The New York Times - Friday, April 5, 1895

London. April 4. -- The trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel was resumed to-day in the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, with the complainant again in the witness box.

Mr. Carson's cross-examination, which was intended to prove that Mr. Wilde is really as bad as he seems to affect to be, was followed by a re-direct examination, and the case for the prosecution was closed.

The Washington Post - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, April 4.—The trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel was resumed to-day in the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, with the complainant again in the witness-box, Mr. Carson cross-examining.

Mr. Wilde, in answer to a question by Mr. Carson, said he had been introduced to the man Wood by a man named Taylor. He had frequently visited Taylor’s house to attend afternoon tea parties. Taylor, he said, had a habit of burning perfumes in the room, but candles or gas were not lighted. Upon every occasion of his visiting Taylor’s house he had met a youth named Mavori, who had since disappeared. Mr. Wilde said he was aware that Taylor had been arrested, but he did not know that Taylor had made himself notorious by his practice of introducing young men to older ones. Taylor, he admitted, however, had introduced him to five young men. None of these young men had any trade, profession, or employment, as far as he knew. He had made them presents of money for the reason that they were poor.

Mr. Wilde was questioned in regard to his acquaintanceship with two brothers named Parker. He replied that he knew them and had dined with them. He was not aware that one of them was a valet and the other a groom, both of them out of employment. He had given one of them money on the occasion of his taking tea with him (Wilde) in the latter’s private rooms in St. James street. His behavior was in no way improper. When Taylor and one of the Parkers were arrested they were in women’s clothes. They were charged with felonious practices.

Mr. Carson: When you read of Taylor’s arrest did it make any difference in your friendship for him?Mr. Wilde: I was greatly distressed and wrote to him. His arrest did not affect my friendship.

His Acquaintance with Atkins.

Mr. Wilde admitted his acquaintanceship with a man named Atkins, who was employed by a bookmaker. He first met Atkins at the rooms of a gentleman whose name he declined to give, but which he handed up to the judge. The name was not made known by the court. Wilde said he had called Atkins by his Christian name. Atkins went to Paris with him and they stopped together there. Wilde paid the fare, but he declared that it would be an infamous lie to say that they had been guilty of any misconduct. He had given Atkins £3 upon one occasion and £15 on another. Besides he had given him presents of various articles.

A youth named Maber had stopped with him in a hotel in London. Wilde said he was a nice, charming young fellow. He gave Maber a cigarette case worth £4. He knew also a youth named Grainger, who was a servant to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of Queensberry. Mr. Carson asked Wilde if he had ever kissed Grainger. Wilde, who had succeeded well in retaining his composure, began to lose his temper. He declared that he had never kissed Grainger, and denounced the insolence of Mr. Carson in pursuing the line of questioning he had followed. Mr. Carson, he said, had insulted him throughout the cross-examination.

In answer to a new line of questioning, Mr. Wilde said that a masseur had attended him at the Savoy Hotel, but denied that any person had ever seen him in compromising situations. All of the young men who visited him at his rooms did so as his guests. This ended the cross-examination.

It was noticed that during Mr. Carson’s questioning several names were written upon slips of paper and handed up to the court. These names were not made public.

The Re-direct Examination.

Sir Edward Clarke then questioned the witness in re-direct examination.

He began by reading a number of letters written by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, in which the marquis condemned his son for his conduct with Wilde. He also read a letter written by the marquis, reviling Lord Rosebery, Mr. Gladstone, and the Queen, because of the appointment of his son to the peerage of Drumlanrig. In one of the letters, the marquis declared that Lord Alfred Douglas was not his son.

At the conclusion of Mr. Wilde’s re-direct examination, the case for the prosecution was closed.

Before leaving the witness stand Wilde explained his fondness for the society of males in their youth by saying that he disliked the old and sensible, while the company of the young, happy, careless, and original had a wonderful charm. The mere fact of their youth was amazing.

Mr. Carson, in opening the case for the defense, declared that all that the Marquis of Queensberry had done and said he stood by, withdrawing nothing. His sole object in all the steps he had taken was to save his son from the influence of Wilde.

The court adjourned.

The St. James Gazette makes the announcement that owing to the nature of the testimony being taken in the Wilde-Queensberry libel suit the management of that paper have decided not to report the proceedings of the case any further.

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