The West Australian - Thursday, May 16, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE WILDE SCANDAL.
EXTRAORDINARY CORRESPONDENCE.
THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE.
The English files which came to hand yesterday give further particulars of the trial of John Sholto Douglas, Marquis of Queensberry, for alleged libel upon Mr. Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wilde. The case ended, as has been already stated in these columns, in a verdict of "Not guilty."
In re-examination by Sir Edward Clarke, Wilde said it was from certain letters produced that he gathered that Lord Queensberry objected to his friendship with Lord Alfred Douglas. The letters were as follows: - "Carter's Hotel, Albemarle street, Sunday, April 1, 1984[sic]. Alfred, - It is extremely painful to me to have to write to you in this strain. I must, but please understand I decline to receive any answers from you in writing in return. Any letters coming under a disguised handwriting, or in other people's, if opened by mistake, will be put in the fire unread. After your previous hysterical impertinent ones I refuse to be annoyed with such, and must ask you if you have anything to say to come here and say it in person. Firstly, am I to understand that having left Oxford, as you did, with discredit to yourself, the reasons of which were fully explained to me by your tutor, you now intend to loaf and loll about and do nothing? All the time you were wasting at Oxford I was put off with the assurance that you were eventually to go into the Civil Service or to the Foreign Office, and then I was put off by an assurance of your going to the Bar. It appears to me you intend to do nothing; in fact the important valuable time has passed, and it seems you are too late now for any profession. I utterly decline to supply you, however, with sufficient funds just to enable you to loaf. You are preparing a wretched future for yourself, and it would be most cruel and wrong of me to encourage you in this. Do you seriously intend to make no attempt to help yourself, and to go on with your present life, doing nothing? Secondly, I come to the more painful part of this letter - your infamous intimacy with this man Wilde. It must either cease or I will disown you and stop all money supplies, and if necessary I will go to him personally and tell him so. Also, he shall have a bit of my mind. I am not going to try and analyse this intimacy, and I make no accusation, but to my mind to pose as a thing is as bad as the real thing... I hear on good authority, but this may be false, that his wife is petitioning to divorce him. Is this true, or do you know of it? If so, what is to be your position, going about as you do with him." The letter was signed, "Your disgusted so-called father, QUEENSBERRY."
"Alfred,--It is extremely painful to me to have to write to you. in this strain. I must, but please understand I decline to receive any answers from you in writing in return. Any letters coming under a disguised handwriting or in other people's, if opened by mistake, will be out in the fire unread. After your previous hysterical impertinent ones I refuse to be annoyed with such, and must ask you if you have any thing to say to come here and say it in person. Firstly, am I to understand that having left Oxford, as you did, with discredit to yourself, the reasons of which were fully explained to me by your tutor, you now intend to loaf and loll about and do nothing? All the time you were wasting at Oxford I was put off with the assurance that you were eventually to go into the Civil Service or to the Foreign Office, and then I was put off by an assurance of your going to the Bar. It appears to me you intend to do nothing; in fact the important valuable time has passed, and it seems you are too late now for any profession. I utterly decline to supply you, however, with sufficient funds just to enable you to loaf. You are preparing a wretched future for yourself, and it would be most cruel and wrong of me to encourage you in this. Do you seriously intend to make no attempt to help yourself, and to go on with year present life, doing nothing? Secondly, I come to the more painful part of this letter--your infamous intimacy with this man Wilde. It must either cease or I will disown you and stop all money supplies and if necessary I will go to him personally and tell him so. Also, he shall have a bit of my mind. I am not going to try and analyze this intimacy, and I make no accusation, but to my mind to pose as a thing is as bad as the real thing. . . . I hear on good authority, but this may he false, that his wife is petitioning to divorce him. Is this true, or do you know of it? If so, what is to be your position, going about as you do with him." The letter was signed, "Your disgusted so-called father, QUEENSBERRY.'"
To this Lord Alfred Douglas telegraphed to his father: "What a funny little man you are! -ALFRED DOUGLAS." Lord Queensberry's next letter to Lord Alfred was in these terms: - "You impertinent little jackanapes, I request you will not send me such messages through the telegraph, and if you come to me with any of your impertinence I will give you the thrashing you richly deserve. The only excuse for you is that you must be crazy. I heard from a man the other day who was at Oxford with you that that was your reputation there, which accounts for a good deal that has happened. All I can say is if I catch you with that man again I will make a public scandal in a way you little dream of. It is already a suppressed one. I prefer an open one, and, at any rate, I shall be no longer blamed for allowing such a state of things to go on. Unless this acquaintance ceases I shall carry out my threat and stop all supplies, and if you are not going to make any attempt to do something I shall certainly cut you down to a mere pittance, so you know what you are to expect. -QUEENSBERRY."
To this Lord Alfred Douglas telegraphed to his father:--" What a funny little man you are !-- ALFRED DOUGLAS." Lord Queensberry's next letter to Lord Alfred was in these terms :-- "You impertinent little jackanapes. I request you will not send me such messages through the telegraph, and if you come to me with any of your impertinence I will give you the thrashing you richly deserve. The only excuse for you is that you must be crazy. I heard from a man the other day who was at Oxford with you that that was your reputation there, which accounts for a good deal that has happened. All I can say is if I catch you with that man again I will make a public scandal in a way you little dream of. It is already a suppressed one. I prefer an open one, and at any rate I shall be no longer blamed for allowing such a state of things to go on. Unless this acquaintance ceases I shall carry out my threat and stop all supplies, and if you are not going to make any attempt to do something I shall certainly cut you down to a mere pittance, so you know what you are to expect.--Queensberry."
"You impertinent young Jackanapes, — I request yon will not send me such messages through the telegraph, and if you come to me with any of your impertinence I shall give you the thrashing you richly deserve. The only excuse for you is that you must be crazy. I heard from a man the other day who was at Oxford with you that that was your reputation there, which accounts for a good deal that has happened. All I can say is, if I catch you with that man again I will make public scandal in a way you little dream of ; it is already a suppressed one. I prefer an open one, and at any rate I shall not be longer blamed for allowing such a state of things to go on. Unless this acquaintance ceases I shall carry out my threat, and stop all supplies, and if you are not going to make any attempt to do something I shall certainly cut you down to a mere pittance, so you know what to expect.
A third letter was written to Mr. A. Montgomery, the father of the Marchioness of Queensberry, who had obtained a divorce from the Marquis, in which, dating from Maidenhead, he said: - "Sir, - I have changed my mind, and, as I am not at all well, having been very much upset by what has happened the last ten days, I do not see why I should come dancing attendance upon you... Your daughter is the person who is supporting my son to defy me. She won't write, but she is now telegraphing on the subject to me. Last night, after hearing from you, I received a very quibbling, prevaricating sort of message from her, saying the boy denied having been at the Savoy for the last year, or with Oscar Wilde at all. As a matter of fact he did, and there has been a scandal. I am told they were warned off, but the proprietor would not admit this. This hideous scandal has been going on for years. Your daughter must be mad in the way she is behaving. She evidently wants to make out I want to make out a case against my son. It is nothing of the kind. I have made out a case against Oscar Wilde, and I have to his face accused him of it... It now lies in the hands of these two whether they will further defy me. Your daughter appears to me now to be encouraging them to do so, although she can hardly intend this. I don't believe Wilde will now dare defy me. He plainly showed the white feather the other day when I tackled him - a damned cur and coward of the Rosebery type. As for this so-called son of mine, I will have nothing to do with him. He may starve as far as I am concerned after his behaviour to me. His mother may support him, but she shan't do that here in London with this awful scandal going on. But your daughter's conduct is outrageous, and I am now fully convinced that the Rosebery-Gladstone-Royal insult that came to me through my other son, that she worked that, I thought it was you... It shall be known some day by all that Rosebery not only insulted me by lying to the Queen, which she knows, which makes her as bad as him and Gladstone, but also made a life-long quarrel between my son and I." Witness stated there was no truth whatever in the statement in Lord Queensberry's letter, that witness's wife was going to petition for a divorce. Mr. Carson, Q.C., read the following postcard, addressed by Lord A. Douglas to Lord Queensberry: - "As you return my letters unopened, I am obliged to write on a postcard. I write to inform you that I treat your absurd threats with absolute indifference. Ever since your exhibition at O.W.'s house I have made a point of appearing with him at many public restaurants, such as the Berkeley, Willis's Rooms, the Café Royal, etc., and I shall continue to go to any of these places whenever I choose and with whom I choose. I am of age, and my own master. You have disowned me at least a dozen times, and have very meanly deprived me of money. You have, therefore, no right over me, either legal or moral. If O.W. was to prosecute you in the Criminal Court for libel you would get seven years' penal servitude for your outrageous libels. Much as I detest you I am anxious to avoid this for the sake of the family; but if you try to assault me I shall defend myself with a loaded revolver, which I always carry; and if I shoot you, or if he shoots you, we should be completely justified, as we would be acting in self-defence against a violent and dangerous rough, and I think if you were dead not many people would miss you. -A.D."
A third letter was written to Mr. A. Montgomery, the father of the Marchioness of Queensberry, who had obtained a divorce from the Marquis, in which, dating from Maidenhead, he said:--"Sir,--I have changed my mind, and, as I am not at all well, having been very much upset by what has happened the last ten days, I do not see why I should come dancing attendance upon you. . . . Your daughter is the person who is supporting my son to defy me. She won't write, but she is now telegraphing on the subject to me, Last night, after hearing from you, I received a very quibbling, prevaricating sort of message from her, saying the boy denied having been at the Savoy for the last year, or with Oscar Wilde at all. As a matter of fact he did, and there has been a scandal. I am told they were warned off, but the proprietor would not admit this. This hideous scandal has been going on for years. Your daughter must he mad in the way she is behaving. She evidently wants to make out I want to make out a case against my son. It is nothing of the kind. I have made out a case against Oscar Wilde, and I have to his face accused him of it. . . It now lies in the hands of these two whether they will further defy me. Your daughter appears to me now to he encouraging them to do so, although she can hardly intend this. I don't believe Wilde will now dare defy me. He plainly showed the white feather the other day when I tackled him--a damned cur and coward of the Rosebery type. As for this so-called son of mine, I will have nothing to do with him. He may starve as far as I am concerned after his behaviour to me. His mother may support him, but she shan't do that here in London with this awful scandal going on. But your daughter's conduct is outrageous, and I am now fully convinced that the Rosebery-Gladstone-Royal insult that came to me through my other son, that she worked that, I thought it was you. . . It shall be known some day by all that Rosebery not only insulted me by lying to the Queen, which she knows, which makes her as bad as him and Gladstone, but also has made a life-long quarrel between my son and I."
After conferring briefly with his counsel, Sir Edward Clarke, at the Central Criminal Court on Friday morning, April 5, Mr. Oscar Wilde proceeded, in company with Lord A. Douglas and two other men, to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. The party remained in conference in a private room until one o'clock, when they partook of luncheon. At a quarter past two the four men drove off in Mr. Wilde's brougham, which had been waiting outside the hotel for a considerable time. Their destination was a bank in St. James', where a large sum of money was drawn out. After the finding of the jury in the libel action the whole of the documents, with proofs of the evidence upon which the defence had intended to rely, were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor. Later in the day Mr. C.F. Gill, Mr. Angus Lewis, and Mr. Charles Russell waited upon Sir John Bridge at Bow-street and obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Oscar Wilde, who was subsequently arrested by Inspector Richards at an hotel in Sloane-street. Mr. Wilde had with him two friends. The party at once drove to Scotland Yard to meet Inspector Brockwell, who had the warrant. The warrant was read to the prisoner, who made no reply; after some delay he was brought to Bow street. Mr. Wilde was the first to alight and walked straight into the station, followed by the detectives. He did not appear to be at all affected by the circumstances of his position. He was at once placed in the dock, and stood there with his hands in his pockets while the charge was taken down by Inspector Digby. When the charge had been entered Mr. Wilde was taken to the cells. Later Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow-street in order to see whether he could bail out Mr. Wilde, and appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could his application be entertained. He then offered to procure extra comforts for the prisoner, but this also was not allowed by the officer on duty. At the same police court on Saturday, April 6th, Oscar Wilde, described as a gentleman, was placed in the dock, before Sir John Bridge, charged with offences under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Mr. C.F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted. At the commencement of the hearing the prisoner was defended by Mr. C.O. Humphreys, the solicitor who conducted the proceedings at the police court when the Marquis of Queensberry was prosecuted by Wilde for libel. At a later stage the prisoner was represented by Mr. Travers Humphreys. Mr. Gill said that the precise nature of the charges he should ask the magistrate to commit Wilde upon, would depend on the evidence disclosed on the depositions after the matter had been thoroughly inquired into. The case he proposed to proceed with in the first instance related to Wilde's conduct with regard to a young man named Charles Parker. Wilde would also be charged with conspiring with Alfred Taylor. Mr. Gill then explained the circumstances under which Parker was brought into contact with Wilde. Parker was a valet out of place. He had a brother named William Parker, who was a groom. At the end of February or the beginning of March the brothers went to the St. James' Restaurant. They were there approached by Taylor. He supplied them with drink, and got them to write down their names and addresses. He then gave his own address, and said that Oscar Wilde was a man who would give them money. After one or two interviews between Taylor and the lads, the prisoner Wilde being in communication with him by telegraph, they were invited to go to Kettner's Restaurant. They went, accompanied by Taylor. When they arrived they were shown into a private room, where dinner was laid for four. Soon afterwards the prisoner arrived, and the boys were entertained to a sumptuous repast provided by him. After dinner Wilde took Charles Parker to the Savoy Hotel, where he had a suite of rooms. He plied the lad with drink, and subsequently gave him £2. They met again on several other occasions. Wilde gave the youth money, a gold ring, and a silver cigarette case. There were, counsel added, a number of cases against the prisoner. Wilde had already had an opportunity of explaining these matters, and if he chose, he could get into the witness-box and give any explanation he liked. It was an unpleasant case, but it was one of enormous importance. It was of enormous importance to show that people who committed these offences were bound to be brought to justice. Charles Parker was the first witness. Whilst he was giving evidence, Alfred Taylor, alluded to by Mr. Gill in his opening statement, was placed in the dock and charged with conspiring with Oscar Wilde. Parker, in the course of his further evidence, said that on several occasions he visited Wilde at the Savoy Hotel and had champagne and chicken. Wilde gave him money to buy clothes with and made him other presents. The last time he saw Wilde the latter, who was in a cab in Trafalgar Square, told him he was looking as pretty as ever. William Parker, brother of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. Mrs. Ellen Grant, Little College-street, Westminster, proved that Taylor occupied rooms there, for which he paid £3 a month. Daylight was always excluded from the rooms. She understood that Taylor was a bachelor. She had heard him speak of "Oscar," but she had never seen Wilde. There were a number of visitors. Alfred Wood, formerly a clerk, spoke of his acquaintance with Wilde, and said he went to America to get rid of "these people" - that was, the people who went to Taylor's tea parties. Sidney Arthur Mavor and some other witnesses were then examined, and the case was adjourned till next day. Mr. Travers Humphreys applied for bail for Wilde on the ground that he knew the warrant was being applied for on Friday afternoon, but made no attempt to leave London. He had no intention of leaving the country, and he was the only person who could properly instruct solicitor and counsel. Sir John Bridge said it was not a case for bail, and the prisoners were removed in custody.
At BOW-STREET, on Saturday, OSCAR WILDE, described as a gentleman, of Tite-street, Chelsea, was placed in the dock, before Sir John Bridge, charged with offences under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Mr. C.F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted. At the commencement of the hearing the prisoner was defended by Mr. C.O. Humphreys, the solicitor who conducted the proceedings at the police-court when the Marquis of Queensberry was prosecuted by Wilde for libel. At a later stage the prisoner was represented by Mr Travers Humphreys. Mr.Gill said that the precise nature of the charges he should ask the magistrate to commit Wilde upon would depend on the evidence disclosed on the depositions after the matter had been thoroughly inquired into. The case he proposed to proceed with in the first instance related to Wilde's conduct with regard to a young man named Charles Parker. Wilde would also be charged with conspiring with Alfred Taylor. Mr. Gill then explained the circumstances under which Parker was brought into contact with Wilde. Parker was a valet out of place. He had a brother named William Parker, who was a groom. At the end of February or the beginning of March the brothers went to the St. James's Restaurant. They were there approached by Taylor. He supplied them with drink, and got them to write down their names and addresses. He then gave his own address and said that Oscar Wilde was a man who would give them money. After one or two interviews between Taylor and the lads, the prisoner Wilde being in communication with him by telegraph, they were invited to go to Kettner's Restaurant. They went, accompanied by Taylor. When they arrived they were shown into a private room, where dinner was laid for four. Soon afterwards the prisoner arrived, and the boys were entertained to a sumptuous repast provided by him. After dinner Wilde took Charles Parker to the Savoy Hotel, where he had a suite of rooms. He plied the lad with drink, and subsequently gave him £2. They met again on several other occasions. Wilde gave the youth money, a gold ring, and a silver cigarette-case. There were, counsel added, a number of cases against the prisoner. Wilde had already had an opportunity of explaining these matters, and, if he chose, he could get into the witness-box and give any explanation he liked. It was an unpleasant case, but it was one of enormous importance. It was of enormous importance to show that people who committed these offences were bound to be brought to justice. Charles Parker was the first witness. Whilst he was giving evidence Alfred Taylor, alluded to by Mr. Gill in his opening statement, was placed in the dock and charged with conspiring with Oscar Wilde. Parker, in the course of his further evidence, said that on several occasions he visited Wilde at the Savoy Hotel and had champagne and chicken. Wilde gave him money to buy clothes with and made him other presents. The last time he saw Wilde the latter, who was in a cab in Trafalgar-square, told him ho was looking as pretty as ever. William Parker, brother of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. Mrs. Ellen Grant, Little College-street, Westminster, proved that Taylor occupied rooms there, for which he paid £3 a month. Daylight was always excluded from the rooms. She understood that Taylor was a bachelor. She had heard him speak of "Oscar," but she had never seen Wilde. There were a number of visitors. Alfred Wood, formerly a clerk, spoke of his acquaintance with Wilde, and said he went to America to get rid of '"these people"--that was, the people who went to Taylor's tea parties. Sidney Arthur Mavor and some other witnesses were then examined, and the case was adjourned till Thursday. Mr. Travers Humphreys applied for bail for Wilde on the ground that he knew the warrant was being applied for on Friday afternoon, but made no attempt to leave London. He had no intention of leaving the country, and he was the only person who could properly instruct solicitor and counsel. Sir John Bridge said it was not a case for bail, and the prisoners were removed in custody.
The Central News says: - "Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended on April 5th he sent this 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."
The Central News says:--"Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended yesterday he sent this 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.'"
The Central News says—Lord Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended he sent this message to 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."
The Marquess of Queensberry states that as soon as the trial ended yesterday, he sent this message to Mr. Oscar 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."
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said: "I have sent this message to 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.'"
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said: "I have sent this message to 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.'"
In an interview, the Marquis of Queensberry said: "I have sent this message to Wilde: "If the country allows you to leave all the beter for the country; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press: "I have sent this message to 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.'"
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press: "I have sent this message to 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.'"
In an interview this afternoon the marquis of Queensberry said to a representative of the United Press: "I have sent this message to 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.'"
The Marquis of Queensberry has sent this message to 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 wherever you go and shoot you."
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said:—- "I have sent this message to 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 wherever you go and shoot you.'"
"I have sent this message to 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.'"
"I have sent this message to 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.'"
"I have sent this message to 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.'"
"I have sent this message to Wilde: 'If the country allows you to leave, ail the better for the country; but if you take my son with you I will follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"
The Marquis of Queensberry has authorized the Globe to deny that there is any truth in the story cabled to the United Press saying that he had written to Oscar Wilde saying: "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."
In an interview this afternoon the Marquis of Queensberry said:— "If the country allows you to leave, all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you, I will follow wherever you go and shoot you."
"I have sent a message to Oscar, saying: '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."
"I have sent a message to Oscar, saying: '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.' "
In an interview the Marquis of Queensberry said: "I have sent this message to Wilde: ‘If you leave the country, all the better for the country, but if you take my son with you I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you.'"
The Marquis of Queensberry has authorized the Globe to deny that there is any truth in the story cabled to the United Press that he had written to Oscar Wilde after the trial, saying: "If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you, I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you."
The Marquis of Queensberry has authorized the Globe to deny that there is any truth in the story cable to the United Press that he had written to Oscar Wilde after the trial, saying: "If the country allows you to leave all the better for the country; but if you take my son with you, I shall follow you wherever you go and shoot you."