, and Mr. Carson began his speech for the defense. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the courtroom as soon as counsel for the defendant began to speak.

The speech of Mr. carson for the defense lasted until the court adjourned at 5 p. m., and was not finished at that time. He carefully reviewed the evidence, point by point, denounced Wilde, and said that the witnesses he would produce would prove to the jury beyond any doubt the guilt of the plaintiff.

During the course of his remarks Mr. Carson alluded in complimentary terms to the course of Mr. Beerbohm Tree in forwarding to the plaintiff a copy of the anonymous letter handed to the English actor, whereupon Justice Collins said:

"There is no occasion to mention the name of Mr. Beerbohm Tree."

Mr. Carson in reply remarked: "Nor should I do so, my lord, had it not been that I received a cable message from Mr. Tree to-day asking that his connection with the case be fully explained."

"Every one understands that Mr. Tree's connection with the case is in every way honourable and praiseworthy," said the justice, in conclusion.

Wilde returned to the courtroom for a few minutes before the adjournment.

Among the letters produced in court and addressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglass, was one saying that Wilde was "a cur and a coward of the Rosebery type."

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