Times Union - Wednesday, May 22, 1895

LONDON, May 22. - The second trial of Oscar Wilde began in the central criminal court, Old Baily, this morning. Wilde, upon entering the court, was accompanied by but one of his sureties, the Rev. Stewart Headlam, his other bondsman, Lord Douglas, of Hawick being engaged in the Marlborough street police court, in defending himself against the charge of disorderly conduct. Wilde looked pale and haggard as he entered the dock, evidently being greatly affected by the result of the trial of Taylor yesterday.

Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C. M.P, conducted the prosecution. The alleged offense charged against Wilde, he said in his opening address ,occured between February, 1892, and October, 1893. He laid especial stress upon the charge in which Wilde was involved with Shelley.

Mr. Lockwood thought the jury should accept the prosecution's evidence as regarded Wilde’s mode of life at the Savoy hotel. Edward Shelley was called to the stand and repeated what he had previously testified to. Sir Edward Clarke cross-examined Shelley severely. Shelley admitted that he was mistaken in his testimony in the Bow street police court giving the time of his breaking off with Wilde.

Wilde became indisposed at this point and was obliged temporarily to leave the dock, the examination of Shelley was meanwhile suspended. The proceedings was resumed in a few minutes. Mr. Elkin Matthews, the publisher, deposed that Wilde was acquainted with Shelley.

Shelley's cross-examination being resumed he admitted that he had a brother who was insane. He also admitted having written a letter to Wilde in which he said: "I am afraid that sometimes I am not very sane, but I am certain that I am sane now." He maintained, however, that the charges he had made against Wilde were true. Alfred Wood and Charles Parker were called to the stand and repeated the testimony previously given by them, after which the court adjourned.

The Washington Post - Thursday, May 23, 1895

London, May 22.—The Marquis of Queensberry and his elder son, Lord Douglas, of Hawick, were arraigned in the Marlborough police court this morning and placed in the dock together to answer a charge of disorderly conduct and fighting on the street. The Marquis said that his son was the aggressor, having first assaulted him, and that he only struck back in self-defense.

Lord Douglas, of Hawick, said he merely desired his father’s assurance that he would cease writing obscene letters to his (Hawick’s) wife reviling her husband. His aim in meeting his father was to stop these foul and obscene communications.

Lord Queensberry objected to the letters in question being called obscene. Hearing that Oscar Wilde was residing with Lord Douglas, he went to the latter’s house and obtained the assurance of his daughter-in-law that his younger son, Lord Alfred Douglas, was not there also. He thereupon ceased writing letters to Lord Douglas’ wife.

Lord Douglas’ lawyer wished to read the letters in question, but the magistrate would not allow it. The lawyer said that at the conclusion of Taylor’s trial the Marquis of Queensberry had sent a telegram to Lord Douglas and his wife.

Both the marquis and his son were bound in sureties of £500 each to keep the peace for six months.

The marquis who wore a fresh boutonniere, admitted that he had offered to fight his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, anywhere or at any time for £10,000. Lord Douglas showed a very black eye as the result of the encounter with his father, but the latter did not show a mark. The crowd cheered the marquis as he drove away in a cab, and as earnestly hissed and hooted Lord Douglas as he took his departure.

Wilde Again on Trial.

The marquis went directly from the Marlborough street Police Court to the Old Bailey Court, where he was an attentive listener at the trial of Oscar Wilde.

Wilde, upon entering court, was accompanied by but one of his sureties, the Rev. Stewart Headlam, his other bondsman, Lord Douglas, of Hawick, being engaged in the Marlborough street Police Court in defending himself against a charge of disorderly conduct. Wilde looked pale and haggard as he entered the dock, evidently being greatly affected by the result of the trial of Taylor yesterday.

Sir Frank Lockwood, Q. C., M. P., conducted the prosecution. The alleged offenses charged against Wilde, he said in his opening address, occurred between February, 1892, and October, 1893. He laid especial stress upon the charge in which Wilde was involved with Shelley.

Mr. Lockwood thought the jury should accept the prosecution’s evidence as regarded Wilde’s mode of life at the Savoy Hotel.

Edward Shelley was called to the stand and repeated what he had previously testified to. He declared that he had resented the overtures made to him by Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke cross-examined Shelley severely. Shelley admitted that he was mistaken in his testimony in the Bow street police court, giving the time of his breaking off intimacy with Wilde, and also admitted that Wilde did not mention or suggest any acts of misconduct after the first interview.

Wilde became indisposed at this point, and was obliged to temporarily leave the dock. The examination of Shelley was meanwhile suspended. The proceedings were resumed in a few minutes.

Shelley’s cross-examination being resumed, he admitted that he had a brother who was insane. He also admitted having written a letter to Wilde, in which he said: "I am afraid that sometimes I am not very sane, but I am certain that I am sane now." He maintained, however, that the charges he had made against Wilde were true.

Alfred Wood and Charles Parker were called to the stand, and repeated the testimony previously given by them, after which the court adjourned.

Wilde was not taken to jail, but was released over night on bail, his old sureties qualifying.

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