The West Australian - Thursday, April 11, 1895

THE WILDE SCANDAL.
DESTRUCTION OF WILDE'S BOOKS.
London, April 10.

Several free libraries in the United States are destroying the works of Oscar Wilde, which until the recent exposure they allowed to remain on their shelves for the use of readers.

[The Times of March 4th reports - At Marlborough street, on Saturday, the Marquis of Queensberry, aged 56, described as having no occupation and as residing in Carter's Hotel, Dover-street, W., was charged before Mr. Newton, on a warrant, with having published a defamatory libel concerning Mr. Oscar Wilde on February 18. Mr. C.O. Humphreys, solicitor, prosecuted; and Sir George Lewis, solicitor, appeared for the defence. Mr. Humphreys stated that Mr. Oscar Wilde, who was a married man and lived on most affectionate terms with his wife and children, had been the object of a system of the most cruel persecution at the hands of Lord Queensberry. Mr. Wilde ten months ago consulted him (Mr. Humphreys) upon the matter, and, in consequence of the domestic affairs of the Queensberry family, Mr. Wilde was most loth and unwilling to take any steps of a criminal nature; but the matter had now come to a climax, and he felt bound to take steps in self protection. The last act in this most terrible and most melancholy drama was performed on February l8, though it only came to the knowledge of Mr. Oscar Wilde, he believed, last Thursday night. Mr. Wilde was a member of the Albemarle Club, to which he went between 5 and 6 o'clock on February 23[?]. When the hall porter, a man named Wright, presented him with an envelope addressed to him. The handwriting on the back of the envelope was that of the hall porter, who informed Mr. Wilde that there was a card inside that had been left at the club by the Marquis of Queensberry for him. When the porter saw what was written on the card he thought it desirable to place the card in an envelope. Three words were written upon the card, two being epithets of the foulest nature, while the intermediate word he could not decipher. The Marquis of Queensberry: The word is "Posing." Mr. Humphreys, continuing, said that a more frightful, serious, or abominable libel, he could not conceive. He did not propose to rest this case simply upon the question of this libel. He proposed later on to go into cases which had occurred before. Sir George Lewis asked that before any evidence was taken the case should be adjourned so that he might consult with his client and have more time to consider the matter. Mr. Humphreys said he only proposed then to call two witnesses, whose evidence would be very short, and the whole matter could be gone into next week. Sydney Wright, hall porter at the Albemarle Club, then deposed that the prisoner presented himself at the club and in the witness's presence wrote the words that were on the front of the card, with the exception of the letter "A," asking the witness to give the card to Mr. Oscar Wilde. Detective-Inspector Thomas Greet, C. Division, deposed to arresting the prisoner that morning at Carter's Hotel. His lordship said, "I thought in these cases proceedings were generally taken by summons; but I suppose it is all right. I have been wanting to find Mr. Oscar Wilde for nine or ten days. This thing has been going on for about two years." Sir George Lewis. - Let me say one word, Sir. I venture to say when the circumstances of this case are more fully known, you will find that Lord Queensberry acted as he did under feelings of great indignation and- Mr. Newton. (interrupting) - I cannot go into that now. Sir George Lewis. - I do not wish this case to be adjourned without its being known that there is nothing against the honour of Lord Queensberry. Mr. Newton. - You mean to say you have a perfect answer to the charge. Sir George Lewis. - I ask you, sir, to allow his lordship to be at large on his entering into his own recognisances in £1,000. Mr. Humphreys. - I should like to have a surety. Mr. Newton. - The case will be adjourned for a week, and the defendant will have to find one surety in the sum of £500, and enter into his own recognisances in the sum of £1,000 to appear. The bail was tendered, and the Marquis of Queensberry left the court with his friends.]