The Times - Friday, April 12, 1895

POLICE.

At BOW-STREET, yesterday, Sir John Bridge presided at the adjourned hearing of the charges of offences under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, against OSCAR WILDE and ALFRED TAYLOR. Mr. C. F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis for the Treasury, prosecuted; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Travers Humphreys, instructed by Mr. C. O. Humphreys, defended Wilde, and Taylor was represented by Mr. Arthur Newton. The Hon. H. Cuffe, C.B., Public Prosecutor, occupied a seat on the bench, adjacent to counsel. Immediately after the prisoners had entered the dock, Sir Edward Clarke informed Sir John Bridge that be appeared for the defendant Oscar Wilde. He had had an opportunity of reading the depositions, but it was not his intention to ask for the recall of any previous witnesses for the purpose of cross-examination, as it would probably not affect the result of the preliminary inquiry, which he felt it was desirable should be as brief as possible; and he proposed to pursue the same course as far as possible with other witnesses that might be called. Sir John expressed his concurrence as to the desirability of getting the matter over as shortly and quickly as possible. Mr. Newton stated that he would desire to ask a few questions from some of the previous witnesses, and that, in the interest of his client, he might have to pursue the same course with those yet to be called. Mr. Gill intimated that notice should be given for those witnesses to attend whom Mr. Newton wished to he recalled. Charles Parker, 21, was recalled for cross-examination. He deposed to his association with some men who were arrested last August at Fitzroy-square, and to having made a written statement to Mr. Charles Russell, solicitor, of what occurred at that time. Be admitted that after he left the service of a gentleman his employer stated he had stolen some clothes; also that two friends had given him £30 as his share of some hush money in relation to an offence. In re-examination be attributed his associations to Taylor's introductions. Frederick Atkins, 20, stated the circumstances of his introduction to Wilde, his dining with him at the Florence Hotel, and his trip to Paris with him two days after, where Wilde treated him liberally and had his hair cut and curled. He went as Wilde's private secretary, and spent about half-an- hour one morning in writing a portion of the play, A Woman of No Importance. Edward Shelley, a publisher's assistant, said Wilde made his acquaintance on calling at his employer's about publishing business, and invited him to dinner and to visit him on subsequent occasions, until finally he wrote to end the acquaintance. He destroyed all the letters be received from Wilde. A number of other witnesses, occupiers and attendants at hotels and lodginghouses, gave evidence. Detective Inspector Brockwell and Sergeant Harris described the arrests of the prisoners. Letters and papers found on Wilde were produced, including 20 £5 Bank of England notes. The hearing was adjourned till Friday next. Mr. Humphreys asked for bail for Wilde, which was at once declined. Mr. Newton urged his application for bail for Taylor on the ground that the evidence against him was that of discredited persons, and that he was very respectably connected and of a good family. Sir John said that a case of this kind a man's respectable connexions were not in any way a reason to let him out on bail, rather the contrary.