The Pall Mall Gazette - Thursday, April 4, 1895

OSCAR WILDE LIBEL CASE.
CROSS-EXAMINATION CONTINUED.
FURTHER SINGULAR REVELATIONS.

Mr. Oscar Wilde again took his place in the witness-box at the Old Bailey this morning, with the prospect of a further extended spell of cross- examination confronting him. The Marquis of Queensberry stood in the dock with his former demeanour of general gravity. Lord Alfred Douglas, in a heavy fur overcoat, came into court with Mr. Wilde, and sat on the bench in the furthest corner from the jury-box. Mr. C. F. Gill sat at Mr. Carson's elbow keeping him constantly supplied with cross-examining ammunition which extended far beyond the magazine (The Chameleon), out of which so much power has already been used. Mr. Wilde's acquaintance with the mysterious Taylor who has been so indefinitely mentioned was the first topic to-day. Mr. Wilde said he was still on friendly terms with Taylor. It was at Taylor's rooms, 13, Little College-street, that Wood brought witness his letter to Lord Alfred Douglas. Witness used to go to afternoon tea-parties at Taylor's. It was the upper part of the house which Taylor had. Witness could not say whether Taylor did his own cooking there, but if he did cooking it was not wrong.

Have I suggested there was anything wrong? -- No; but cooking is an art. Another art. Was there anything peculiar about these rooms? -- No, except that they were furnished with more taste than usual. In unusual luxury? -- No, I did not say that; they were most pretty rooms. Did he ever admit daylight into his rooms? -- Certainly. Did you ever see the room otherwise than with the curtains drawn across ?-Yes. Is it not the fact that he always kept double curtains across the windows, with either candle or gas light, and never daylight? -- I should say not, but of course it was tea time when I was there, and there would naturally be artificial light. Were not the rooms always highly perfumed? -- He did burn perfume, as I do in my rooms. A charming idea! Did you see Wood there at tea? -- Only on one occasion. Did you see Sidney Mavor there? -- Yes. Witness went on, further cross-examined, to explain that Mavor was about twenty-five, and witness had not seen him for a year. Witness had not the remotest idea where he now was. Witness had asked Mr. Taylor to see Mavor last Sunday, but Mavor was away from his house. Witness did not know Mavor had disappeared within the last week. At Taylor's

NO SERVANT WAITED ON THE GUESTS

at tea. Witness did not know whether Taylor had a lady's dress or fancy costume at these rooms. Witness had never heard of it. Witness had no particular business with Taylor, who was a young man of great taste and intelligence, brought up at a very good English school. Witness did not get Taylor to arrange dinners at which he could meet young men. Witness had dined with Taylor at the Solferino and the Florence in Rupert-street, and at Kettner's. Sometimes he dined in the public rooms, but generally he had private rooms. He preferred them.

Who was "Fred"? -- A young man who was introduced to me -- Fred Atkins. Yes, I liked him. He was a friend of Taylor's, but I never saw him at Taylor's tea-parties. The expression in my telegram to Taylor (produced), "Let me know at once about Fred," has no meaning to me now; I have forgotten what I wanted to know.

Did you know that Taylor was being watched by the police? -- No. Did you know Taylor and Parker were arrested together in a police raid on a house in Fitzroy-square last year? -- Yes, Parker I had seen at Taylor's rooms. I have never heard that Taylor is a notorious introducer. He may have introduced five young men to me whom I afterwards called by their Christian names. I like the society of young men. Had any of them any occupation? -- I can hardly say. Did you give them money? -- Yes, to all five I should think, money or presents. Did they give you anything? -- Me? No. Charles Parker was one of these young men? -- Yes. Was he a gentleman's servant out of employment? -- I never heard that, nor should I mind it. How old was he? -I don't keep a census, and I can't tell you. It would be rather vulgar of me to ask people their age. He was young, and that was one of his attractions. Was he educated? -- Culture was not his strong point. What had he been? -- I never inquire about people's pasts. How much did you give him? -- Perhaps £5. It was because he was poor and because I liked him. What better reason could I have? I first met Parker at Kettner's, when Mr. Alfred Taylor introduced me to Parker and his brother William Parker. I did not know that one was a gentleman's valet and the other a groom, nor should I care. What pleasure is it for you to be entertaining a valet and a groom? --

THE PLEASURE OF BEING WITH THOSE WHO ARE YOUNG,

bright, happy, careless, original. I don't like the sensible, and I don't like the old. I am surprised to hear your description of them as servants, however. Did you call them by their Christian names the first evening you saw them? -- Oh, yes. Was it a good dinner? -- I forget the menu, but it was Kettner at his best. And the best of wine? -- The best of Kettner's wine. Did you give them an intellectual treat? -- They seemed deeply impressed. During the dinner did you become more intimate with Charlie than with the other? -- Yes. Did he call you Oscar? -- Yes, I told him to. Did you give them plenty of champagne? -- What gentleman would stint his guest? said witness. What gentleman would stint the valet? retorted Mr. Carson. -- I strongly object to that description, said Mr. Wilde. Further cross-examined, he said he did not take Charlie Parker on to the Savoy Hotel after the dinner. Consequently, he could not have given Charlie Parker iced champagne there. Is iced champagne a favourite drink of yours? -- Yes, strongly against my doctor's orders. Oh, never mind your doctor's orders. -- I don't. (Laughter.) Then there was a second dinner with Charlie Parker? -- Yes. I did I not ask Taylor who these young men were. It was sufficient that they were friends of Mr. Taylor. Charlie Parker's desire was to go on the stage. Witness went on to say, under Mr. Carson's process, that while his house in Tite-street was open, he also had rooms in St. James's place from October, 1893, to April, 1894. Parker came there to tea five or six times. Sometimes he came with Taylor, and sometimes alone. "I liked his society," witness volunteered. Witness gave him a silver cigarette case and about £4. That was because Parker was hard up, and asked witness for it. Witness never acted improperly towards Parker. He came to tea, smoked cigarettes, and I hope he enjoyed them. To me the mere fact of

YOUTH IS SO WONDERFUL

that I would sooner talk to a young man for half an hour than even be cross-examined in court. Then you would pick up a boy off the street? -- Oh, I have talked to a street arab often. Would you take one home? -- If he interested me. What was Parker's means of living? -- He told me he had an income from his father, of the smallness of which he complained, which is a habit of sons. At Mr. Carson's request Mr. Wilde produced one of Parker's letters to him, a letter of no importance. Witness never thought his correspondence sufficiently interesting to preserve, and had kept this one purely by chance.

Sir Edward Clarke said that after the way Parker had been spoken of the jury ought to see his handwriting.

Mr. Carson said the jury should see Parker himself, which would be better.

Asked how far 7, Camera-square, Parker's residence, was away from another mentioned address, witness could not say. Was it a ten minutes' walk? He did not know, for "I never walk." Witness had heard with distress about the arrest of Taylor and Parker, for being at a house where there were men in women's clothes, but the magistrate took another view and dismissed the charge. This incident had made no difference in his friendship with Parker. It was in October, 1892, that witness first met Freddy Atkins, who was in the employ of a firm of bookmakers, the makers of turf volumes. It was in the rooms of an unnamed gentleman that witness met Atkins, in a street off Regent-street. Witness next met Atkins at a dinner at Kettner's, Taylor being also there. Atkins also called witness "Oscar." Witness thought Atkins was very pleasant. There was the charm of idleness about him. He had ambitions towards the music-hall stage. Witness did not discuss art or literature with Atkins.

THE ART OF THE MUSIC-HALLS

was as far as Atkins had reached. Witness took Fred. Atkins over to Paris a fortnight after he met him. That was at the request of the unnamed gentleman who found himself unable to take Atkins, as had been arranged. Atkins did not go in the capacity of witness's secretary. Atkins stayed with witness at 29, Boulevard des Capucines, and the three rooms they had communicated with each other. Witness took Atkins to lunch, and paid for it. Atkins doubtless did not have means to pay for the sort of lunch he (witness) liked. After lunch witness did not suggest that Atkins should have his hair curled. It was Atkins who suggested that he should have his own hair curled, but witness disagreed with the suggestion, although really it was a matter of no importance. Witness gave Atkins a sovereign with which to go to the Moulin Rouge.