Compare Documents

London, April 6. - Crowds of people besieged the vicinity of Bow street early this morning and the police court was filled with interested spectators as soon as the doors were opened. 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.

C. F. Gill, who was Edward W. 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. When he reached the centre 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 he appeared to prosecute the prisoner. The prosecutor then related the charges against Wilde. Wilde moved restlessly in the dock and passed his hands across his face. Counsel for Wilde asked leave to postpone the cross-examination of one witness, as the evidence had taken them by surprise. This witness was then bound over to testify at the trial of Wilde, which is to take place in the Old Bailey.

Sir John Bridge remanded Wilde until Thursday. Counsel asked that his client, Wilde, be released on bail, but the magistrate declined to do so. Counsel persisted, saying he could offer substantial bail, but Sir John Bridge replied:

"It is not a case for bail at all."

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

The Marquis of Queensberry has authorized the Globe to deny that there is any truth in the story cabled to the United Press and published here by the Central News that he had written to Oscar Wilde after the trial saying:

"If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you."

[Copyright, 1893, by the New York World.]

LONDON, April 5. - The collapse of Oscar Wilde’s prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry, and Wilde’s arrest, have caused a sensation without parallel in London since the exposure and flight of forger Pigott during the sitting of the Parnell Commission. Still, since Wilde’s first day’s testimony, this result has been foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry.

Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the Judge would have had no recourse but must have issued a warrant for Wilde’s arrest on a charge entailing as the maximum a penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years’ imprisonment.

Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court building. Hitherto he has been dressed according to the latest dictates of fashion and faultlessly groomed. This morning his clothes were creased and tumbled as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes were bloodshot, his complexion was ghastly, and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.

DETESTED BY HIS LAWYERS.

That was the hollowest bluff. The truth is, Wilde’s chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday’s proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, sleepless night he passed.

Wilde’s lawyers say that up to that time he had never evinced the slightest appreciation of the enormity of the accusations against him. It was only when the imminent prospect of his taking Lord Queensberry's place in the dock dawned upon him that he lost self-command. The mass of testimony ready to be given against him, as foreshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely aback. The World correspondent bears that this testimony was tendered by the police to Lords Queensberry's lawyers, it having accumulated during their investigation. They had planned a public prosecution if the case had proceeded. It is rumored that one of the reasons why Sir Edward Clarke decided to stop the trial was that to go on would have involved the disclosure of the names of distinguished personnages, but this story is discredited.

If Wilde had escaped to the Continent he would have been safe from arrest, as he could not have been extradited under the charge. It was reported he had fled, but he was seen in Chelsea at 4 P.M. today and was arrested by 7 P.M. His wife is with her children at the family residence on Tite street. She is distracted with grief. Mrs. Wilde has about £500 a year of her own. For the last three years she has received no financial help from her husband.

WILDE GOOD TO HIS MOTHER.

Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary "at homes" once a week. She is seventy-five years old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish national newspaper, The Nation, for which she wrote over the name of "Speranza."

Oscar Wilde, as far as he had any political opinions, was a radical. Some years ago he was anxious to enter Parliament.

It should be recorded in his favor that he always was very good to his mother, and supplemented her small income after the success of his plays enabled him to do so. Two of Wilde's plays – "The Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" - are now running at London theatres. The former was to have been removed to the Criterion from Beerbohm Tree’s Theatre on Monday, but now it will be allowed to drop. The other, which is being played by Mr. Alexander, will cease immediately. Mr. Alexander has a piece ready to replace it. Ever since the police court proceedings the bookings for both pieces have steadily declined. The London public will never tolerate the performance of any more of Wilde’s plays. Thus his principal means of livelihood is gone. As he lived very extravagantly, he has saved nothing from the large income he has had for some years.

COLLAPSED IN COURT. The Jury Practically Decides That Oscar Wilde Is Guilty.

LONDON, April 5. - Oscar Wilde was arrested by detectives of Scotland Yard this afternoon on charges growing out of his own evidence given in the libel suit against Lord Queensberry, which was decided against the dramatist to-day. The warrant was issued on the application of Mr. Lewis on behalf of the public prosecutor.

After the trial this afternoon Wilde went to the Westminster Bank, where he drew out the funds to his account. He was constantly shadowed. He returned to his hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas only. Remaining a few minutes, they drove off to Ely place and thence to the Cadogan Hotel, where they vanished. The Scotland Yard authorities issued descriptions of Wilde and spread them over the city and he was captured before he could get out of the country, as was evidently his intention. He was taken to Scotland Yard and locked up.

Then he was taken to Bow street and placed in the dock at the police station. He stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. The Police Inspector then read the charge aloud, and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner, apparently indifferent, made no reply. He was then searched; after which he was locked in a cell.

Shortly afterwards a friend arrived in a carriage with a small satchel containing a change of clothing and other necessaries, but the police refused to permit him to leave it. Later Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The Police Inspector explained that Wilde was arrested for a criminal offense, which does not allow of bail being accepted until he has been arraigned in court. Lord Alfred seemed greatly distressed by this information, and he was told Wilde had a blanket and other requisites in his cell to be as comfortable as the police regulations permit.

Sworn informations have been lodged against several persons mentioned in the trial, some of whose names were not made public. They will be arrested.

The Old Bailey Courtroom was crowded almost to suffocation this morning when Mr. Carson resumed his speech in behalf of the Marquis of Queensberry. It would be his painful duty, he said, to put upon the witness-stand men who would speak freely of the plaintiff Wilde.

Mr. Carson said he would produce overwhelming evidence of the immorality of this man Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr. Carson and said that he had undertaken a great responsibility in defending Wilde against the charges made against him by the Marquis of Queensberry. In regard to the literature which Wilde had publish and upon which Mr. Carson had questioned him, he (Sir Edward) had come to the painful conclusion that it could not be expected that the jury would find a verdict of guilty on the actual words used by the defendant to the effect that Wilde was posing as a devotee of immorality. He had consulted Wilde in the interim of the adjournment of court, and in order to save the Court the painful details connected with the rest of the case, he was prepared to accept the verdict of the jury in regard to Wilde’s literature.

The Judge interposed and said that if the jury was justified in agreeing upon a verdict on one part of the case, it must return a verdict of guilty or not guilty as regards the entire case.

The jury then rendered a verdict of not guilty, to which Sir Edward Clarke assented, and the jury supplemented the verdict with a declaration that the charges made by the defendant against Wilde, which constituted the libel complained of, were true and that they had been made in the public interest.

When the verdict was rendered the Marquis of Queensberry left the dock amid loud cheers, and the Judge granted the order requiring Wilde to pay the costs of the defense.

Wilde was not in court this morning. With regard to Beerbohm Tree Sir Edward Clarke agreed with Mr. Carson and the Judge that Mr. Tree could not properly have acted otherwise than he did. The Marquis of Queensberry’s solicitors sent to the Public Prosecutor copies of the statements of all the witnesses the defense intended to call to the stand, together with a full report of the trial so far as it had gone.

WILDE'S EXPLANATION. Says He Could Not Put Lord Alfred Douglas on the Stand.

LONDON, April 5. - The evening News to-day received the following letter from Oscar Wilde, written upon note paper of the Holborn Viaduct Hotel:

It would have been impossible for me to have proved my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box against his father. He was extremely anxious to go into the witness box, but I would not let him. Rather than put him in so painful a position I determined to withdraw from the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever ignominy and shame might result from my prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry. OSCAR WILDE.

The reports previously cabled in regard to Mr. Beerbohm Tree's connection with the case were inaccurate. Mr. Carson explained to the court last evening that Mr. Tree received a copy of a letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, and thereupon sent for Wilde and handed him the copy. Mr. Carson said that Mr. Tree had cabled this information to him and it tallied perfectly with the account given by Wilde in the witness box. Mr. Carson added that he thought Mr. Tree had acted perfectly right in the matter.

The Judge said that there was not the smallest ground for any suggestion adverse to Mr. Tree, who had acted with perfect propriety.

A reporter visited this afternoon the Haymarket and St. James Theatres, where Oscar Wilde's plays are running. Mr. Morell, one of the managers of the Haymarket, in reply to a question of how the result of the case would affect future business, said he would rather not express an opinion. He said, however, that Wilde's name had been taken out of the bills and advertisements of "An Ideal Husband," and that from this the public could form its own conclusions.

George Alexander, manager of the St. James Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," is running, said: "When the scandal was first rumored business here was slightly affected, but it is now normal. Wilde's name has been removed from the bills and advertisements of his comedy. Whether the trial will cause a change in business in the future remains to be seen."

In an interview the Marquis of Queensberry said: "I have sent this message to Wilde: ‘If you leave the country, all the better for the country, but if you take my son with you I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"