The Chicago Tribune - Tuesday, May 28, 1895

London, May 27. - [New York World Special Cable.] - Oscar Wilde after sentence Saturday was taken to Holloway Jail, in the northern part of London, where all his money and valuables were removed by the Warden. He was stripped to his shirt, and an officer wrote down in the prison ledgers a minute account of his appearance, distinctive marks, color of his eyes and hair, his complexion, and any peculiarities, such as a broken finger, tattoo marks, moles, etc. Then he was put in a hot bath and his shirt, the last vestige of his days of freedom, was removed. Emerging from the water he found a full suit of prison clothes ready for him, from under linen to loose shoes, and a hideous Scotch cap. The clothes are of a dirty drab canvas, plentifully adorned with broad arrows. Shortly afterwards he ate his first real prison meal, an allowance of thin porridge and a small brown loaf. Then he was taken to Pentonville, hard by Holborn Viaduct, the prison for convicted criminals.

He was examined physically with great care, since upon the medical officer's report will depend what labor he is set to. If passed sound and fit for first-class hard labor he will take his first month's exercise on the tread-wheel six hours daily, making an ascent of 6,000 feet in twenty minutes, continuously, and then five minutes' rest. During the first month while on the wheel Wilde will sleep on a plank bed, a bare board raised a few inches above the floor and supplied with sheets. Clean sheets are given to each prisoner, two rugs, and a coverlet, but no mattress. He will be allowed no communication with the outside, except by special permission, until he has completed three months of his sentence, and then he may write and receive one letter and be visited for twenty minutes by three friends. While Oscar Wilde's case has absorbed public attention for weeks the records of the London police courts show the offense of which he was convicted comes frequently before magistrates.

The Marquis of Queensberry declares if the Treasury does not reimburse him the £5,000 expended by him in defense of the libel suit which led to the present prosecution he will ask some member to bring the question before Parliament.

Calgary Herald - Saturday, June 1, 1895

London, May 31. — Oscar Wilde, after sentence on Saturday, was taken to Holloway jail, in the northern part of London, where all his money and valuables were removed by the warden. He was stripped of his own clothes and an officer wrote down in the prison ledgers a minute count of his appearance. Then he was put into a hot bath, and emerging from the water he found a full suit of prison clothes ready for him, consisting of under linen, loose choses, and a hideous Scotch cap, etc. The clothes are made of dirty drab canvas, and are plentifully adorned with broad arrows. Wilde shortly afterwards ate his first real prison meal, an allowance of thin porridge and a small brown loaf. Then he was taken to Pentonville, hard by Holborn Viaduct, a prison used for convicted criminals.

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