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Original paragraph in
Belfast News-Letter - Monday, April 8, 1895
Belfast News-Letter - Monday, April 8, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
Galignani Messenger - Sunday, April 7, 1895
Galignani Messenger - Sunday, April 7, 1895
Difference
London, Saturday.—This morning Oscar Fingall O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested last evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street,
on a charge of a very grave kind, was brought up before Sir John Bridge at Bow Street Police Court. For half an hour before the doors opened a large crowd
had gathered in front of the court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then
admitted. These were at first allowed to take their seats in the large court, but after an interval of more than half an hour it was announced that the
case would be taken in the Extradition Court, and a wild rush was made for places in that small and inconvenient room. A few of the public were
subsequently admitted. The prisoner, who was brought into court at eleven o'clock, wore a black frock coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern
at any time during the proceedings.
This morning, Oscar Fingall O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested last evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, on a charge of a
very grave kind, was brought up before Sir John Bridge at Bow-street Police-court. For half an hour before the doors opened a large crowd had gathered in
front of the court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then admitted. The
prisoner, who was brought into court at 11 o'clock, wore a black frock-coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern at any time during the
proceedings.
The charge sheet was signed by Inspector Thos. Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.
The charge sheet was signed by Inspector Thomas Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.
Mr. C. F. Gill (instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted), and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.
Mr. C. F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted, and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.
Mr. Gill said he appeared in the case for the Public Prosecutor.
Mr. Humphreys said he appeared for the prisoner.
Mr. Gill said he was there to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of inciting to commit or of committing certain gross
indecencies under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. No good purpose would be served by going into these matters in an opening speech. He
would merely indicate generally the character of the evidence he proposed to produce before Sir John, and the nature of the charges, while the, question
of what he would be ultimately committed upon would depend upon the nature of the evidence produced. The first charge related to the conduct of the
prisoner with the young man Charles Parker in 1893. Wilde was then staying at the Savoy Hotel, where he lived from April 2 to .March 29, and at the same
time there was living at a place in Little College Street, Westminster, in the upper part of a house a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely
connected with the prisoner Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged in acting for Wilde. Prisoner would be charged with
conspiring with that man. Prisoner was in the habit of visiting that man Taylor at Little College Street, and his Worship would have evidence as to what
took place at that address, where the prisoner Wilde was in the habit of going. Parker was a servant out of place, having been a valet, and was in the
company of his brother William when they met Taylor at the St. James's Restaurant. Taylor was a stranger to them : he stood them drink, and invited them
to visit him at Little College Street. Having got them to that place, he made certain suggestions, and mentioned Oscar Wilde as a man to whom he would
introduce them. They met Wilde at a dinner at Kettner's, when Wilde made a selection of Parker, and went with him to the Savoy Hotel. The learned counsel
described what took place there, and on subsequent occasions at two other addresses with Wilde. He gave Parker money, and visited him where he lived in
Canova Square, till a woman noticing the appearance of the man Wilde, which once seen was not likely to be again forgotten, caused such trouble that
Parker had to leave. Parker was now living a respectable life, and came as a most unwilling witness, but he had to do so. The learned counsel added that
there were a number of other cases which would be gone into. The prisoner had already had an opportunity of giving his version of the affair, and he could
do so again if he chose. It was a most unpleasant case to go into, but one of enormous public importance. It was enormously important that it should be
known to those young men the prisoner had come in contact with that there was only one end to such a life as that of the prisoner Wilde, and that was at
the hands of justice. He then proceeded to call evidence.
Mr. Gill said he was there to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges of inciting to commit or of committing certain gross
indecencies under the 11th Section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. No good purpose being served by going into these matters in an opening speech, he
would merely indicate generally the character of the evidence he proposed to produce before Sir John, and the nature of the charges, while the question of
what he would be ultimately committed upon would depend upon the nature of the evidence produced. The first charge related to the conduct of the prisoner
with the young man Charles Parker in 1893. Wilde was then staying at the Savoy Hotel, where he lived from April 2 to March 29, and at the same time there
was living at a place in Little College-street, Westminster, in the upper part of a house, a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely connected with
the prisoner Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged in acting for Wilde and procuring for him young men with whom he would
afterwards commit offences. Prisoner would be charged with conspiring with that man to procure lads. Prisoner was in the habit of visiting the man Taylor
at Little College-street, and his Worship would have evidence as to what took place at that address, where the prisoner Wilde was in the habit of going.
Parker was a servant out of place, having been a valet, and was in the company of his brother William when they met Taylor at the St. James's Restaurant.
Taylor was a stranger to them; he stood them drink and invited them to visit him at Little College-street. Having got them to that place he made certain
suggestions and mentioned Oscar Wilde as a man to whom he would introduced them. They met Wilde at a dinner at Kettner's, when Wilde made a selection of
Parker and went with him to the Savoy Hotel. The learned counsel described what took place there, and on subsequent occasions at two other addresses with
Wilde. He gave Parker money, and visited him where he lived in Canova-square, till a woman noticing the appearance of the man Wilde, which once seen was
not likely to be again forgotten, caused such trouble that Parker had to leave. Parker was now living a respectable life, and came as a most unwilling
witness, but he had to do so. The learned Counsel added that there were a number of other cases which would be gone into. The prisoner had already had an
opportunity of giving his version of the affair, and he could do so again if he chose. It was a most unpleasant case to go into, but one of enormous
public importance. It was enormously important that it should be known to these young men the prisoner had come in contact with that there was only one
end to such a life as that of the prisoner Wilde, and that was at the hands of justice.
The man Taylor, who was arrested1 this morning, was brought into the dock and charged in order that he might hear the evidence. He is a
young man twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age, and very well dressed.
Evidence was then called, and The prisoners were remanded until Thursday next, bail being refused.
The Press Association states that when Mr. Oscar Wilde arrived at Holloway Jail on Saturday after the proceedings at Bow Street he was
conveyed to one of the better-class cells, the occupation of which is provided for by prison regulations on payment of about a shilling a day. It has been
arranged that one of the prisoners at present at Holloway shall perform the menial duties, which every prisoner is bonnd himself to perform, unless
prepared to pay for a substitute. His meals will be supplied by a local caterer, and he will be allowed to receive a daily visit from a friend. He will,
however, be obliged to forego cigarette smoking and to attend the parade of prisoners at the jail awaiting trial.
The Marquis of Queeosberry wishes to correct the statement that has been published with regard to his message to Oscar Wilde. It has
been reported that as soon as the trial ended Lord Queensberry sent the following message to Mr. Wilde :—" If the country allows you to leave, all the
better for the country ; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you." This statement is not correct. The message was
sent some days ago, and not after the trial ended. Lord Queensberry did not say he would shoot Mr. Wilde. What he said was that if he persuaded his
misguided son to go with him, he would feel quite justified in following him (Wilde) and shooting him, did he feel inclined to do so, and were he worth
the trouble.
The Marquis of Queensberry wishes to correct the statement that has been published with regard to his message to Oscar Wilde. It has
been reported that as soon as the trial ended, Lord Queensberry sent the following message to Mr. Wilde: "If the country allows you to leave, all the
better for the country; but if you take my son with you, I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you." This statement is not correct. The message was
sent some days ago, and not after the trial ended. Lord Queensberry did not say he would shoot Mr. Wilde. What he said was that if be persuaded his
misguided son to go with him, he would feel quite justified in following him (Wilde) and shooting him, did he feel inclined to do so, and were he worth
the trouble.
A Reuter's New York telegram says :—The management of the Lyceum Theatre, where Oscar Wilde's play, "An Ideal Husband," is now running,
have decided to remove the author's name from the bills and programmes. Miss Rose Coghlan, who has been playing "A Woman of No Importance" in the Western
States, has resolved to omit the play from her repertoire.