The Times - Wednesday, November 13, 1895

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE.
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION.
(Sittings in Bankruptcy, before MR. REGISTRAR LINKLATER.)
IN RE WILDE.

This was a sitting for public examination in the case of Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, described as a writer and dramatist, formerly of an address in Tite-street, Chelsea, and now of her Majesty’s prison, Wandsworth. The receiving order was made on July 25 last, upon the petition of the Marquis of Queensberry, who claims £677 in respect of costs in connexion with legal proceedings instituted by the debtor. The statement of affairs shows liabilities £3,591, of which £2,514 is money for lent and £233 for tobacco, wine, jewelry, flowers, &., while the value of the assets, which consist of royalties on published literary works and plays and a life policy, is not given. It appears that the debtor’s income has averaged about £2,000 per year, which, he states, has been derived chiefly, if not entirely, from royalties on plays and literary works written by him. These include the plays, Lady Windermere’s Fan, An Ideal Husband, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest, a novel entitled "Dorian Gray,' and a book of poems called "The Sphinx." The debtor ascried his insolvency to the failure of legal proceedings taken by him against the Marquis of Queensberry, and to his arrest and conviction int he recent prosecution of "Regina v. Wilde."

Mr. A.H. Wildy appeared as Official Receiver, and Mr. J.P. Grain for the debtor.

The debtor was brought up from Wandsworth Prison in the custody of two warders, and when he took his place in the witness-box the court was crowded. He stated, in reply to the Official Receiver, that he was 40 years of age, and for about 10 or 11 years previously to March last he had resided at 16, Trite-street, Chelsea. He kept no books of account. He estimated that his expenditure during the two or three years preceding the date of the receiving order had been at the rate of about £2,900 per year. In July, 1893, his liabilities exceeded his assets by about £1,450. He remembered being examined at the instance of the Official Receiver on July 29 last, and the information which he then gave in relation to his plays and works due thereon was substantially correct. (His statements appeared in The Times of August 27.) It was usual for him to receive payment in advance for royalties, with the result that certain theatrical managers appeared in his accounts as creditors, their security consisting of acting rights in respect of his plays. It was about the time of his conviction that he first became aware that he did not possess sufficient property to enable him to pay all his debts in full. He adhered to the statements which he had already made as to the causes of his insolvency. Continuing his evidence, the debtor stated that on the occasion of his marriage in May, 1884, a settlement was executed comprising property belonging to his wife, and income derived there from had amounted to about £800 per year. He had a light interest in the property comprised and the deed is subject to his surviving his wife, who was 35 years of age. The trustees of the settlement have made him an advance of £1,000 pounds at 5 per cent. interest. He had also an interest in a small property under his father as well. It was situated in Ireland, and produced between £100 and £150 a year. The household furniture and effects at his residence and Tite-street were sold in April last by the Sheriff under an execution. He had never previously become bankrupt, nor affected an arrangement with his creditors.

Mr. Grain did not ask the debtor any questions, and, in the absence of opposition by any creditor, the examination was concluded.