The Yorkshire Evening Post - Thursday, May 23, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
TO-DAY'S LATE NEWS.
THE TRIAL OF OSCAR WILDE.
SOME STIR IN COURT.
LORD QUEENSBURY AND HIS SON IN
COURT.
The trial of Mr. Oscar Wilde on charges of indecency was resumed before Mr. Justice Wills at the Old Bailey to-day. The public gallery was again crowded long before the time fixed for the opening of the proceedings. The Solicitor-General and Mr. C.F. Gill, for the prosecution, were early arrivals in court, and they were quickly followed by Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., and Mr. Travers Humphreys, counsel for the prisoner. Mr. Oscar Wilde entered the court shortly before 10.30, and for some time stood at the foot of the jury box conversing with the Rev. Stewart Headlam. His appearance created some little stir in the gallery, the occupants of which eagerly craned their necks in order to obtain a view of him. Soon afterwards Lord Douglas of Hawick joined the group, and they remained in earnest conversation until his Lordship took his seat on the bench. The prisoner then stepped into the dock, and was again accommodated with a chair. He sat with his elbow resting on the ledge in front of him, and while listening to the evidence stroked his his lips with the back of his hands. He looked somewhat worried and anxious.
Mr Oscar Wilde entered the court shortly before 10 30, and for some time stood at the foot the of jury-box conversing with the Rev Stewart Headlam. His appearance created some little stir in the gallery, the occupants of which eagerly craned their necks in order obtain a view of him. Soon after Lord Douglas of Hawick joined the group, and they remained in earnest conversation until his lordship took his seat on the bench. The prisoner then stepped into the dock, and was again accommodated with a chair. He sat with his elbow resting on the ledge in front of him, and, while listening to the evidence, stroked his lips with the back of his hand. He looked somewhat worried and anxious.
Mr Oscar Wilde entered the court shortly before 10 30, and for some time stood at the [...] of the jury-box conversing with the Rev Stewart Headlam. His appearance created [...] little stir in the gallery, the occupants which eagerly craned their necks in order [...] obtain a view of him. Soon after Lord Douglas of Hawick joined the group, and they remained in earnest conversation until his Lordship took his seat on the bench. The prisoner then stepped into the dock, and was [...] accommodated with a chair. He sat with his elbow resting on the ledge in front of him, and, while listening to the evidence, stroked his lips with the back of his hand. He looked somewhat worried and anxious.
The Solicitor-General at once called William Parker, who said he was the brother of the witness Charles Parker He described a dinner given by Mr. Oscar Wilde. Four were present.
Did the dinner consist of many courses?- Four or five.
Was wine provided?- Yes; champagne, coffee, and liqueurs.
Did you hear Oscar Wilde make a statement to your brother? -Yes.
After that did you leave?- Yes.
Shortly after this did you go into the country?- Yes.
Sir E. Clarke first cross-examined witness as to the employment he had been in, and then asked: Do you suggest you knew your brother was going for a certain purpos?- As I understood it from him.
Sir E Clarke first cross-examined witness as to the employment he had been in, and then asked—"Do you suggest you knew your brother was going for an indecent purpose? As I understood it from him.
Sir E Clarke first cross-examined witness as to the employment he had been in, and then asked — Do you suggest yo know your brother was going for an indecent purpose? As I understood it from him.
You were perfectly sober, I suppose?- I was.
You represent that at the end of that dinner you heard of such a proposal made to your brother, and did not interfere to prevent it?- I did not.
You represent that at the end of that dinner you heard of such a proposal made to your brother and did not interfere to prevent it? I did not.
You represent that at the end of that dinner you heard of such a proposal made t your brother and did not interfere to prevent it? I did not.
Had you intended to do the same sort of thing yourself?- I had.
Charles Robinson was the next witness. He was a book-keeper at the Savoy Hotel.
Margaret Potter, chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, who attended to the rooms occupied by prisoner and Lord Alfred Douglas, gave evidence of a similar nature to that she gave at the previous trial.
Jane Margaret Potter, chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, who attended to the rooms occupied by prisoner and Lord Alfred Douglas, told of the condition in which she occasionally found the bed linen.
Alice Saunders, another chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, said she remembered Mr. Wilde staying there in March, 1893. The last witness called her attention to certain things in Wilde's rooms.
Sir E. Clarke: Did you make a statement about this one day last week?- Yes, last Friday evening.
Sir E Clarke—Did you make a statement about this one day last week? Yes, last Friday evening.
Yon were not called at the previous trial?- No, sir.
Anton Miggi, a masseur, was next examined by Mr. Gill. He repeated his previous evidence.
Emile Becker, waiter at the Savoy Hotel in March, 1893, said he waited on Mr. Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas.
Emile Becker, a waiter at the Savoy Hotel, stated that in March, 1893, he waited on Mr Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas.
Mr. Gill: During the time Wilde was staying there have you seen young men in those rooms? -Yes, sir.
Mr Gill — During the time Wilde was staying there have you seen young men in those rooms? Yes, sir.
Mr Gill — During the time he was there have you noticed any young men going into his rooms? No, sir.
How many young men did you see go there during that time? -About five.
How many young men did you see go there during that time? About five.
Have you served supper in Mr. Wilde's room when any young man his been there? -Yes. On one occasion there was a young man there. He was dark looking.
Have you served supper in Mr Wilde’s room when any young man has been there? Yes, on one occasion there was a young man there; he was dark-looking.
And you served drinks there when young men were there? -Yes.
Crass-examined by Sir E. Clarke: Witness said he first made a statement as to this matter on Friday last. He was not examined at the last trial.
Cross-examined by Sir E Clarke, witness said that he first made a statement as to this matter on Friday last. He was not examined at the last trial.
And yet you say you remember a supper and champagne rather more than two years ago? -Yes.
And yet you say you remember a supper and champagne more than two years ago? Yes.
I wonder whether you took any interest in the previous trial. Did you read the papers? -I read a paper.
[...] wonder whether you took any interest in [...]ious trial. Did you read the papers? [...] read a paper.
Did you happen to see in the papers that Charles Parker had had chicken and champagne for supper? -No.
Did you happen to see in the papers that Charles Parker had had chicken and champagne for supper? No.
How many sitting-rooms had you to look after? -Seven.
Have you seen Charles Parker here? -I have been told that this was Charles Parker.
Have you seen Charles Parker here? I have [...] told that this was Charles Parker.
Have you seen him? -Yes.
Did you recognise him? -No, sir.
Who told you it was Charles Parker? -Some of the witnesses told me it was Charles Parker.
Who told you it was Charles Parker? Some of the witnesses told me it was Charles Parker.
Mrs. Perkins, of Southsea, formerly housekeeper at the Savoy Hotel, gave additional evidence.
[...] of South[...], formerly house[...] at the Savoy Hotel, gave additional [...] the bed linen.
Margaret Bancroft said she lived at 50, Park Walk, Chelsea. She remembered Charles Parker coming to lodge there. He occupied one room. One night she heard a cab drive up, and two men entered the house and went up to Parker's room. After being in the house for 20 minutes or half an hour they went away in the cab. Witness looked out of the window and saw Wilde getting into the cab. The other man was Parker. They went away together. Witness made a communication to the landlady, and Parker left.
Margaret Bancroft said that she lived 50 Park walk, Chelsea. She remembered Charles Parker coming to lodge there. He occupied one room. One night she heard a cab drive up and two men entered the house and went up to Parker’s room. After being in the house for twenty minutes or half an hour they went away in the cab. Witness looked out of the window and saw Wilde getting into the cab. The other man was Parker. They went away together. Witness made communication to landlady, and Parker left.
Margaret [...]croft said that she lived at 50 [...]k, Chelsea. She remembered Charles Parker coming to lodge there. He occupied [...]. One night she heard a cab drive up to Parker’s room. After being in the house for twenty minutes or half an hour they went [...] in the cab. Witness looked out of the window and saw Wilde getting into the cab. [...]ther man [...] Parker. They went away together. Witness made a communication to [...] landlady, and Parker left.
Cross-examined: Witness believed the party went away in the cab, but she was not certain. She did not hear him come upstairs again. She had never seen Wilde at the house before. She had seen him about half a dozen times previously, but had never spoken to him.
Cross-examined — Witness believed Parker went away in a cab, but she was not certain. She did not hear him come upstairs again. She had never seen Wilde at the house before. She had seen him about half a dozen times previously, but had never spoken to him.
Cross examined—Witness believed Parker [...] in a cab, but she was not certain. She did not hear him come upstairs again. She had never seen Wilde at the house before [...] had seen him about half a dozen times previously, but had never spoken to him.
Lucy Rumsby, landlady of 50, Park Walk, said she gave Parker notice in consequence of the statement made to her by the last witness.
At this point the Marquess of Queensberry entered the court, and took a seat from which he had a good view of the dock and witness-box.
After other evidence, Sir Edward Clarke read portions of the evdenee given by Wilde in examination in chief in the Queensberry case. The Solicitor-General afterwards read portions of Wilde's evidence given in cross-examination.
The Court then adjourned for luncheon.
(Continued on Page 4.)
LATE BUFF EDITION.
THE WILDE CASE.
(Continued from Page Three.)
On the Court resuming the reading of Wilde's evidence was concluded by Mr. Avory, and Sir E. Clarke proceeded to read the evidence given by Wilde in re-examination.
It was five minutes past three when the reading of the evidence was concluded, and the Solicitor-General then intimated that the case for the prosecution was concluded.
At five minutes past three the Solicitor-General intimated that the case for the prosecution was closed.
Sir E. Clarke, Q.C., then addressed the Court on behalf of the prisoner.
His Lordship said the case ought to go to the jury.
The trial was again adjourned.