Galignani Messenger - Tuesday, April 30, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE SOCIETY SCANDAL
RESUMED HEARING.
HOTEL WITNESSES CALLED.
TAYLOR'S STRANGE ROOMS.
LEGAL
ARGUMENTS.
London, April 29.
The proceedings did not commence this morning till 11 o'clock. A half-hour's grace was allowed, so as to give time for those engaged in the case who were out of town for the week end to get back by train. Mr. Justice Charles is an exceedingly punctual judge. Precisely at 11 that quaint Old Bailey signal of his lordship's approach, the slamming of the bar at the door, announced his arrival. Alderman Lawrence again accompanied his lordship, and took Lord Mayor's chair beside the judge's seat.
Wilde and Taylor when put into the dock resumed the chairs awaiting them. Wilde promptly seated himself, and at once took up what is apparently his favourite position, his elbow on the corner of the dock rail and his head resting on his palm or on his knuckles. Taylor gazed around the court before sitting down, and seemed looking for someone. Then he spoke to his solicitor, and took his chair, smiling, of course--he still is always smiling. Wilde appeared somewhat better this morning. The rest of yesterday has evidently been grateful to him. His colour is better, and his eyes brighter; but he still looks ill and terribly aged by the events of the past three weeks.
Counsel were all in their accustomed places, Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory, with Mr. Angus Lewis and Mr. Frayling, of the Treasury, who instruct them, for the prosecution; Sir Edward Clarke, Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys, with Mr. Robert Humphreys, Wilde's solicitor, for Wilde's defence ; Mr. J. P. Grain for the defence of Taylor; Mr. Kershaw watching for that superior young man, the witness Mavor.
Mr. J. P. Grain set the case going again by asking the judge to confirm his impression that young Shelley of the intellectual face had said the prisoner Taylor was a stranger to him.
Mr. J.P. Grain set the case going again by asking the judge to confirm his impression that young Shelley of the intellectual face had said the prisoner Taylor was a stranger to him.
Mr. Justice Charles quoted from his notes: "Taylor is a stranger to me."
Mr. Justice Charles quoted from his notes, "Taylor is a stranger to me."
Two shorthand writers formally proved the transcript of Wilde's evidence at the Queensberry libel trial. It was the sublimation of limited editions -- three copies, large paper, MS., one for the prosecution, one for the defence, and one for the judge.
of Wilde's evidence at the Queensberry libel trial. It was the sublimation of limited editions--three copies, large paper, M.S., one for the prosecution. one for the defence, and one for the judge.
Antonio Miggz, a dark little Frenchman, who in March, 1893, was employed as a masseur at the Savoy Hotel, gave evidence as to Wilde's stay at the hotel.
Antonin Miggz, a dark little Frenchman, who in March, 1893, was employed as a masseur at the Savoy Hotel, gave evidence as to Wilde's stay at the hotel.
Ellen Cotter, a chambermaid at the hotel, deposed to seeing a boy in Wilde's room on another occasion. Wilde occupied room 362. Lord Alfred Douglas was in 361. The boy was in Wilde's room. Mrs. Perkins, who in March, 1893, was housekeeper at the Savoy Hotel, confirmed Miss Cotter's statement.
Ellen Cotter, a chambermaid at the hotel, deposed to seeing a boy in Wilde's room on another occasion, Wilde occupied room 362. Lord Alfred Douglas was in 361. The boy was in Wilde's room. Mrs. Perkins, who in March, 1893, was housekeeper at the Savoy Hotel, confirmed Ms. Cotter's statement.
Passing from this portion of the case, Mr. C. F. Gill called
William Harris, a detective sergeant, who obtained access by a subterfuge to Taylor's rooms at 13, Little College-street, in May, 1893. He described the interior of the draped and artificially-darkened rooms. It was this officer who arrested Taylor at Denbigh-street, Pimlico, on the present charge. When taken into custody he only said: "Very well. I expected you last night. What are you going to do with me?" The witness took him to Bow-street, where be was charged.
William Harris, a detective sergeant, who obtained access by a subterfuge to Taylor's rooms at 14, Little College-st., in May, 1893. He described the interior of the draped and artificially-darkened rooms. It was this officer who arrested Taylor at Denbigh-st., Pimlico, on the present charge. When taken into custody he only said, "Very well, I expected you last night. What are you going to do with me?" The witness took him to Bow-st., where he was charged.
William Harris, a detective sergeant, who obtained access by a subterfuge to Taylor's rooms at 13, Little College-street, in May, 1893, described the interior of the draped and artificially-darkened rooms. It was this officer who arrested Taylor at Denbigh-street, Pimlico, on the present charge.
Mr. Grain's cross-examination was directed to show that the prisoner made no attempt to evade arrest, and had been in attendance on subpoena at the Old Bailey throughout the Queensberry case. The witness could not remember Taylor saying he had heard a warrant was out, and was on his way to give himself up. Mr. Grain was also anxious to show that the darkening of Taylor's windows at Little College-street was only the drapery usual in Continental cities and the modern flat. Harris would express no opinion about Continental cities, but he had never seen anything of the kind in England before. The muslin, he said, was not made into blinds, but was tightly stretched over the whole of the windows.
Taylor saying he had heard a warrant was out, and was on his way to give himself up. Mr. Grain was also anxious to show that the darkening of Taylor's windows at Little College-st. was only the drapery usual in Continental cities and the modern flat. Harris would express no opinion about Continental cities, but he had never seen anything of the kind on England before. The muslin, he said, was not made into blinds, but was tightly stretched over the whole of his windows.
Detective-inspector Richards described again the arrest of Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, on the evening of the 5th inst., after the collapse of the case against Lord Queensberry.
Detective-inspector Richards described again the arrest of Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, on the evening of the 15th ult., after the collapse of the case against Lord Queensberry.
Detective inspector Richards describes again the arrest of Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-st., on the evening of the 5 inst., after the collapse of the case against Lord Queensberry. When Wilde heard the charge he asked, "Where shall I be taken," and seemed
It was Inspector Brockwell who held the warrant and actually charged Wilde, who, after ascertaining the dates to which the charges referred, made no further comment. He was searched in the usual way. Among his papers was an envelope addressed to "Sidney Mavor, Esq.," containing a note as follows: "Dear Sid,--I could not wait any longer. Come on at once and see Oscar at 16, Tite-street, Chelsea; I am there.--Yours, ALF. TAYLOR." There was another letter from Taylor to Wilde, informing him that ex-Inspector Littlechild, Lord Queensberry's agent, had obtained admission to his rooms, and that he had found a letter opened which he had left there for Mavor.
It was Inspector Brockwell who held the warrant and actually charged Wilde who, after ascertaining the dates to which the charges referred, made no further comment. He was searched in the usual way. Among his papers was an envelope addressed to "Sidney Mavor, Esq.," containing a note as follows: "Dear Sid,--I could not wait any longer. Come on at once and see Oscar at 16, Tite-street, Chelsea; I am there.--Yours, ALF. TAYLOR." There was another letter from Taylor to Wilde, informing him that ex-Inspector Littlechild, Lord Queensberry's agent, had obtained admission to his rooms, and that he had found a letter opened which he had left there for Mavor.
Other letters were found on Wilde which, Mr. Gill submitted, had no bearing on the case. Sir Edward Clarke was anxious that one of them at least should be read, and it was first handed to his lordship. He presently stated that it seemed to be a sympathetic letter from a literary friend of the defendant. He did not quite see what bearing it had on the case, or the other letters which had been read.
Other letters were found on Wilde which, Mr. Gill submitted, had no bearing on the case. Sir Edward Clarke was anxious that one of them at least should be read, and it was first handed to his lordship. He presently stated that it seemed to be a sympathetic letter from a literary friend of the defendant. He did not quite see what bearing it had on the case, or the other letters which had been read.
Sir Edward said those other letters had no doubt been read with the object of producing some impression on the mind of the jury, and this letter should be admissible for the same purpose.
His lordship, however, pointed out that if a letter expressing adverse views had been found on Wilde, it would have been said it would be wrong to read it to the jury.
His lordship, however, pointed out that if a letter expressing adverse views had been found on Wilde, it would have been said it would be wrong to read it to the jury.
Sir Edward did not press his application.
Mr. Read, clerk of the court, gave formal evidence of the nature of the indictment in Wilde's charge against the Marquis of Queensberry, and of the collapse of the case on the third day of the trial, when the prosecutor assented to a verdict of not guilty.
Mr. Read, clerk of the court, gave formal evidence of the nature of the indictment in Wilde's charge against the Marquis of Queensberry, and of the collapse of the case on the third day of the trial, when the prosecutor assented to a verdict of not guilty. It next became a question of reading to the jury the
It next became a question of reading to the jury the evidence of Wilde himself at the trial of Lord Queensberry, and Sir Edward Clarke objected that only the cross-examination, which foreshadowed Lord Queensberry's plea of justification, had any bearing on the present charges, which were in no way referred to in Mr. Wilde's examination-in-chief.
Sir Edward Clarke objected that only the cross-examination, which foreshadowed Lord Queensberry's plea of justification, had any bearing on the present charges, which were in no way referred to in Mr. Wilde's examination-in-chief.
Mr. Gill held that the following questions and answers at the end of the examination-in-chief were pertinent:-"Your attention has been called to the statements which are made in the pleadings referring to different persons and impugning your conduct with them ? Answer: Yes. Question: Is there any truth whatever in any of these accusations? Answer: There is no truth whatever in any one of them." This, and the whole of Wilde's cross- examination, which runs to folios innumerable, Mr. Gill proceeded to read to the jury.
Mr. Gill held that the following questions and answers at the end of the examination-in-chief were pertinent: - "Your attention has been called to the statements which are made in the pleadings referring to different persons and impugning your conduct with them? Answer: Yes. Question: Is there any truth whatever in any of these accusations? Answer: There is no truth whatever in any one of them." This, and the whole of Wilde's cross-examination, which runs to folios innumerable, Mr. Gill proceeded to read to the jury, a task which promised to last till far into the afternoon, and to make it absolutely impossible to finish the case to-day.
For the first time Wilde began to show uneasiness as counsel rapidly, and with a minimum of expression, ran through the wonderful series of Oscarisms which made up a day and a half of cross-examination unparalleled in the history of the Old Bailey. There was now an intolerable irony in such flippancies and paradoxes as made amusing reading when Wilde was in the witness-box. As a refuge from the ghosts of his own intellectual fireworks Wilde took to playing with a quill pen. He has grown perceptibly thinner since his incarceration. Taylor seemed profoundly bored, and rested his arm on the ledge of the dock and his mouth on his hand in an attitude peculiar to himself.
When the court adjourned for lunch Mr. C. F. Gill had only got through the literary side of the cross-examination, and at two o'clock he was relieved by Mr. A. Gill, who went on with the reading, making an even worse hash of the passages about the slim-gilt soul, and the "red rose-leaf lips, made no less for the music of song than for the madness of kissing."
When the court adjourned for lunch Mr. C. F. Gill had only got through the literary side of the cross-examination, and at two o'clock he was relieved by Mr. A. Gill, who went on with the reading, making an even worse hash of the passages about the slim-gilt soul, and the "red rose-leaf lips, made no less for the music of song than for the madness of kissing."
At half-past two Mr. A. Gill reached his seventy-third folio, and Mr. C. F. Gill again took up the running. Wilde's description of Taylor is worth recording: "I do not call him an intimate friend. He was a friend of mine."
At half-past two Mr. A. Gill reached his seventy-third folio, and Mr. C.F. Gill took up the running. Wilde's description of Taylor is worth recording: "I do not call him an intimate friend. He was a friend of mine."
There was a small diversion when Sir Edward Clarke objected to the reading of certain parts of the cross-examination which did not concern the subject-matter of the present charges. But Mr. Gill said he was using the cross-examination as part of his own case, and in its relation to the general credibility of Wilde in his denial of the charges of misconduct. His lordship upheld this view, and Mr. Gill went on with his reading of the Worthing incident, and the history of the "happy idle nature" of Alphonse Conway.
When the reading came to the question of the relations between Wilde and Taylor, Mr. Grain rose to object that Wilde's cross-examination in another case should not be made evidence against his client.
When the reading came to the question of the relations between Wilde and Taylor, Mr. Grain rose to object that Wilde's cross-examination in another case should not be made evidence against his client.
Mr. Justice Charles said he could not exclude it on that ground. It was evidence against Wilde, and that made it legal to read it. Whether it was also evidence against Taylor depended on a number of considerations, which he would take care were not lost sight of.
Mr. Justice Charles said he could not exclude it on that ground. It was evidence against Wilde, and that made it legal to read it. Whether it was also evidence against Taylor depended on a number of considerations, which he would take care were not lost sight of.
The remainder of the afternoon was occupied in reading the evidence of the various unreportable depositions, the lawyers occasionally intervening to discuss some technical points, and at 4.30 the court adjourned until tomorrow morning.
It is said that the Scotland Yard authorities have decided to prosecute the publishers of certain ribald ballads on the Wilde case which have been circulated throughout the metropolis, especially in South London.