The West Australian - Monday, April 15, 1895

NEWS AND NOTES.

AT Marlborough-street on March 9th (reports the Times) Lord Queensberry surrendered to his bail on a charge of having unlawfully published a defamatory libel on Mr. Oscar Wilde in a card which he left for that gentleman at the Albemarle Club. Mr. Wilde, in examination, mentioned two occasions on which he had met the defendant while lunching with Lord Alfred Douglas at the Café Royal in 1892 and 1894. He was being questioned with regard to a letter from the defendant which Lord Alfred Douglas had shown him, when the magistrate suggested that there should be no examination on the letter. After some discussion with Mr. Carson, Q.C., who appeared for the defendant, this course was adopted. Subsequently the magistrate declined to allow Mr. Carson to cross-examine the prosecutor regarding his relations with Lord Alfred Douglas, as that would be quasi-justification, and not admissible in that Court. Mr. Carson said Lord Queensberry's contention was that he thought it well for the morality of his son to put a stop to his acquaintanceship with Mr. Oscar Wilde. Lord Queensberry was then committed for trial. On being asked if he had any answer to the charge, he said, - I have to say that I wrote that card simply with the intention of bringing the matter to a head, having been unable to meet Mr. Wilde otherwise, and to save my son, and I abide by what I wrote. He was admitted to bail in one surety for £500 and his own recognizances in £1,000.