The Ottawa Citizen - Friday, April 5, 1895

WILDE IN THE BOX.
His Cross-Examination by Sir Edward Carson.

London, April 4.- The trial of the action of Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry for libel was resumed to-day. Mr. Wilde, being cross-examined, retained perfect composure until near the end when he lost his temper and denounced the insolence of Mr. Carson in pursuing the line of argument he had adhered to. In the evidence submitted to-day was a letter from the Marquis of Queensberry forbidding his son to longer keep company with Wilde. The speech for the defence, when all the evidence was submitted, was most denunciatory of Wilde, who left the court room when Mr. Carson had begun to speak. The plea which Wilde made for his intimacy with youths was that he detested the old and sensible, while the company of the young happy, careless and original had a wonderful charm. In connection with the case, Mr. Tree’s name was mentioned and he sent a cable to Sir Edward Carson to have a fuller explanation of the same. It reads:

"I see my name mentioned in Wilde case. Am not in possession of evidence of but facts are these: During rehearsals of "A Woman of no Importance" I received anonymous letters which I considered my duty at once to hand to Wilde."

"A Woman of no Importance," is the play written by Wilde, and first produced by Mr. Tree at the Haymarket Theatre, London.