The Chicago Tribune - Sunday, April 7, 1895

London, April 6. - [Copyright, 1895, by the Press Publishing Company, New York World.] - Oscar Wilde's real or assumed indifference during the frightful revelations in court today was, if assumed, an excellent piece of acting. It seems absolutely certain he will be convicted and the minimum penalty is ten years’ imprisonment with a maximum penal servitude for life. Public opinion will certainly demand an exemplary sentence. Sympathy is felt for Mrs. Wilde, who is an estimable woman, and for his two beautiful children. A curious feature of English law is that even if the husband be convicted and sent into penal servitude Mrs. Wilde cannot get a divorce on either ground. It is a coincidence that Oscar Wilde, Mr. Carson and Mr. Gill, leading counsel against him, as well as Judge Collins, who tried the case, are all Irishmen and all graduates of Trinity College. Carson, who was Balfour's right-hand man throughout his coercive régime in Ireland, was contemporary with Wilde at the university.

BALLARD SMITH.

New York, April 6. - [Special.] - Mrs. Frank Leslie, once the wife of William Wilde, has known Oscar Wilde and his family fifteen years. When the libel suit began Mrs. Leslie predicted that Mr. Wilde would win his case.

"I suppose I am to be classed as a false prophet," Mrs. Leslie said today. "But I must judge Mr. Wilde only as I know him - that is, as a dignified, high-minded man, a perfect son, a kind, considerate husband, and a doting, affectionate parent. I cannot imagine why he gave up the battle when surrender meant a practical admission of guilt. His wife is one of the sweetest and purest as well as one of the most beautiful women I ever knew. She is devotedly attached to her husband and is in every way a woman to be admired. They have two fine, manly boys - Vivian and Clarence, 11 and 13 years old - and to the rearing of these boys and to devotion to her husband she has given her life. She has educated them herself; they have never been to school."

The Daily Inter Ocean - Sunday, April 7, 1895

LONDON, April 6. -- Crowds of people filled the Bow street neighborhood early this morning, and the police court was packed with interested spectators as soon as the doors were opened. Among those who succeeded in pressing through the crowd was one good-looking middle-aged woman. All were anxious to see Oscar Wilde, whose arrest yesterday, following close upon the sensational termination of his suit for libel against the Marquis of Queensberry, is discussed on all sides.

Mr. C. F. Gill, who was Mr. Edward M. Carson's junior counsel in the defense of the Marquis of Queensberry, acted as prosecutor today for the Treasury Department. Sir John Bridge, the presiding magistrate, took his seat on the bench at 11 o'clock. The doors leading to the cells were then opened and Wilde was seen approaching, carrying a silk hat in his hand.

Still Insolent in His Manner.

When Wilde reached the center of the prisoners' dock he deposited his hat on the seat, bowed to Sir John Bridge, folded his arms, and leaned on the rail of the dock in the same insolent manner which he displayed while on the witness stand in the Old Bailey.

Mr. Gill said that he appeared to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of committing and inciting others to commit crimes. A young man named Parker was then called to the stand, but the proceedings were interrupted by the official announcing that the man Taylor had been arrested. A few moments later Taylor was brought into court and placed in the dock beside Wilde, who nodded to him.

Parker was then examined and related at length, giving the most minute details of his associations with Wilde. While he was giving this testimony Wilde moved restlessly in the dock and passed his hands across his face. Parker added that he was arrested with Taylor in the raid in 18914 in the house in Fitzroy Square, but he claimed that he had since abandoned his evil life.

Counsel for Wilde asked leave to postpone the cross-examination of Parker, as the evidence had taken them by surprise. Parker was then bound over to testify at the trial of Wilde.

Mrs. Grant Startles the Court.

The woman previously referred to as having entered the courtroom early this morning was the next witness. She gave her name as Mrs. Grant and said that she let rooms to Taylor, who, she added, was visited by a number of young men. When Mrs. Grant was asked to state the ages of these young men she replied that they were from 16 upward. The statement caused a sensation in court.

Mrs. Grant was then asked if she could identify Wilde as a visitor to Taylor's rooms. She replied that she could not. Thereupon Sir John Bridge said brusquely:

"Wilde, stand up."

Wilde arose, but the witness was still unable to recognize him. But, replying to counsel's questions, she said that she remembered Taylor addressed one visitor as "Oscar." Replying to further questions Mrs. Grant said that Taylor's rooms were well furnished and highly perfumed. Taylor, she added, dressed effeminately.

Alfred Woods, a slim young man, was then called to the stand. He testified that Taylor introduced him to Wilde in January, 1893, and that Wilde gave him a great deal of money and a watch and chain. Witness also said that soon afterward he told Taylor that he wanted to "get away from Wilde and other people."

Counsel, interrupting, said:

"Let us deal with the case of Wilde alone. But, I believe there were other people present at these gatherings."

The witness replied yes, and that one or two of them have left the country. The witness added that Taylor told Wilde that he (the witness) wanted to go to America, whereupon Wilde asked to have certain letters returned to him. When he received these letters Wilde gave the witness £35. The witness (Woods) then went to America.

Sidney Maver, a good-looking youth, followed Woods upon the witness stand. He testified that he met Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas at Taylor's rooms. A masseur at the Savoy Hotel next testified.

Willie Wilde a Spectator.

Willie Wilde, Oscar Wilde's brother, entered the courtroom at this stage of the proceedings, and listened to the remainder of the evidence from the back of the room.

After a chambermaid of the Savoy Hotel had given evidence Sir John Bridge remanded Wilde until Thursday next. Counsel asked that his client, Wilde, be released on bail, but the magistrate declined to do so. Counsel persisted, saying that he could offer substantial bail, but Sir John Bridge replied:

"It is not a case for bail."

Rev. Archibald Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter saying that the statement credited to Lord Douglas, of Hawick, eldest son of the Marquis, published in an interview in the Leader today, to the effect that every member of the family of the Marquis of Queensberry, except the latter, disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges made against Oscar Wilde, is unauthorized by his mother, his sister, or himself. Rev. Archibald Douglas adds:

"We certainly believe the charges made against Wilde."

The Sun, of this city, says that another sensational arrest is probable before Thursday next, the day when Oscar Wilde will be brought up at Bow Street Police Court on demand.

Week of Sensations In England.

LONDON, April 6.-Copyright, 1895, by the Associated Press.-With the Wilde-Queensberry and Russell vs. Russell cases in the courts here, the burning to death of a woman in Ireland under extraordinary circumstances by her husband and other relatives on the ground that she was bewitched, the shooting of a girl by her lover in the streets of London, and the man's subsequent suicide, one would have thought that the English press had enough to do in correcting its own morals this week. But these events have not disturbed the usual self-sufficient tendency to lecture the United States. The DaiLy News and other newspapers attribute the result of the Chicago election entirely to the work of Messrs. Stead and Burns.

Naturally the Wilde disclosures continue to be the absorbing topic of conversation at the clubs. The stand taken by the St. James Gazette in refusing to print the details of the case is attracting much attention and the paper has been deluged with letters of approval. The action of the St. James Gazette is likely to prove a good stroke of business for the proprietors of that publication. On Thursday last, the second day of the trial, in place of the usual news placards which all newsboys display, the placard of the St. James Gazette read:

The only paper in London with no details of the Wilde case.

Carson Was Wilde's Classmate.

Mr. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., M. P., who so ably and relentlessly conducted the case for the Marquis of Queensberry, was a classmate of Oscar Wilde at Trinity College, Dublin. The presiding judge, Justice Collins, also is an Irishman.

Wilde has been making immense sums of money lately out of his plays and books. His plays are now running at two London theaters, and many companies are producing them in the provinces. Of course in future no one will accept his plays.

Mr. George Alexander, proprietor and manager of the St. James Theater, said last night that if it were not for the fact that the withdrawal of Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," would throw 120 persons out of employment he would at once stop it. Therefore, unless the theater-going public manifests its displeasure with the author by refusing to witness his works the play at the St. James will be continued as usual.

Another of Wilde's plays, which is now running at the Haymarket Theater, will after this week be transferred to the Criterion Theater. The author's name in both cases will be omitted from the bills and advertisements in future.

MRS. FRANK LESLIE IS HIS CHAMPION.

She Has a High Opinion of the Disgraced Oscar Wilde.

NEW YORK, April 6. -- Special Telegram. --

Mrs. Frank Leslie, once the wife of William Wilde, has known Oscar Wilde and his family fifteen years. When the libel suit began Mrs. Leslie predicted that Mr. Wilde would win his case.

"I suppose I am to be classed as a false prophet," Mrs. Leslie said today. "But I must judge Mr. Wilde only as I know him, that is, as a dignified, high-minded gentleman, a perfect son, a kind, considerate husband, and a doting, affectionate parent. I cannot imagine why he gave up the battle, when surrender meant a practical admission of guilt.

"Mr. Wilde likes to pose and likes to talk to a crowd. He talks as his characters do in his plays. His conversation bristles with epigrams and bright sayings. For instance, he once said that abuse is better than not to be noticed at all. Poor man, I fear that he is now realizing the falsity of this saying. One of the most charming phases of Mr. Wilde's character is his love and devotion to his mother, who is 75 years old. I fear the news of her son's distress will kill her. He leaves nothing undone to add to her comfort. When he called upon me last summer at my London house his eyes swelled with tears as he told of his mother's illness. This great, strong man spoke of her with pitiful tenderness.

"If Mr. Wilde is acquitted you may be sure he will return to his friends with open arms. Idle and groundless gossip is afloat about everybody in London."

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar