The Wichita Daily Eagle - Thursday, April 4, 1895

London, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the marquis of Quuensberry surrendered to bail and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the marpuis with libel by leaving on Feb. 28, last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle club on which card was written cartain foul epithets. The marquis who wore a shabby overcoat, was placed in the dock and answered to the indictment by pleading, first, not guilty, and secondly, that the libel was true and that it was published for the public good.

Letters addressed by Oscar to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the marpuis of Queensbury, alleged to contain information that the plaintiff had solicited persons named to commit indecent offenses, were presented.

Oscar Wilde took the stand and testified to a visit of the marquis of Queensbury with another gentleman of his (Wilde's) home. When they arrived, the marquis ordered Oscar to sit down, whereupon the latter replied: "Lord Queensbury, I will not allow anyone to talk that way in my house. I suppose you have come to apologize. Is is possible you accuse me and your son of "sodomy?"

Queensbury replied: "I did not say it, but you look lot it and appear like it."

A letter written by Oscar which was alleged to rfleect seriously upon Oscar's relations to Lord Douglas, referring to the latter as having "rose red lips" and addressing him as "My own boy," and signed "With undying love Oscar," was read by the judge.

Counsel, amid laughter, explained that the letter might seem extravagant to those who were in the habit of writing commercial letters, but, he added, it was "mere poetry." Counsel for marquis quoted from one of Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, "Dorian Gray," to show that the author upheld isodomy. Oscar said the description of Dorpian Gray given on page six, was taken from Shakespeare's sonnets.

Carson, attorney for Queensbury, cross-examined Wilde and brought out a story of a certain intimacy with a newsboy 18-years of age. Cross examination regarding various other boys and men, were so pointed as to be unprintable. To all of them, however, Wilde emphatically denied that he had done anything improper. The cross-examination was not completed when the court adjourned.

The Daily Inter Ocean - Thursday, April 4, 1895

LONDON, April 3. -- Every available inch of the Old Bailey was occupied this morning when the Marquis of Queensberry surrendered to bail, and the libel suit brought against him by Oscar Wilde was opened before Justice Collins. Oscar Wilde charges the Marquis of Queensberry with libel by leaving, in February last, an uncovered card at the Albemarle Club, on which card were written certain foul epithets. As a result Mr. Wilde on March 2 caused the arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, and the latter, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, was placed under £1,500 bail.

Rumors were current in London yesterday that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left the city in order to avoid being present in court today, and reports were also current that a startling development would arise today. But both these rumors were set at rest by the arrival in court of the principals to the suit. The Marquis was placed in the dock, and answered to the indictment by pleading first, not guilty, and secondly, that the libel was true, and that it was published for the public good. The Marquis seemed unconcerned and, replying to the questions put to him, spoke quietly and clearly.

Sir Edward Clarke, formerly Solicitor General, in opening the case, said that the card left at the Albemarle Club for Mr. Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the Marquis of Queensberry, and it was upon this that the libel was written. Certain letters addressed by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglas, second son of the Marquis of Queensberry, were brought to plaintiff by a man who said he was in distress, and Mr. Wilde gave him £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Another letter was handed to Beerbohm Tree, the actor, who gave it to the plaintiff. Counsel then recounted the facts already known in the case, showing that Mr. Wilde, who had recently returned from Algiers, drove up to the Albemarle Club at about 5 p.m. Feb. 28, and on entering the club he was handed an envelope by the hall porter. Inside the envelope plaintiff found a card, on the back of which was the date "4:30, 18. 2. 95," and on this card were written certain foul epithets, which formed the basis of the suit. Oscar Wilde was then called and he languidly arose from the solicitor's table, where he was seated, and entered the witness box. Wilde spoke with his customary drawl, leaning his arms upon the rail of the witness box and replying distinctly to the questions addressed to him. Counsel for the plaintiff asked the witness about the man to whom he had given £20 with which to pay his passage to America. Witness said: "The man told me he had been offered £60 for the letter, and I advised him to immediately accept it. But finally I gave him the money in order to relieve his distress and he gave me the letter."

The document referred to was here produced in court and was handed to Justice Collins. The cross-questioning was very severe and, though the witness emphatically denied having done anything improper, he became troubled and confused, so that at one time it seemed as though he was about to faint. His cross-examination was not finished when court adjourned for the day.

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