London Star - Saturday, April 27, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE.
SECOND SCENE OF THE LAST
PHASE OF THE TRIAL.
Sir Edward Clarke Puts Wood Through
a
Severe Cross-Examination,
During Which He Makes Damaging Admis-
sions.
The second day of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor at the Old Bailey on charges of gross immorality is not likely to be made notable by any dramatic surprises. The gravity of the case remains, but its interest has been largely discounted by the Queensberry trial and the police-court proceedings. It is possible, but not now probable, that the case may terminate to-day. This would involve sitting late into the evening, however, and as the prisoners are only charged with misdemeanors, which do not involve the locking up of the jury, it is more than likely that the case will be again adjourned till Monday.
All the counsel engaged in the case were early in attendance, and Mr. Charles Mathews again passed through the dock to consult with Wilde in the cells below. There is a mistaken impression that the prisoners have passed the night in Newgate Prison. As a fact, they were taken back
IN THE PRISON VAN
to Holloway and slept in their accustomed cells. There was demonstration when the can arrived at the Central Criminal Court this morning. The prisoners were dressed as yesterday, and took sears at opposite ends of the dock. At no stage of the proceedings has there been any perceptible communication between the two. Wilde seems oblivious of Taylor's presence, but Taylor occasionally looks furtively across at his companion.
The lad Alfred Wood was recalled for cross-examination, and Sir Edward Clarke, first ascertaining that the witness returned from [...] asked "Did you come back to respectable employment?"
"I was taken very ill," he replied, in low, even tones, "and I have been very ill ever since."
I take this to mean you have not been in any describable employment? - Yes.
Parker has told us that you and Allen obtained £300 from a man, and that you gave him (Parker) £30. Is that true? - The witness hesitated, then replied, "I didn't get the money. It was not paid to me."
To whom, then? - To Allan, think.
You gave £30 to Parker? - I don't know what he had.
HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE?
- £175.
What for? - Well, it was given to me by Allan.
Then Mr. Wilde's giving you £30 to get away from this class of persons had not had a very satisfactory result? - I was in employment all the time I went to America.
Then Mr. Wilde's giving you £30 to get away from this class of persons had not a very satisfactory result? - I was in employment all the time I was in America. (The witness appeared to be chewing something during the time this evidence was taken.)
How did you live when you came back? - On some money left by my father. I was not of age when I went to America.
How did you live when you came back? - On some money left by my father. I was not of age when I went to America.
Was that money spent before you had the £175? - No.
Cross-examined about the letters from Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, the witness admitted that he received a letter from Sir George Lewis asking him to go to Ely-place about them. he did not go, but it was not true that he had already had the letters copied. When Wilde asked him to give the letters up, witness returned two of them, but he knew that a third was in the possession of Allan. He did not know that Allan had had that letter copied. Pursuing his inquiry into the witness's present mode of life, Sir Edward Clarke found that he was now living in Holloway, and since his return from America had visited Charles Parker. he denied that he had described himself as Parker's brother.
Cross-examined about the letters from Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas, the witness admitted that he received a letter from Sir George Lewis asking him to go to Ely-place about them. He did not go, but it was not true that he had already had the letters copied. When Wilde asked him to give the letters up, witness returned two of them, but he knew that a third was in the possession of Allan. He did not know that Allan had had that letter copied. Pursuing his inquiry into the witness's present mode of life, Sir Edward Clarke found that he was now living in Holloway, and since his return from America had visited Charles Parker. He denied that he had described himself as Parker's brother.
Re-examined by Mr. Gill, the witness positively denied that he had known any of the people mentioned in this case, or had been guilty of any improper conduct before he fell in with Taylor, to whom he was introduced by a gentleman.
Re-examined by Mr. Gill, the witness positively denied that he had known any of the people mentioned in this case, or had been guilty of any improper conduct before he fell in with Taylor, to whom he was introduced by a gentleman.
Mr. Gill: Any person whose name has been mentioned in this case? - No, said the witness, adding that there were
OTHER PEOPLE
whom he wished to escape by going to America besides those mentioned in the case.
Thomas Preece, a servant at 10, St. James's-place, which is a private hotel, described the rooms which Wilde occupied there from October, 1893, to April, 1894.
Atkins was the next witness. he was originally introduced to Taylor by one Schwabe, and by Taylor to Wilde and Alfred Douglas, at a dinner at the Hotel Florence, where, he swore, Wilde kissed the waiter. He went to Paris with Wilde as his private secretary.
Atkins was the next witness. He was originally introduced to Taylor by one Schwabe, and by Taylor to Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, at a dinner at the Café Florence, where, he swore, Wilde kissed the waiter. He went to Paris with Wilde as his private secretary.
Atkins described Schwabe as "about as old as I am--about 22," and describable queer incidents at the hotel in the Boulevard des Capucines, denying that he was himself guilty of any impropriety. Later this witness had an attack of smallpox, he added in cross-examination, and Wilde again came to see him at his own request, and promised to send him money. As to the witness's occupation, he had been living for three years with a man of 50 called Surtes, a bookmaker, as whose clerk he attended race meetings. they lived first at 124, Tachbrook-st., Pimlico, afterwards at Osnaburgh-st. The witness had also acted at music halls.
Atkins described Schwabe as "about as old as I am--about 22," and described, queer incidents at the hotel in the Boulevard des Capucines, denying that he was himself guilty of any impropriety. Later the witness had an attack of smallpox, he added in cross-examination, and Wilde again came to see him at his own request, and promised to send him money. As to the witness's occupation, he had been living for three years with a man called Burton, a bookmaker, as whose clerk he attended race meetings. They lived first at 124, Tachbrook-street, Pimlico, afterwards at Osnaburgh-street. The witness had also acted at music-halls.
Sir Edward Clarke: Have you also been engaged to the business of
BLACKMAILING
- I don't remember. (Laughter.)
Has Burton not obtained money from persons on the ground that they have committed indecent acts with you? - No, sir.
Have you ever gone out into the streets in woman's dress? - (The witness laughed.) I swear I have not.
Sir Edward Clarke wrote out the name of a gentleman on a piece of paper. The witness swore he had never seen it before. He swore positively that he and Burton did not extort a large sum of money from a Birminghampton gentleman on 9 June, 1891. He admitted having passed by the name of Fred Lenney.
Sir Edward Clarke wrote the name of a gentleman on a piece of paper. The witness swore he had never seen it before. He swore positively that he and Burton did not extort a large sum of money from a Birmingham gentleman on June 9, 1891. He admitted having passed by the name of Fred Denney.
Were you and Burton ever taken to Rochester-row Police-station? - No.
Did not a gentleman go home with you from the Criterion to Tachbrook-st., and did not Burton come in a few minutes later and threaten that if the gentleman did not pay you would accuse him? - No.
Did you not take the gentleman's watch and chain, and give them to Burton? - No.
Did you take the gentleman's watch and chain and give it to Burton?—No.
Did you take the gentleman’s watch and chain and give it to Burton? No.
Did you take the gentleman’s watch and chain and give it to Burton? No.
Were you not both taken to Rochester-row the next night, and did you not then give up the watch and chain? - No.
And were you and Burton taken to Rochester Street Police Station, and did you there give up the watch and chain?—No.
And were you and Burton taken to Rochester street police station and did you there give up the watch and chain? no.
And were you and Burton taken to Rochester street police station and did you there give up the watch and chain? No.
Sir Edward Clarke pursued the matter, but the witness
SULLENLY REPLIED NO
and no to every question. He admitted having lived at 35, Alderney-st., Pimlico, but denied that in August, 1892, dressed as a woman, he took a gentleman to the house. "I have never dressed as a woman in my life," he said.
Did not a gentleman give Burton a cheque for £200, made out in the name of St. Denis, which he supposed to be your name? - I swear that never happened.
Have you ever been to the Hotel Victoria in Northumberland-avenue? - I have never been inside it.
Have you ever been to the Hotel Victoria? - Never been inside; I swear I never have.
About two years ago did not you and someone else go there with two American gentleman? - I never did.
And did Burton appear there and extort a large sum of money from those gentleman? - I have never been there.
And did Burton appear and extort a large sum of money? - I have never been there.
The witness admitted he had been with Burton to Nice and Monte Carlo in the spring of last year. They were simply amusing themselves there, and there was no quarrel. On their return the witness gave up what Sir Edward Clarke called "this old-established connection," and
HAD SEEN LITTLE
of Burton since. He heard from him at Monte Carlo about a week ago. Being pressed, he admitted that "there might have been a little row" at Nice, but there was no question of blackmailing a gentleman there. in the betting ring Burton was known as Watson.
The Mr. Grain took the witness in hand. "Ever been to Scarborough?" he asked. Yes, the witness had been with Burton to Scarborough to sing at the Aquarius. Did not meet the foreign nobleman whose name Mr. Grain wrote on a piece of paper, but heard his name mentioned by other young men. He had a big yacht lying out in the bay.
Then Mr. Grain took the witness in hand. "Ever been to Scarborough?" he asked. Yes the witness had been with Burton to Scarborough to sing at the Aquarium. Did not meet the foreign nobleman whose name Mr. Grain wrote on a piece of paper, but heard his name mentioned by other young men. He had a big yacht lying out in the bay.
"Now I put it to you," said Mr. Grain, "did not you and Burton obtain money from that nobleman to the amount of nearly £500?"? No, the witness knew nothing of any such transaction. He had lived in the Bookingham Palace-rd. "Then look at the name on that piece of paper please," said Mr. Grain, producing another of the pipelights which have become so common in the case, and about which there is
UNBOUNDED CURIOUSITY.
But no, the witness had never heard the name and he was quite certain he never took an elderly City man to his room and robbed him of his pocket-book. Neither he not Burton afterwards went to the gentleman's office and threatened to expose the contents of the pocket-book unless the received a large sum of money. On the race-course he had met a man named Driver, a mere acquaintance, but Driver had not accompanied him on any of his singing tours.
The prisoners had followed this cross-examination with close attention. Taylor showed some excitement, but Wilde, lolling wearily on the corner of the dock with his head on his hands, was inscrutable. When the witness left the box Taylor raked the court with a bold stare, seeming specially to explore the dark corners of the gallery. His eyes soon returned to the witness-box when Sidney Arthur Mavor was called, and a slim, dandified young man, in a painfully high and stiff collar, stepped up to be sworn. He repeated his previous evidence, and said he was now in partnership with a friend in the City, and lives in North Kensington.
The case is proceeding.