Compare Documents

LONDON, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the Marquis of Queensberry surrendered to bail, and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the Marquis of Queensberry with libel by leaving, in February last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle Club, on which card were written certain foul epithets. As a result Mr. Wilde on March 2 caused the arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, and the latter, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, was placed under £1,500 bail.

Rumors were current in London yesterday that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left the city in order to avoid being present in court today, and reports were also current that a startling development would arise today. But both these rumors were set at rest by the arrival in court of the principals to the suit. The Marquis was placed in the dock, and answered to the indictment by pleading first, not guilty, and secondly, that the libel was true, and that it was published for the public good. The Marquis seemed unconcerned and, replying to the questions put to him, spoke quietly and clearly.

Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor General, in opening the case, said that the card left at the Albemarle Club for Mr. Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis of Queensberry, and it was upon this that the libel was written. Certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, were brought to plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress, and Mr. Wilde gave him £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Beerbohm Tree, the actor, who gave it to the plaintiff. Counsel then recounted the facts already known in the case, showing that Mr. Wilde, who had recently returned from Algiers, drove up to the Albemarle Club at about 5 p.m. Feb. 28, and on entering the club he was handed an envelope by the hall porter. Inside the envelope plaintiff found a card, on the back of which was the date "4:30, 18. 2. 95," and on this card were written certain foul epithets, which formed the basis of the suit. Oscar Wilde was then called and he languidly arose from the solicitor's table, where he was seated, and entered the witness box. Wilde spoke with his customary drawl, leaning his arms upon the rail of the witness box and replying distinctly to the questions addressed to him. Counsel for the plaintiff asked the witness about the man to whom he had given £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Witness said: "The man told me he had been offered £60 for the letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it. But finally I gave him the money in order to relieve his distress and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed to Justice Collins. The cross-questioning was very severe and, though the witness emphatically denied having done anything improper, he became troubled and confused, so that at one time it seemed as though he was about to faint. His cross-examination was not finished when court adjourned for the day.

London, April 3. - Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the Marquis of Queensberry surrendered to bail and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the Marquis of Queensberry with libel by leaving Feb. 28 an uncovered card at the Albermarle club, on which were written certain foul epithets. As a result Mr. Wilde March 2 caused the arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, and the latter, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, was placed under £1,500 ($7,500) bail. The Marquis answered to the indictment by pleading, first, not guilty, and, secondly, that the libel was true, and that it was the published for the public good. The Marquis seemed unconcerned, and replying to the questions put to him he spoke quietly and clearly.

Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor-General, in opening the case, said the card left at the Albemarle club for Mr. Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis of Queensberry, and it was upon this that the libel was written. Continuing counsel said certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, were brought to plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress, and Mr. Wilde gave him £20 ($100) with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Beerbohm Tree, who gave it to the plaintiff. Counsel then recounted the facts already known in the case.

Oscar Is Languid.

Oscar Wilde was then called and he languidly arose from the solicitor’s table, where he was seated, and entered the witness box. The plaintiff was faultlessly dressed in a long black frock coat and carried his gloves in his hand, showing his fingers to be covered with rings. He was pale, but was seemingly composed. Wilde spoke with his customary drawl, leaning his arms upon the rail of the witness box and replying distinctly to the questions addressed to him. The jury, which was composed of intelligent men of elderly appearance, mainly prosperous tradesmen, eyed him with curiosity. Counsel for the plaintiff asked the witness about the man to whom he had given £20 ($100) with which to pay his passage to America. Witness said:

"The man told me he had been offered £60 ($300) for the letter and I advised him to immediately accept it. But finally I gave him the money in order to relieve his distress and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed to Justice Collins. The letter referred to the "rose-red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglas, and the writer addressed him as "My own boy" and asked "Why are you alone in London?" The letter was signed "With undying love, Oscar."

Counsel, in explaining this letter, said it might seem extravagant to those who were in the habit of writing commercial letters; but he added, it was mere poetry.

Reads Oscar's Book.

Interest in the case was heightened when Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the direct examination of his client, turned the latter over to E. H. Carson, Q. C., M. P., counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry, for cross-examination. Mr. Carson began the presentation of the case for the Marquis by reading passages from "Dorian Gray," one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life. The plaintiff followed counsel with a copy of the book.

Wilde testified to the fact that the man to whom he gave £20 ($100) on receipt of the letter in which he has referred to the "rose-red lips" of Lord Alfred Douglas, which amount was used to pay his passage to America, was named Wood. Replying to other questions put to him by Mr. Carson Wilde said the letter to Lord Alfred was merely poetical, and he added that he had undying love for Lord Alfred, who, he said, was his best friend. The man Wood, he added, was introduced to him by Lord Alfred Douglas, who asked him to befriend the man. Wilde and Wood, it was also shown by the cross-examination, addressed each other by their Christian names.

It was also developed during the cross-examination that Wilde was concerned merely with literature, beauty, wit, and emotion. He rarely thought if anything he wrote was true; indeed, he might say never, in regard to "Dorian Gray."

Sir Edward Clarke objected to Mr. Carson cross-examining his client on that novel, as it appeared in an American magazine and not as it was published in England. Wilde thereupon descended from the witness box and whispered a few words to his counsel, after which Sir Edward Clarke withdrew his objection. The cross-examination was severe.

Oscar Doesn't Care.

Mr. Carson drew out Wilde’s opinions regarding literature in general, to which line of cross-examination the plaintiff made many smart responses in the same line as in his plays.

"The interpretation of my work does not concern me," said Wilde. "I do not care ‘tuppence’ for what Philistines think about me."

Wilde, however, emphatically denied that he had done anything improper, but he was troubled and confused under the terrible cross-examination to which he was subjected and frequently drank water. In fact, he seemed ready to faint and a chair was placed inside the witness stand for his use. Throughout the questioning of the plaintiff the Marquis of Queensberry stood facing him and did not take his eyes off the man in the witness box.

The cross-examination of Wilde was not finished when the court adjourned for the day at 5 p.m. A large crowd of people assembled about the Old Bailey in order to see Wilde leave the court.