The World - Saturday, April 6, 1895

LONDON, April 6. -- Crowds of people besieged the neighborhood of Bow street early this morning, and the Bow Street Police Court was filled with interested spectators immediately after the doors were opened. Among those who succeeded In pressing their way into court was one good-looking middle-aged woman.

All were anxious to see Oscar Wilde, whose arrest yesterday, following close upon the sensational termination of his suit for libel against the Marquis of Queensberry, is discussed on all sides.

Wilde passed the night in a cell. Mr. C. F. Gill, who was Mr. Edward M. Carson's junior counsel in the defense of the Marquis of Queensberry, acted as Prosecutor to-day for the Treasury Department.

Sir John Bridge, the presiding magistrate, took his seat on the bench at 11 o'clock. The doors leading to the cells were then opened, and Wilde was seen approaching with stately step and carrying a silk hat in his hand.

When he reached the centre of the prisoners' dock, Wilde calmly deposited his hat on the seat, bowed to Sir John Bridge, folded his arms and leaned on the rail of the dock in the same insolent manner which he displayed while on the witness-stand in the Old Bailey.

Mr. Gill said that he appeared to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of inciting boys to crime and of committing acts of indecency.

The prosecutor then related how, in 1893, when Wilde was staying at the Savoy Hotel, Alfred Taylor, who was arrested to-day, acted as procurer for Wilde, who repeatedly visited Taylor's house. Continuing, Mr. Gill said that the prosecution proposed to show how Taylor approached a young man named Parker, who was a valet out of a position, and his brother, a groom.

They finally consented, and it was arranged that they should be introduced to Wilde at a dinner which he would give in a private room at Kittner's restaurant.

Parker was here called to the stand, but the proceedings were interrupted by the official announcement that Taylor had been arrested. A few moments later Taylor was brought into court, and was placed in the dock beside Wilde, who nodded to him.

Parker was then examined and related at length, giving the most minute details, his intimacy with Wilde.

While Parker was giving this testimony Wilde moved restlessly in the dock and passed his hands across his face.

Parker added that he was arrested with Taylor in the raid in 1894 on the house in Fitzroy Square, but he claimed he had since abandoned his evil life.

Counsel for Wilde asked leave to postpone the cross-examination of Parker, as the evidence had taken them by surprise. Parker was then bound over to testify at the trial of Wilde, which is to take place in the Old Bailey.

Parker was deadly pale when concluding his testimony, and asked to be allowed to take a seat as he was not feeling well.

The woman previously referred to as having entered the court-room was the next witness. She gave her name as Mrs. Grant, and said that she let rooms to Taylor, who, she added, was visited by a number of young men.

When Mrs, Grant was asked to state the ages of these young men, she replied that they were from sixteen years of age and upward. The statement caused a sensation in court.

Mrs. Grant was then asked if she could identify Wilde as a visitor to Taylor's rooms. She replied that she could not.

Thereupon Sir John Bridge said, brusquely:

"Wilde, stand up."

Wilde arose, but the witness was still unable to recognise him. But, replying to counsel's questions, she said that she remembered Taylor addressed one visitor as "Oscar."

Replying to further questions. Mrs. Grant said that Taylor's rooms were well furnished and highly perfumed. Taylor, she added, dressed effeminately.

Before Taylor left Mrs. Grant's rooms a sergeant of police once went to his apartments and secretly watched Tayor's proceedings

Sir John Bridge asked Taylor if he desired to ask the witness any questions.

The prisoner replied led: "Not yet."

Alfred Woods, a slim, nice-looking youth, was then called to the stand. He testified that Taylor introduced him to Wilde in January, 1893, and that he, the witness, had visited Wilde at his own house while the latter's family" was at Torquay. The witness added that he was intoxicated at the time, as Wilde had previously given him champagne, whiskey and hock.

Willie Wilde, Oscar Wilde's brother, entered the court-room at the stage of the proceedings and listened to the remainder of the evidence, from the back of the room.

Continuing. Woods said that Wilde afterwards gave him a deal of money and a watch and chain. Witness also said that, soon afterwards, he told Taylor that he wanted to "get away from Wilde and these people."

Counsel, interrupting, said: "Let us deal with the case of Wilde alone. But, I believe that there were other people present at these gatherings."

"Yes. One or two of them have left the country," answered Woods.

Woods added that Taylor told Wild that he, the witness, wanted to go to America, whereupon Wilde asked to (Continued on Seventh Page.)

NO BAIL FOR WILDE. (Continued from First Page.)

have certain letters returned to him. when he received these letters Wilde gave the witness £35, Woods then went to America. Sidney Meyer, a good-looking youth, followed Woods upon the witness-stand. He testified that he met Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas at Taylor's rooms.

Wilde was remanded until Thursday next, bail being refused.

The Rev. Archibald Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter saying that the statement credited to Lord Douglas of Hawick, eldest son of the Marquis, published in an interview in the Leader to-day, to the effect that every member of the family of the Marquis of Queensberry, except the latter, disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges made against Oscar Wilde, is unauthorized by his mother, his sister or himself.

"We certainly believe the charges made against Wilde."

Taylor, when arrested to-day, preserved his cheerful demeanour and asked the detective who took him into custody what his sentence was likely to be.

The Sun, of this city, says that another sensational arrest is probable before Thursday next, the day when Wilde will be brought up at Bow Street Police Court.

Los Angeles Herald - Sunday, April 7, 1895

LONDON, April 6. - The woman previously referred to as having entered the courtroom early this morning was the next witness. She gave the name of Mrs. Grant and said she let rooms to Taylor when he was visited by young men. Mrs. Grant was asked to state the ages of the young men. She replied that they were 15 and upwards. Mrs. Grant was then asked if she could identify Wilde as visiting Taylor’s rooms. She replied she could not. Thereupon Sir John Bridges said quietly: "Wilde, stand up." Wilde arose, but the witness was unable to recognize him, but replying to counsel’s questions, said she remembered Taylor addressed one of the visitors as "Oscar." Mrs. Grant said Taylor’s rooms were furnished well and highly perfumed. Taylor, she added, dressed effeminately. The witness also said the boys stayed all night with him. Before Taylor left Mrs. Grant’s room, the sergeant of police went to his apartment and secretly watched Taylor's proceedings. Sir John Bridges asked Taylor if he desired to ask witness any questions. The prisoner replied, "Not yet."

Alfred Woods, a nice looking young man, was then called to the stand. He testified that Taylor introduced him to Wilde in 1890, and he committed indecencies at Wilde’s own home while the latters family was away. The witness added that he was intoxicated at the time as Wilde had previously given him champagne and whiskey. Continuing, Woods said Wilde afterwards gave him a great deal of money and a watch and chain. The witness also said that soon after he told Taylor he wanted to get away from Wilde and people like him. Counsel interrupted and said: "Let us deal with the case of Wilde, but I believe there were other people at the gatherings."

Sir Archibald Douglass, brother of the Marquis of Queensbury, has written a letter saying that the statement credited to Lord Douglas of Hawick, eldest son of the Marquis, published in an interview in the Leader today to the effect that every member of the family of the Marquis of Queensberry, except the latter, disbelieve absolutely and entirely all the charges made against Wilde, is unauthorized by his mother, his sister or himself. Sir Archibald Douglas adds:

"We certainly believe the charges made against Wilde."

Taylor was arrested today and preserved his cheerful demeanor, and asked the detective who took him into custody what the sentence was likely to be.

The Sun of this city says that another sensational arrest is possible before Thursday next, the day when Oscar Wilde will be brought to Bow street police court on remand.

The Marquis of Queensberry has authorized the Globe to deny that there is any truth in the story cabled to the United Press that he had written to Oscar Wilde after the trial, saying:

"If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you."

Naturally the Wilde disclosures continued to be the absorbing topic of conversation at the clubs, etc. The stand taken by the St. James Gazette in refusing to print the details of the case is attracting much attention and the paper has been deluged with letters of approbation. The action of the St. James Gazette is likely to prove a good stroke of business for the proprietors of that publication.

On Thursday last, the second day of the trial , in place of the usual news placards which all newsboys display, the placard of the St. James Gazette was:

"The only paper in London with no details of the Wilde case."

Mr. Edward M. Larson, Q.C., M. P., who so ably and relentlessly conducted the case for the Marquis of Queensberry, was a classmate of Oscar Wilde at Trinity College, Dublin. The presiding judge, Justice Collins, is an Irishman.

Wilde has been making immense sums of money lately out of his plays and books. His plays are now running at two London theatres and many companies are playing them in the provinces. Of course in the future no one will accept his plays.

Mr. George Alexander, proprietor and manager of the St. James Theatre, stated last night that if it were not for the fact that the withdrawal of Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Earnest, would throw 120 persons out of employment, he would at once stop it. Therefore, unless the theater-going public manifests its displeasure of the author by refusing to witness his works, the play at the St. James will be continued as usual. Another of Wilde’s plays, which is now running at the Haymarket theatre, will after this week be transferred to the Criterion. The author’s name, in both cases, will be omitted from the bills and advertisements in future.

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