The Indianapolis News - Thursday, April 4, 1895

London, April 4. -- There was unabated interest to-day at the Old Bailey in the taking of testimony on the second day of the trial of the suit for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry, but there were few notable persons present. The plaintiff arrived in court at an early hour and took his seat at the table reserved for the solicitors. The Marquis of Queensberry entered a few minutes later, looking jaunty and confident.

Mr. Carson's cross-examination of the plaintiff was concluded at noon, after having lasted, including the time of yesterday, over six hours. Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, then began the examination of his client.

After the noon recess the crowd in the court room was larger than ever, and the hall and stairs leading to it were filled ten deep with well-dressed men, who were awaiting a chance to enter. The Marquis of Queensberry lunched with several of his friends, and the sympathy of all present in court seems to be with him. Wilde kept the court waiting for ten minutes, for which he apologized to Justice Collins, saying that he had been consulting his doctor. 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 court room as soon as the counsel for the defendant began to speak.

The Philadelphia Times - Friday, April 5, 1895

LONDON, April 4.

There was unabated interested to-day at the Old Bailey in the taking of testimony on the second day of the trial for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry. The audience was largely composed of lawyers and reporters. There were few notable persons present. The plaintiff arrived in court at an early hour and took his seat at the table reserved for the Solicitors. The Marquis of Queensberry entered a few minutes later, looking jaunty and confident. Several of his friends rushed forward and shook the defendant's hand as he entered the dock.

Oscar Wilde, upon resuming his place on the witness stand, admitted that he had attended tea parties in the rooms of a man named Taylor, which were artistically furnished, and in which perfumes were burning. He denied, however, that he had seen Taylor in a woman's costume.

OSCAR BECOMES CONFUSED.

Wilde in his answers to the questions put to him exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. He also lost his temper. Mr. Carson's cross-examination of the plaintiff was concluded at noon, after having lasted, including the time of yesterday, over six hours. 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 Douglas, to cease his association with the plaintiff, saying that his "blood turned cold at the sight of the 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 Douglas replied by telegraph to his father, saying, "What a funny little man you are!"

After the noon recess the crowd in the court room was larger than ever, and the hall and stairs leading to it were filled ten deep with well-dressed men, who were awaiting a chance to enter. The Marquis of Queenberry lunched with several of his friends and the sympathy of all present in court seemed to be with him. Wilde kept the court waiting for ten minutes, for which he apologized to Justice Collins, saying that he had been consulting his doctor.

THE DEFENSE OPENED.

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 court room as soon as counsel for the defendant began to speak. The speech of Mr. Carson 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 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 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."

"Everyone understands that Mr. Tree's connection with the case is in every way honorable and praiseworthy," said the Justice in conclusion.

WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS SAY.

Most of the newspapers are printing the testimony in the suit verbatim, but the character of the testimony is such to-day that the St. James Gazette says: "The nature of the evidence and the whole circumstances of the case prove to be of such a character that we connot report it."

The St. James Gazette adds: "The English public is at the present moment involved in one of those orgies of indecency permitted by the operation of open law courts and an enterprising press." The Gazette urges that all such cases should be heard in camera.

Among the letters 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 of the Rosebery type." Such was the interest taken in the proceedings to-day 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 neighborhood in order to see the principals in his notorious case.

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