The San Francisco Call - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, ENG., April 5. -- The jury in the case of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry found that the plea of justification submitted by Queensberry was proved, and the Marquis was discharged from custody. The verdict was received with loud applause from the spectators, which the Judge did not check.

A warrant for the arrest of Wilde was promptly applied for, copies of all the witnesses' statements and the shorthand notes of the trial having been furnished the public prosecution.

Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to the bank, cashed a check and returned to the hotel. Soon after both Wilde and Alfred drove away. Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel. He was taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

Wilde was very pale but cool when he arrived at Scotland Yard. At 8:10 p.m. Wilde was arraigned. The prisoner remained silent throughout the proceedings. He was then taken to Bow street and placed in the docket in the police station. Here he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. A police inspector then read the charge aloud and asked Wilde if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner remained silent and apparently indifferent.

He was then searched, after which he was locked in a cell. Shortly after he had been locked up one of his friends arrived in a carriage at the station with a Gladstone bag containing a change of clothing and other necessaries, but the police refused to permit him to leave it. Later Lord Alfred Douglass went to the police station and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde had been arrested for a criminal offense, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had been arraigned in court.

Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information. He was told by the inspector that Wilde had a blanket and all requisites in his cell to be as comfortable as the regulations allowed. The prisoner would be allowed to receive food from a hotel until to-morrow, when he will be arraigned on a charge regarding the penal offense.

The Spokesman Review - Saturday, April 6, 1895

London, April 5. -- Before 10'clock to-day every available foot of spacenin the old Bailey court room was filled with spectators, armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches, and otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible. The marquis, at 10:20, entered court, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10:30 Justice Collins entered and court was opened. Oscar Wilde was absent. Edward M. Carson, Q. C., leading counsel for the defense, resumed his speech, which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Carson said he hoped that he had demonstrated that the marquis was justified in bringing to a climax, in the way he did, the connection between his son, Lord Alfred Douglass and Wilde. Continuing, counsel said he now approached a more painful duty. It would be his task to call several young men who would tell their own tales, and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer. It was no wonder that the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. "The wonder is," counsel said, "that this man has been so long tolerated in London society."

"Wilde's conduct regarding the boy at Worthing," continued Carson, "was an instance of his disgusting audacity. He picked up this boy on the pier and introduced him to his family, dressed him up as a gentleman, and put public colors upon his hat."

Carson was continuing his terrible denunciation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward Clarke and others of the plaintiff's counsel left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned, and Sir Edward asked for permission to interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid the most impressive silence, the leading counsel for plaintiff announced the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client.

CLARKE'S APOLOGY

The chief concern of Sir Edward Clarke seemed to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking the case for Wilde. He said that after consulting with his client, who, by the way, was in the room to which his counsel adjourned, and who left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement, he asked to withdraw the suit, and on Wilde's behalf to submit to a verdict for the marquis of not guilty in regard to the words, "posing as a --- --- ---." Counsel said he did this more especially in view of the extracts which had been read from Wilde's novel of modern social life, "Dorian Gray," and from the magazine, "The Chamelion."

Carson here interrupted, saying if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involved a verdict of justification, as this was a case in which his client must succeed upon that plea. Justice Collins said the jury could put any limit on their verdict that the words "posing as a --- --- ---" were justified or not justified. If the jury consented to the course suggested and were to return a verdict of not guilty they were also to find the justification set up by the defense was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit. The jurymen consulted together for a moment, and then, without leaving their seats, returned a verdict as directed by Judge Collins, namely, that the Marquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel and that the words which he had written on the card which formed the basis of the suit were published in the interest of the public. The verdict was received with loud applause in the court, and Justice Collins made no attempt to check it. The Marquis of Queensberry was then discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling and surrounded by friends.

Defense, it appears, had a long array of witnesses on hand, including waiters employed in hotels of Paris, London and other cities, which Wilde had frequented.

POSES AS A MARTYR.

Oscar Wilde has written a letter to the newspapers in which he says:

"It was not possible to prove my case without putting Lord Alfred Douglass in the witness box against his father. Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to go into the box, but I would not allow it. Rather than put him in such a painful position, I determined to retire the case and bear upon my own shoulders whatever shame and ignominy might result from not prosecuting the Marquis of Queensberry."

WILDE ARRESTED.

The authorities were reticent as to what course would be pursued, but to-day application was made at the Bow street police court for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and the magistrate granted the application.

The officials of the treasury department, under which brand of government public prosecutions are directed, visited the Bow street police court several times this afternoon, previous to granting a warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon their last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boys. After a short consultation between the treasury officials and Sir John B. Reige, during which several questions were addressed to the detective and boys, the magistrate issued a warrant.

Wilde spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas. Early in the afternoon Lord Alfred drove to the bank, cashed a cheque, and returned to the hotel. Soon after both Wilde and Lord Alfred drove away. Wilde was arrested at Cadogan hotel. He was taken in a cab by two detectives to Scotland Yard.

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