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Original paragraph in
The Adelaide Observer - Saturday, April 6, 1895
The Adelaide Observer - Saturday, April 6, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
New Zealand Herald - Saturday, April 6, 1895
New Zealand Herald - Saturday, April 6, 1895
Difference
The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry on a charge of libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known dramatist and litterateur, was commenced
this morning. The proceedings excited great popular interest, and not only was the Court filled to overflowing, but immense crowds thronged the passages,
for whom accommodation could not be found.
After the case had been opened by the formal proof of the alleged libel, evidence was called on behalf of the defendant. It was
represented that Mr. Oscar Wilde had levied heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis. Some of these letters had
been found in old clothes which had been given away.
The defence relies upon the revelations of these letters, which it is alleged warranted the writing by the Marquis of the letter upon
which the charge against him is based.
London, April 3.
The trial of the Marquis of Queensberry for libelling Mr. Oscar Wilde, the well-known litterateur and dramatist, was continued to-day.
Mr. Oscar Wilde, the plaintiff in the case, was submitted to a stringent cross-examination by counsel for the defence, with a view of
showing that the book entitled "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - which was originally published in Lippincott's Magazine, and afterwards republished in book
form — and other articles, which counsel for the defence connected with the plaintiff, inspired criminal practices.
The plaintiff, however, insisted that the true interpretation of the book and articles referred to were merely an expression of artistic
faculty.
The letters to Lord Alfred Douglas which were produced, and the prose and poems, of which it was alleged that he was the author, might
perhaps be characterised as extraordinary, but they did not justify an immoral interpretation.
He admitted that he gave one of the alleged blackmailers a sum of money amounting to £21, and afterwards had lunch with him in his
private room.
It was also elicited in cross-examination that the plaintiff admitted to terms of intimacy two lads who were not his social equals, and
that he had given them expensive presents and considerable amounts of money at various times. The plaintiff's plea was that he did so simply on the ground
that he liked them.
During the examination of Mr. Oscar Wilde his extravagant gestures and postures, and his epigramatic and paradoxical style of replying
to counsel caused a vast amount of amusement in the Court.
At the end of the day the Court adjourned, the Judge granting bail to the defendant for his subsequent appearance.
London, April 4.
The plaintiff's cross-examination was continued this morning. He said he was acquainted with three men named respectively Parker,
Atkins, and Taylor. Taylor had introduced five young men to him on separate occasions to whom the witness had given money. He was unaware if any of them
were gentlemen's servants. It was one of his pleasures to indulge in the company of bright happy people.
The plaintiff also said that he had frequently visited Taylor's rooms, and he was aware that Taylor and Parker had on one occasion been
arrested, but he still continued his friendship with them.
Wilde admitted that on one occasion Atkins had accompanied him to Paris. Taylor had introduced to him a youth named Ernest Scarp, who
subsequently became acquainted with Lord Alfred Douglas whilst travelling to Australia. Wilde acknowledged that he had made presents to Scarp and also to
a youth named Mabor, and when pressed to give his reasons said he supposed it was "because he liked them."
Counsel for the defendant read certain letters from youths, whose names had already transpired in connection with the case, which showed
the writers to be in a poverty-stricken condition; some of the letters implored assistance, and begged for employment.
Other correspondence read in Court showed that the Marquis of Queensberry had endeavoured to stop his son from visiting Oscar Wilde. In
reply Lord A. Douglas telegraphed to his father that "he was a funny little man." The Marquis then called at Wilde's house, when a furious scene occurred.
Wilde denied the charges laid by the Marquis, and showed him to the door.
Letters read in Court proved that the Marquis of Queensberry was endeavouring to stop his son visiting Wilde. The son wired back to his
father that Wilde was a funny little man. The Marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, where a furious scene took place. The latter denied the
charges levelled against him, and showed the Marquis the door.
The Marquis then wrote to his wife complaining that she was encouraging their son's intimacy with Wilde. Not withstanding all this,
however, the friendship of Lady Queensberry and her son with the plaintiff remained unbroken.
London, April 4.
Mr. Oscar Wilde was further cross-examined to-day during the hearing of his charge against the Marquis of Queensberry for criminal
libel.
Mr. Wilde admitted a close companionship with the young men introduced by Taylor. He had dined with them in fashionable cafés, and
several had stayed for the night as his guests at his hotels; but he denied that there was anything objectionable in the proceedings. He was regardless of
the circumstances of social inferiority in his guests provided that they amused him.
The letters which Mr. Wilde had written to Lord Alfred Douglas were read, showing that the writer had threatened to shoot the Marquis if
his Lordship attempted to thrash him. In the letters of the Marquis there were references to eminent statesmen, but they were only of a political
nature.
Mr. Oscar Wilde's case was then closed.
Mr. Carson, Q.C., in opening the case for the defence, declared that Mr. Oscar Wilde's protégés were among the most undesirable
characters in London. The learned counsel commented on the omission of the prosecution to call Taylor, and affirmed that Mr. Wilde's companionships were
absolutely irreconcileable with his claims to be an exponent of culture. The literature of the prosecutor alone justified the defendant in the extreme
course he had adopted. More than that, Wood, the chief blackmailer, would prove the case for the defence up to the hilt.