The Pall Mall Gazette - Thursday, May 23, 1895

OSCAR WILDE AT THE OLD BAILEY.
EXAMINATION OF THE HOTEL WITNESSES.

The re-trial of Oscar Wilde upon charges under the Criminal Law Amendment Act was resumed this morning before Mr. Justice Wills. Witnesses from the Savoy Hotel, examined by the Solicitor-General and Mr. C. F. Gill, gave evidence in respect of the charges of misdemeanour with persons unknown. The Savoy chambermaid who gave testimony wore eyeglasses with a gilt chain, and in cross-examination told Sir Edward Clarke she used them because she was very shortsighted. But she did not use them while at her work in the Savoy, and it was while at work she alleged she saw what she had stated in evidence. This witness, however, was, in parts of her story, corroborated by another chambermaid who never had to have recourse to glasses -- a witness who had not been called at the former trial. Emile Becker, a Savoy waiter, now called for the first time, said he recollected serving a supper of chicken and champagne to a young man in Oscar Wilde's room. Sir Edward Clarke could not understand how witness could recollect this particular supper two years ago, and suggested that he only recollected it since reading in the papers Parker's evidence that he had had a chicken and champagne supper in Wilde's rooms. Witness denied that it was the reading of any report which was responsible for his appearance as a witness. He had made his statement to the Treasury before reading Parker's statement.