Compare Documents

LONDON, April 2. -- A great crowd will be at the doors of the central criminal court to-morrow morning in anticipation of sensational developments growing out of the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on the charge of libeling Oscar Wilde, the apostle of aestheticism.

Tickets, however, had been issued by the clerk of the court for almost the entire seating capacity, a fact which was greeted with strong complaints when it became known to the general public. The favored ticket holders are about equally divided between "the middle classes" and the "upper ten," hence the courtroom will present a much more attractive appearance than is usually the case. Both sides are represented by a formidable array of counsel. The marquis has as his leading attorney Mr. Carson, M. P., Queen's counsel.

The case against the Marquis is that on February 18, last, he gave to the porter of the Albemarle club a card to be delivered to Oscar Wilde, on which was written a sentence that constitutes the alleged libel. This card was not read or shown to the press at the preliminary investigation, and its contents are known only to the principals and lawyers in the case. It is in fact doubtful whether the exact language will be made public in court to-morrow. The marquis claims that he wrote the card "to save his son," Lord Alfred W. Douglas, who has been very intimate with Oscar Wilde for several years past. The peculiar nature of the defense and the language employed suggests the notorious Cleveland street scandal of some years since, and the attrocious practices which at that time were exposed.

Lord Queensberry pleads justification in reply to the indictment, asserting that it was necessary to the morality of his son to put a stop to his relations with Wilde. It is said that the names of certain young members of the nobility, including one of exalted birth, may be brought into the case, if the defense be hard pressed. Judge Collins, recently appointed to the criminal court, will preside over the trial. In case of conviction the sentence will probably be a heavy fine, although it is within the discretion of the judge to impose a term of imprisonment.

London, April 3 – It is rumored that Oscar Wilde left here suddenly yesterday to avoid being present at the libel trial to-day against Queensberry.

EAGER CROWDS

London, April 3. – The approaches to the Central criminal court were crowded this morning in anticipation of sensational developments growing out of the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry, on the charge of libelling Oscar Wilde, the apostle of Aestheticism. Tickets, however, had been issued by the clerk of the court for almost the entire seating capacity, a fact which was greeted with hoots and yells when it became known to the besieging throng. The favored ticket holders about equally divided between the "middle classes" and the "upper ten" ; hence the court room presented a much more attractive appearance than is usually the case. The Marquis and his accuser were amongst the earliest on the scene.

The marquis’s leading attorney is Mr. Carson, M. P., Q. C. The case against the marquis is that on Feb 18th last, he gave to the porter of the Albemarle club a card to be delivered to Oscar Wilde on which was written a sentence that constitutes the alleged libel. This card was not read or shown to the press at the preliminary investigation, and its contents are known only to principals and lawyers in the case. It is in fact doubtful, whether the exact language will be made public in court today. The marquis claims that he wrote the card "to save his son" Lord Alfred W. Douglas who has been very intimate with Oscar Wilde for several years past. The peculiar nature of the defence and the language employed suggests the notorious Cleveland street scandal of some years since, and the atrocious practices which at that time were exposed. Lord Queensberry pleads justification in reply to the indictment asserting that it was necessary to the morality of his son to put a stop to his relations with Wilde. It is said that the names of certain young members of the nobility, including one of exalted birth, may be brought into the case if the defense be hard-pressed. Judge Collins recently appointed to the criminal court, presides over the trial. In case of conviction, the sentence will be a heavy fine, although is is within the discretion of the judge to impose a term of imprisonment.