The Evening Journal - Monday, April 8, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
WILDE'S COLLAPSE.
HOW HE ESCAPED 20 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.
By Taking Sentence on the Evidence Already in he
may Escape with Two Years on the Present Charge - How he Suddenly Went to Pieces.
New York, April 6.- The World has the following cable, describing the close of the Queensberry-Wilde trial: The collapse of Oscar Wilde's prosecution of the Marquis of Queensberry and Wilde's arrest have caused a sensation without a parallel in London since the exposure and flight of Forger Pigott during the sitting of the Parnell commission.
Still, since Wilde's first day's testimony this result has been foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry.
Would Have Had 20 Years.
Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the judge would have had no option, but must have issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as the maximum penalty twenty years' imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted, it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment.
Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the Judge would have had no recourse but must have issued a warrant for Wilde’s arrest on a charge entailing as the maximum a penalty of twenty years’ imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years’ imprisonment.
Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the Judge would have had no recourse but must have issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as a maximum a penalty of twenty years' imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanor, for which the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment.
Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached. If Lord Queensberry's witnesses had been examined the Judge would have had no recourse but must have issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as a maximum a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, but upon the evidence already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted it can only be of a misdemeanour, for which the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment.
The Slinking Cur.
Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court building. Hitherto he has been dressed according to the latest dictate of fashion and faultlessly groomed. This morning his clothes were creased and tumbled as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes were bloodshot, his complexion was ghastly and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night.
Wilde looked and altered man this morning as he slunk into the court building. Hitherto he has been dressed in the last note of fashion and faultlessly groomed, but this morning his clothes were creased and tumbled on as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes bloodshot, his complexion ghastly; altogether the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night.
Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court building. Hitherto he has been dressed according to the latest dictates of fashion and faultlessly groomed. This morning his clothes were creased and tumbled as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes were bloodshot, his complexion was ghastly, and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.
Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court building. Hitherto he had been dressed according to the latest dictates of fashion and faultlessly groomed. This morning his clothes were creased and tumbled as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes were bloodshot, his complexion was ghastly, and altogether he had the aspect of a man who had passed a wakeful and anxious night. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.
Wilde looked a changed man as he slunk into the Court building on the third day. Hitherto he had been dressed according to the latest dictates of fashion and faultlessly groomed. That morning his clothes were creased and tumbled as though he had not changed them during the night. His long hair was disarranged, his eyes were bloodshot and his complexion ghastly. To an interviewer Wilde stated, in a nervous tone quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.
Bluffer, to the Last.
To an interviewer Wilde stated, in nervous tones, quite unlike his flippant audacity as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend.
That was the hollowest bluff. The truth is, Wilde's chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday’s proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, hopeless night he passed.
That was the hollowest bluff. The truth is, Wilde's chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday's proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar: hence the restless, hopeless night he passed.
That was the hollowest bluff. The truth is, Wilde’s chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday’s proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decision was immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, sleepless night he passed.
That was the hollowest bluff. The truth is, Wilde's chief lawyer, Sir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday's proceedings to withdraw from the suit.
When he Weakened.
Wilde's lawyers say that up to that time he had never evinced the slightest appreciation of the gravity of the accusations against him.
It was only when the imminent prospect of his taking Lord Queensberry's place in the dock dawned upon him that he lost his self-command.
The mass of testimony ready to be given against him, as foreshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely aback. The World correspondent hears that this testimony was tendered by the police to Lord Queensberry's lawyers, it having accumulated during their investigation. They had planned a public precaution if the case had proceeded.
Others Said to be Involved.
It is rumored that one of the reasons why Sir Edward Clarge decided to stop the trial was that to go on would have involved the disclosure of names of distingulshed personages, but this story is discredited.
If Wilde had escaped to the continent he would have been safe from arrest, as he could not have been extradited under the charge.
It was reported that he had fled, but he was seen at Chelsea at 4 p. m. today, and was arrested by 7 p.m.
His Grief-Stricken Wife.
His wife is with the children at the family residence on Tite street. She is distracted by grief. Mrs. Wilde has about £500 (£ 2,500) a year of her own. For the last three years she has received no financial help from her husband.
Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary "at homes" once a week. She is seventy-five years old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish Nationalist newspaper, the Nation, for which she wrote over the name of "Speranza."
Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary "at homes" once a week. She is seventy-five years old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish National newspaper, the Nation, for which she wrote over the name of "Speranza."
Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary "at homes" once a week. She is seventy-five years old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish national newspaper, The Nation, for which she wrote over the name of "Speranza."
Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary "at homes" once a week. She is seventy-five years old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish National newspaper, the Nation, for which she wrote over the name of "Speranza."
Mrs. Oscar Wilde is distracted by grief. She has about $2,500 a year of her own. For the last three years she has received no financial help from her husband. Wilde's mother, Lady Wilde, also lives in Chelsea, where she has literary At Homes once a week. She is 75 ears old. In her young days she was one of the most brilliant contributors to the famous Irish Nationalist newspaper, the Nation, for which she wrote over the name of Speranza.