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LONDON, April 7. - A report that Oscar Wilde had committed suicide at the Bow-street Police Station caused a widespread sensation to-day. The report originated in the fact that when Wilde was about to be transferred from the police station in the prison van to the Holloway Jail he was in a state of semi-collapse, suffering from hysteria, and said to the prison attendants that he would commit suicide if he had a chance.

This put them on the alert. Wilde was immediately subjected to a thorough search, and the police even removed his pearl breastpin and handkerchief lest he might stab or strangle himself.

The prospect of conviction, with the consequent horrors of a convict's life, appalled Wilde. It is that aspect of the case which seems to concern him exclusively, not the shame and degradation into which he is plunged. He is a person to whom the luxuries of life were everything, whose sole thought was self-indulgence. To such a one the rigors and deprivations of a prison are the very worst kind of punishment.

Wilde’s legal advisers declare that they never had a client less able to bear up under trial, or whose anticipatory agonies were more intense. As Wilde is heavy and flabby, with a constitution sadly undermined by dissipation, it would not in the least surprise his doctor if his troubles came to a sudden end.

LONDON, April 7. - Oscar Wilde is suffering from insomnia. The prison surgeon on Saturday night gave him a sleeping drought. It had no effect on him, and he continued pacing his cell all night long. He eats almost nothing, although he is allowed to have food sent to him from the outside. Another prisoner cleans his cell. He is not allowed to smoke and is allowed to receive only a single visitor daily.

A Plea for Justice.

LONDON, April 7. - Sydney Grundy, the dramatist, has written the Daily Telegraph a letter regarding the removal of Oscar Wilde's name from the program of his plays. He asks: "By what principle of justice or charity is an author's name blotted from his work? If a man is not to be credited with what he has done well, by what right is he punished for what he has done ill."

LONDON, April 8. -- Special Cablegram.-A widespread sensation was created today by a report that Oscar Wilde had committed suicide at the Bow Street Station. It was found that the report originated in the fact that when Wilde was about to be transferred from the police station to the prison van for Holloway Jail he was in a state of semi-collapse and suffering from hysteria. He said to his jailers that he would commit suicide if he had a chance. This put them on the alert and Wilde was immediately subjected to a thorough search. The police even removed his pearl breastpin and handkerchief lest he might stab or strangle himself.

The prospect of a conviction, with consequent horrors of a convict's life, have simply stupefied Wilde. It is that aspect of the case which seems to concern him exclusively -- not the shame and degradation into which his vices have brought him. He is a man to whom the luxuries of life were everything and whose sole thought was self-indulgence. To such a man the rigors and deprivations of a prison are the very worst kind of punishment, and Wilde's legal advisers declare that they never had a client less able to bear up under his trial or whose anticipatory agonies were more intense. Being a man of heavy, flabby physique, and a constitution greatly undermined by dissipation, it would not in the least surprise his doctor if a sudden seizure ended his troubles.

LONDON, April 7. -- Oscar Wilde is suffering from insomnia. The prison surgeon on Saturday night gave him a sleeping draught, it had no effect on him, and he continued pacing his cell nearly all night long. He eats almost nothing, although he is allowed to have food sent to him from the outside. Another prisoner cleans his cell. He is not allowed to smoke and is allowed to receive only a single visitor daily.