Springfield Democrat - Friday, April 5, 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 libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensbury. Oscar, 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 any improper relations having been permitted there.

Wilde in his answers to questions put to him exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. Queensbury's attorney, Carson, plied him with questions, which were in the main pitiless and unprintable.

The cross examination was concluded at noon, after having lasted six hours. Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, then put in evidence certain letters of the marquis, in which he called upon his son, Lord Alfred Douglass, to cease his "infamous relations" with the plaintiff, saying that his blood turned cold at sight of their "infamous faces." He added, "I hear that Wilde's wife will petition for a divorce on the ground of unnatural crime. If you do not cease to let him disgrace us, I shall feel justified in shooting him on sight."

To this letter Lord Alfred relied: "What a funny little man you are."

The speech of Carson for the defense lasted until the court adjourned at 5 p. m., and was not finished at that hour. He 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.

Nasty Enough.

Most of the newspapers are printing the testimony almost verbatim, but the character of the evidence 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 cannot repeat it The English public is at present involved in one of those orgies of indecency permitted by the operation of open law courts and an enterprising press."

After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed and Carson began his speech for the defense. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the court room.

The Washington Times - Friday, April 5, 1895

London, April 4. -- The second day's hearing of the Wilde-Queensbury libel suit was attended by a number of notable persons, and the plaintiff's side of the case was called.

Wilde, in his answers to the questions put to him, exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. He also lost his temper. Mr. Carson's questions were, in the main, pitiless and unprintable.

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 Douglass, to cease his "infamous intimacy" with the plaintiff, saying that his "blood turned cold at the sight of their 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 Douglass replied by telegraph to his father, saying:

"What a funny little man you are."

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 courtroom as soon as counsel for the defendant began to speak.

The speech of Mr. carson for the defense 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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."

"Every one understands that Mr. Tree's connection with the case is in every way honourable and praiseworthy," said the justice, in conclusion.

Wilde returned to the courtroom for a few minutes before the adjournment.

Among the letters produced in court and addressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to his son, Lord Alfred Douglass, was one saying that Wilde was "a cur and a coward of the Rosebery type."

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar