The Evening News - Tuesday, April 9, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
"B 24."
OSCAR WILDE CONFINED IN HOLLOWAY GAOL.
HE WANTS BAIL
And is Dissatisfied with the Prison
Accommodation.
"B 24. Wilde, O. 40." This brief entry on the slate of a prison warder represents Oscar Wilde’s present status in prison life. He has become a capital letter with a number after it. Wilde has been seen by his friends and solicitor. The effect of his incarceration has not tended towards an improvement of an at no time attractive appearance. His hitherto elaborately-curled locks are dank and straight, and he has dropped all "pose" whatever, his sole anxiety being at the present moment with regard to bail, for which a most urgent and pressing demand is about to be made. The intense anxiety for bail has aroused much comment.
"B24, Wilde, O. 40." This brief entry, says a London evening paper, on the slate of a prison warder represents Oscar Wilde's present status in prison life. He has become a capital letter with a number after it. Wilde has been seen by his friends and solicitor. The effect of his incarceration has not tended towards an improvement of an at no time attractive appearance. His hitherto elaborately-curled locks are dank and straight, and he has dropped all "pose" whatever, his sole-anxiety being at the present moment with regard to bail, for which a most urgent and pressing demand is about to be made. The intense anxiety for bail has aroused much comment.
DOES NOT EAT OR SLEEP.
Wilde, according to the prison authorities, neither eats, drinks, nor sleeps. He is extremely talkative, and given vent to loud denunciations of the manner in which he has been treated, of the discomfort of his special room, and of the manner in which he is watched night and day. He has been deprived of knife and fork, and the extra precaution has been taken of removing all glass vessels, and even the looking-glass from his room. Those who know only the Savoy Restaurant and Willis’s Rooms side of the man would hardly recognise the limp-looking creature in the exercise-yard of Holloway.
Oscar Wilde, according to the prison authorities, neither eats, drinks, nor sleeps. He is extremely talkative, and gives vent to load denunciations of the manner in which he has been treated, of the discomfort of his special room, and of the manner in which he is watched night and day. He has been deprived of knife and fork, and the extra precaution has been taken of removing all glass vessels and even the looking-glass, from his room. A considerable supply of reading matter has been forwarded to him.
READING MATTER SUPPLIED.
A considerably supply of reading matter has been forwarded to him, and though it has been remarked that the attention of his friends has fallen off woefully since Friday last, there are still several who announce their intention of doing all that is possible under the circumstances.
It has been pointed out the Wilde that inasmuch as he is able to see his solicitor whenever he wishes at Holloway, and in private, the absence of bail will in no way hinder the preparation of his defence, but he persistently exhibits his anxiety to be at liberty.
It is understood that an application for bail-money made by a friend of Wilde’s to a gentleman mixed up in one of his theatrical speculations was, on Friday night last, met by a point blank refusal.
It is understood that an application for bail-money made by a friend of Wilde's to a gentleman mixed up in one of his theatrical speculations was, on Friday night last, met by a point-blank refusal.
TO THE EDITOR,
SIR—At the present moment it is pleasant to remark that it is not so long since Wilde ostentatiously announced that he was not an Englishman, and was glad of it. So is, yours faithfully ANOTHER ENGLISHMAN.
The Exchange Telegraph Company is informed on reliable authority that no further warrants have as yet been issued in connection with the Wilde prosecution. The same company is able to authoritatively contradict the rumours current that warrants will be issued for the arrest of any of the young men who have given evidence, or who may have to be called as witnesses for the prosecution. The statement that an application is to be made to a judge in chambers to compel Sir John Bridge to accept bail on behalf of Oscar Wilde is understood to be premature.