The Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday, April 27, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
TODAY'S LATE NEWS.
THE TRIAL OF WILDE.
THE SECOND DAY.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.
The trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor was resumed to-day at the Central Criminal Court, before Mr. Justice Charles and a common jury. When the jury answered to their names there was a much smaller attendance of the public than yesterday. The prisoners took their seats in the dock at half-past ten, and Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, resumed the cross-examination of Alfred Wood.
The witness said it was after he told Wilde in 1893 that he wished to get away from the persons with whom up to that time he was associated, that Wilde gave him the money with which he went to America. He returned in 1894 ill, and had not yet fully recovered.
May I take it that you have been in no employment since?—Yes. He received £175 altogether from the man Allan. He got employment in America with a chance of leading a decent life, but he returned and got associated with these people again.
Witness wrote the name of the place where he was last employed. His work was that of junior clerk. He did not remember when he left that situation. He had money left him by his father.
The learned counsel next addressed questions to Wood on the subject of the letters of Wilde to Lord A. Douglas. At the time he was supposed to have given up the letters there was one remaining which was not given up. It was in the possession of Allen, and never came back into his own possession. He knew that particular letter was copied. He was the worse for drink when he first went with Wilde to Tite Street, Chelsea.
Re-examined by Mr. Gill, Wood said he was first introduced to Taylor by a gentleman whose name had not been mentioned in this case. He found the letters in the pockets of some clothes given to him by Lord Alfred Douglas at Oxford.
Re-examined by Mr Gill—Wood gave evidence of his relations with Wilde. He was first introduced to Taylor by a gentleman whose name had not been mentioned in this case. He found the letters in the pockets of some clothes given to him by Lord Alfred Douglas at Oxford.
Re-examined by Mr Gill — Wood gave evidence of his relations with Wilde. He was first introduced to Taylor by a gentleman who name had not been mention in this case. He found the letters in the pockets of some clothes given to him by Lord Alfred Douglas at Oxford.
Thomas Price, waiter, 10 and 11, St. James's Place, proved Wilde's occupancy of rooms at that address. Wilde was visited there by Taylor, Parker, Atkins, Scarfe, and other young men. Wilde did not often sleep at St. James's Place.
Thomas Price, waiter, 10 and 11 St James’s place, proved Wilde’s occupancy of rooms at that address. Wilde was visited there by Taylor, Parker, Atkins, Scarfe, and other young men. Wilde did not often sleep at St James’s place.
Taylor Price, waiter, 10 and 11 St James’s place, proved Wilde’s occupancy of rooms at that address. Wilde was visited there by Taylor, Parker, Atkins, Scarfe, and other young men. Wilde did not often sleep at St James’s place.
Cross-examined: Wilde had books and papers there, and his suite of rooms was near the street.
Cross-examined — Wilde had books and papers there, and his suite of rooms was near the street.
Cross-examined—Wilde had books and papers there, and his suite of rooms was near the street.
Frederick Atkins deposed that he knew both prisoners. A gentleman introduced him to Taylor, and Taylor introduced him to Wilde at the Café Florence. Wilde invited witness to go to Paris as his private secretary, and be accepted. He again described the visit to the hairdresser's, where Wilde and the operator conversed in French, and witness's hair was curled. (Laughter.) Wilde asked him not to visit the Moulin Rouge. He went. (Laughter.)
Frederick Atkins deposed that he knew both prisoners. A gentleman introduced him to Taylor, and Taylor introduced him to Wilde at the Cafe Florence. Wilde invited witness to go to Paris as his private secretary, and he accepted. He again described the visit to the hairdresser’s, where Wilde and the operator conversed in French, and witness’s hair was curled (laughter). Witness asked him not to visit the Moulin Rouge. He went (laughter).
Frederick Atkins deposed that he knew both prisoners. A gentleman introduced him to Taylor, and Taylor introduced him to Wilde at the Cafe Florence. Wilde invited witness to go to Paris as his private secretary, and he accepted. He again described the visit to the hairdresser’s, where Wilde and the operator conversed in French, and witness’s hair was curled (laughter). Witness asked him not to visit the Moulin Rouge. He went (laughter).
His Lordship: Have you told us all he said?
Atkins: Wilde said, "Don't go The frequenters of that place will ruin you." Wilde said this on several occasions.
Atkins — Wilde said, "Don’t go to these women; they will ruin you." Wilde said this on several occasions.
Atkins—Wilde said, "Don’t go to those women; they will ruin you." Wilde said this on several occasions.
Further examined, he described what took place in Paris.
Has any act of impropriety ever taken place between you and Wilde?—No. He had assisted Burton as bookmaker's clerk since Christmas, 1891. Witness had also acted as a comedian.
Has anything ever taken place between you and Wilde? No; he was certain he returned from Paris with Wilde; he had assisted Burton as bookmaker’s clerk since Christmas 1891. Witness also acted as a comedian.
Had anything ever taken place between you and Wilde. No; he was certain he returned from Paris with Wilde; he had assisted Burton as bookmaker’s Clerck since Christmas 1891. Witness also acted as a comedian.
Have you and Burton been jointly engaged in the business of blackmailing?—I don't remember. (Laughter.)
Have you and Burton been jointly engaged in the business of blackmailing? I don’t remember (laughter).
Have you and Burton been jointly engaged in the business of blackmailing? I don’t remember (laughter).
Sir Edward handed a slip of paper to Atkins, accompanying it by the question, Do you know the name written there?—Atkins: No.
Sir Edward handed a slip of paper to Atkins accompanying it by the question, "Do you know the name written there?"
Sir Edward handed a slip of paper to Atkins accompanying it by the question, "Do you know the name written there?"
Do you know anything about a Birmingham gentleman?—No.
Did a Birmingham gentleman go with you on the 9th June, 1891, to Tachbrook Street? Did Burton come into the room shortly afterwards, and did you and Burton between you get a large sum of money from this gentleman?—No.
Did a Birmingham gentleman go with you on 9th June, 1891, to rooms occupied by you in Tachbrook street? Did Burton come into the room very shortly afterwards, and did you and Burton between you get a large sum of money from this gentleman? No.
Did a Birmingham gentleman go with you on 9th June, 1891, to rooms occupied by you in Tachbrook street? Did Burton come into the room very shortly afterwards, and did you and Burton between you get a large sum of money from this gentleman? No.
You swear nothing of the kind took place?—I swear it.
Had "Denis J. Burton" taken the rooms in Tachbrook Street for you?—No. He took them for himself.
Had "Denis J Burton" taken thes room in Tachbrook street for you? No; he took them for himself.
Had "Denis J Burton" taken this rom in Tachbrook Street for you? No; he took them for himself.
Did you on the 9th June, 1891, meet the gentleman, whose name I have written down, at the Criterion?—No.
Did you on the 9th June, 1891, meet the gentleman whose name I have written down at the Criterion? No.
Did you on the 9th June, 1891, meet the gentleman whose name I have written down at the Criterion? No.
Did not the gentleman go with you to the rooms in Tachbrook Street from the Criterion, and did not Burton come in, demand money, and threaten to have him looked up?—No.
Did not the gentleman go with you to the rooms in Tachbrook street from the Criterion, and did not Burton come in, demand money, and threaten to have him locked up? No.
Did not the gentleman go with you to the rooms in Tachbrook street from the Criterion, and did not Burton come in, demand money, and threaten to have him locked up? 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.
Did you not take the gentleman's watch and chain, and give them to Burton? - 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.
Were you not both taken to Rochester-row the next night, and did you not then give up the watch and chain? - No.
You say nothing of the kind happened?—No.
Have you occupied rooms in Pimlico?—Yes.
Did not Burton find you in the company of a gentleman, and did he not get from that gentleman a cheque for £200?—Not to my knowledge.
Did you and Burton about two years ago extort a large sum of money from two American gentlemen at the Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue?—No. I have never been there.
Did you and Burton about two years ago extort a large sum of money from two American gentlemen at the Hotel Victoria, Northumberland avenue? No. I have never been there.
Did you and Burton about two years ago extort a large sum of money from two American gentleman at the Hotel Victoria. Northumberland avenue? No. I have never been there.
Did you and Burton attempt to blackmail a gentleman at Gaze's Hotel, Nice?—No.
Did you and Burton attempt to blackmail a gentleman at Gaze’s Hotel, Nice? No.
Did you and Burton attempt to blackmail a gentleman at Gaze’s Hotel, Nice? No.
Was there a quarrel between you and Burton?—There might have been a little row. Burton was known in the betting ring as "Watson" and witness was called "Fred."
And was there a quarrel between you and Burton? There might have been a little row. Burton was known in the betting ring as "Watson" and witness was called "Fred."
And was there a quarrel between you and Burton? There might have been a little row. Burton was known in the betting ring as "Watson," and witness was called "Fred."
Cross-examined by Mr. Grain: He was at Scarborough about a year ago fulfilling a singing engagement at the Aquarium there. He heard the name of a foreign count whose yacht was in the bay. He did not know the count. He did not obtain nearly £500 from this foreign nobleman, neither did Burton to his knowledge. He did not, while living in Buckingham Palace Road, steal a pocket-book belonging to an old city gentleman, then go to his office and threaten to expose the contents of the book unless he received a certain sum of money.
Cross-examined by Mr Grain — He was at Scarborough about a year ago fulfilling a singing engagement at the Aquarium there. He heard the name of a foreign count whose yacht was in the bay. He did not know the count. He did not obtain nearly £500 from this foreign nobleman, neither did Burton to his knowledge. He did not, while living in Buckingham palace road, steal a pocketbook belonging to an old city gentleman, then go to his office and threaten to expose the contents of the book unless he received a certain sum of money.
Cross-examined by Mr Grain—He was at Scarboro about a year ago fulfilling a singing engagement at the Aquarium there. He heard the name of a foreign count whose yacht was in the bay. He did not know the count. He did not obtain nearly £500 from this foreign nobleman, neither did Burton to his knowledge. He did not, while living in Buckingham palace road, steal a pocketbook belonging to an old city gentleman, then go to his office and threaten to expose the contents of the book unless he received a certain sum of money.
Mrs. Applegate, of Osnaburgh Street, deposed to visits of Taylor and Wilde to Atkins at that address.
Mrs Applegate, of Osnaburgh street, deposed to visits of Taylor and Wilde to Atkins at that address.
Mrs Applegate, of Osnaburgh street, deposed to visits of Taylor and Wilde to Atkins at that address.
Sidney Mavor, who described himself as holding a partnership in the City, was called and examined by Mr. Gill. He was introduced to Taylor at the theatre, and stayed with him at Little College Street. He was introduced to Wilde at a dinner at Kettner's. Wilde sent him a cigarette case. He stayed at the Albemarle Hotel on one occasion.
By Sir Edward Clarke: Nothing improper took place.
Edward Shelley, an assistant to a Vigo Street firm of publishers, who acted for Wilde in 1891, was the next witness. Shelley described Wilde's professed interest in his literary studies and his acceptance of an invitation to dinner at the Albemarle. When asked to tell the jury what afterwards took place he pathetically appealed to counsel to spare him. Mr. Avory continued the examination by informing the witness that it would be necessary to answer unpleasant questions. Shelley then deposed to Wilde's treatment of him at the Albemarle Hotel on two separate occasions.
The Court adjourned for luncheon.
Witness was cross-examined at some length. The confessed that his father told him to leave his house because he knew that he had become acquainted with the prisoner Wilde. In one letter he called his former employer. Mr. John Lane "a viper," but that was because his (Shelly's) mind was disordered.
The case was adjourned.
THE WILDE TRIAL.
AN EXCITING INCIDENT.
(Continued from Page Three.)
In the Wilde case to-day, when the examination of Shelley was concluded, Sir Edward Clarke asked that Atkins might be re-called, and at the same time handed a document to the Bench.
His Lordship thereupon warned Atkins to be careful how he answered the questions addressed to him.
Atkins then admitted that in June, 1891, he and Burton were taken to a police station charged with "hitting" a gentleman.
Two hours ago you swore that you had never been in custody at all on any charge of this kind. Why did you tell these lies?—Because I did not remember it. (Sensation.)
The case was adjourned till Monday.