Difference
LONDON, April 4. -- There was unabated interest to-day at the Old Bailey in the taking of testimony on the second day of the libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensbury. Oscar, upon resuming his place on the witness stand, admitted that he had attended tea parties in the rooms of a man named Taylor, which were artistically furnished and in which perfumes were burning. He denied any improper relations having been permitted there.
Wilde in his answers to questions put to him exhibited confusion and contradicted himself frequently. Queensbury's attorney, Carson, plied him with questions, which were in the main pitiless and unprintable.
The cross examination was concluded at noon, after having lasted six hours. Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, then put in evidence certain letters of the marquis, in which he called upon his son, Lord Alfred Douglass, to cease his "infamous relations" with the plaintiff, saying that his blood turned cold at sight of their "infamous faces." He added, "I hear that Wilde's wife will petition for a divorce on the ground of unnatural crime. If you do not cease to let him disgrace us, I shall feel justified in shooting him on sight."
To this letter Lord Alfred relied: "What a funny little man you are."
The speech of Carson for the defense lasted until the court adjourned at 5 p. m., and was not finished at that hour. He reviewed the evidence point by point, denounced Wilde and said that the witnesses he would produce would prove to the jury beyond any doubt the guilt of the plaintiff.
The speech of Mr. Carson for the defense lasted until court adjourned at 5 o'clock, and was not finished. He carefully reviewed the evidence, point by point, denounced Wilde and said that the witnesses he would produce would prove to the jury beyond any doubt the guilt of the plaintiff.
Most of the newspapers are printing the testimony almost verbatim, but the character of the evidence is such to-day that the St. James Gazette says:
"The nature of the evidence and the whole circumstances of the case prove to be of such a character that we cannot repeat it The English public is at present involved in one of those orgies of indecency permitted by the operation of open law courts and an enterprising press."
After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed and Carson began his speech for the defense. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the court room.
After the production of other letters the case for the plaintiff was closed, and Mr. Carson began his speech for the defense. It was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who left the court room as soon as counsel for the defendant began to speak.