The New York Times - Friday, April 12, 1895

LONDON, April 11. -- The Chief Librarian authorizes the United Press to deny the statement circulated yesterday that books written b y Oscar Wilde have been withdrawn from public use in the British Museum.

An act of Parliament compels the museum to keep accessible to the public copies of all publications copyrighted in the United Kingdom, except such as may be personally libelous.

The publishing house of Ward & Lock has withdrawn "Dorian Grey" from circulation.

The Brooklyn Citizen - Thursday, April 11, 1895

London, April 11.– Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor were arraigned for examina-tion in the Bow Street Police Court this morning. Wilde was defended by Commoner Clarke, and announced that he would not cross-examine any of the witnesses until they testified at the trial of the charges against Wilde.

Counsel for Alfred Taylor examined the young man, Parker, who admitted that he was twenty-one years of age, and had been guilty of the heinous offenses with many persons besides Wilde. Parker also admitted that he received $20 from the persons whose pursuit it was to extort money from gentlemen.

A young man named Atkins was called. In 1892, he said, Wilde had asked him to go to Paris with him as his secretary. He went to Paris with Wilde and remained there a few days. They dined together in splendid style. By Wilde’s order he wore his hair curled. He denied that any misconduct had occurred between them. Wilde had given him a silver cigarette case, cost-ing £3, and asked him not to mention the visit to Paris.

In reply to a question by the magistrate, Atkins said he had acted as Wilde’s secretary for about half an hour, when he was engaged in writing some letter about Wilde’s play, "A Woman of No Importance."

A witness named Shelley detailed the circumstances of his dining with Wilde, in 1892. Afterward they had some wine together in a private room, when Wilde kissed him and flattered him, calling him a clever fellow and the like. He remained with Wilde throughout that night. Subsequently he had written to Wilde asking him to terminate their friendship.

The owner of the private hotel in St. James’ place testified that Wilde had rooms in his house from October, 1893, until April, 1894, and was visited there by a number of young men, including Parker, Taylor and Atkins.

The hearing was adjourned for a week, and Wilde and Taylor were remanded without bail.

The chief librarian of the British Museum denied the statement circulated yesterday that the books and publications written by Oscar Wilde had been withdrawn from public use in the library of that institution. An act of Parliament compels the Museum to keep in its possession and accessible to the public copies of all publications copyrighted in the United Kingdom, except such as may be personally libelous. The question of withdrawing Wilde’s works has not been considered at all. The rumor of their withdrawal was probably due to the difficulty experienced by inquirers for the books in getting them owing to the great rush of curoious persons who desire to look through them.

Mr. Matthews, a partner in the publishing house of Lane, testified on the witness stand that he had seen a letter from Wilde to Shelley, and a communication on the subject made to him (Matthews) by Mr. Lane had led to Shelley’s leaving their employ.

The publishing house of Ward & Lock has withdrawn Wilde’s book "Dorian Grey" from circulation.

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