The New York Herald (European Edition) - Saturday, April 6, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
MR. OSCAR WILDE IN A CELL AT BOW STREET.
Trial of the Marquis of Queensberry Ends in a Verdict of "Not
Guilty."
PROSECUTION WITHDRAWN.
Arranged Between the Opposing Counsel Last Thursday A Mysterious Cable.
LETTER TO THE TREASURY.
Lord Queensberry Tells His Story to the "Herald"-Threats to Shoot.
[BY THE HERALD'S SPECIAL WIRE.]
London, April 6.--Mr. Oscar Wilde, who for twenty years has, after one fashion or another, attracted to himself the attention of the cultivated world both of England and America; who has posed by turns as a languorous aesthete, as a caustic cynic and as a producer of brilliant epigrams and witty paradox is, as I write, the occupant of a Bow Street Police Court cell on a charge which in the eyes of most honest men is even more odious than that of murder.
London, April 5.—Oscar Wilde, who for twenty years has, after one fashion or another, attracted to himself the attention of the cultivated world of both England and America, and who posed by turns as a languorous aesthete, a caustic cynic, and a producer of brilliant epigrams and witty paradoxes, is to-night the occupant of a Bow street police court cell on a charge which, in the eyes of most honest men, is more odious than even that of murder.
London, April 5. - Oscar Wilde, who for twenty years has, after one fashion or another, attracted to himself the attention of the cultivated world of both England and America, and who posed by turns as a langorous aesthete, a caustic cynic and a producer of brilliant epigrams and witty paradoxes, is tonight the occupant of a Bow Street Police Court cell, on a charge which, in the eyes of most honest men, is more odious than even that of murder.
LONDON, April 5, 1895. Oscar Wilde, who for twenty years has, after one fashion or another, attracted to himself the attention of the cultivated world of both England and America and who posed by turns as a languorous aesthete, a caustic cynic. and a producer of brilliant epigrams and witty paradoxes. is tonight the occupant of a Bow Street Police Court cell on a charge which, in the eyes of most honest men, is more odious than even that of murder.
Yesterday was a day of sensationalism which, though one at least of its startling effects was carefully prepared in advance by a master hand, was in its essence intensely dramatic.
Yesterday was a day of sensationalism which, though some of its startling effects were carefully prepared in advance by master hands, was in its essence intensely dramatic.
Yesterday was a day of sensationalism, which though some of its startling enacts were carefully prepared in advance by master hands, was in its essence intensely dramatic.
Yesterday was a day of sensationalism, which though some of its startling sensationalism, which though some of its startling effects were carefully prepared in advance by master hands, was in its essence intensely dramatic.
When Mr. Justice Collins took his seat on the Bench at the Old Bailey at half-past ten, the Court to outward appearances was the same as that of the two previous days, with the same crowd of standing and sitting spectators, with the Marquis of Queensberry quietly lounging over the rail of the dock in his customary attitude and with the long array of counsel fidgeting over their papers and briefs. But there was a feeling of expectancy as though something were about to happen, which in some vague way changed the entire aspect of things.
That the prosecutor was not in his usual place by his solicitor's side added, doubtless,to this strained feeling, but as his presence was not absolutely required at this stage, nothing conclusive was shown by his absence.
A CABLE DESPATCH FOR THE JUDGE.
The Judge, after making the customary bow to the jury, the Court and the bar, opened and read with impressive countenance a cable despatch which was lying on his desk. He said no word, however, but nodded to Mr. Carson to resume his address, which the latter did in his usual solemn but effective manner.
He began by saying that he now came to the more painful and distasteful part of his task, for he had to call one by one the subordinate actors in a hideous drama. After hearing the evidence they would have to hear, the jury would wonder, not that Lord Queensberry should have acted as he did, but that this man Wilde had been tolerated in London society so long as he had.
He then proceeded to outline the evidence which he was to produce, and clearly showed it was of a most horribly conclusive nature. While Mr. Carson was making this scathing attack upon the absent prosecutor, an attack which at times rose to the utmost height of withering vituperation, Sir E. Clarke had quietly left the Court, and had remained absent for some minutes.
THE FIRST SENSATION.
When he returned Mr. Carson was dealing with Mr. Wilde's conduct at Worthing and elsewhere, and pointing out in the most trenchant fashion the disgraceful audacity of his behavior upon the witness stand. At this point the first sensation of this sensational day occurred. Sir Edward plucked Mr. Carson by his gown and for a few moments the opposing counsel conferred together.
Then Sir Edward rose and, addressing the judge, said that Mr. Carson had on the previous day referred to certain literature and letters, and had hoped he had said enough to convince the jury on that score alone, without dealing with other issues. Lord Queensberry, in the libel complained of, had used the word "posing," and his colleagues knew that they could not resist a verdict of "Not guilty" in this case.
ASKS TO WITHDRAW.
Taking into consideration the word "posing," he now said that on behalf of Mr. O. Wilde he would ask to withdraw from the prosecution, and if at this stage of the case that were not allowed he was prepared to accept a verdict of "Not guilty" in reference to such parts of the plea of justification as referred to Dorian Grey and The Chameleon.
Mr. Carson said, so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned, that if the verdict should involve that he succeeded in his whole plea of justification he was quite satisfied.
Mr. Justice Collins in clear, precise tones set forth that in his opinion he did not think it was any part of the functions of a judge or jury to insist on going through prurient details when the prosecutor was prepared to acquiesce in a verdict of "Not guilty," but he went on:--
"As to the jury putting any limitation upon the verdict of justification, the justification is one which is justification of the charge, which is of "posing". If that is justified, it is justified; if it is not, it is not; and the verdict of the jury upon it must be "Guilty," or "Not guilty." I understand the prosecutor to assent to a verdict of "Not guilty."
A STORM OF APPLAUSE IN COURT.
He then directed the jury to return a verdict to this effect, which, in accordance with the usual formalities they proceeded to do, the foreman, however, adding that in their opinion the libel had been uttered for the public benefit. Then there arose such a storm of applause as has seldom been heard in a court of justice.
I am told on the best authority that the arrangement as to Mr. Wilde's withdrawal from the prosecution was arrived at between counsel late on Thursday night. Mr. Carson, however, insisted that he should be allowed to continue his address to the jury long enough to bring out such essential facts as he deemed necessary. Indeed the signal for Sir E. Clarke's rising was actually given by Mr. Carson himself, when he thought the proper moment had arrived.
Thus I am told on the best authority that an arrangement as to Wilde's withdrawal from the prosecution was arrived at between counsel late on Thursday night. Mr Carson, however, insisted he should be allowed to continue his address to the jury long enough to bring out such essential facts as he deemed necessary.
Thus I am told on the best authority that an arrangement as to Wilde’s withdrawal from the prosecution was arrived at between counsel late on Thursday night. Mr. Carson, however, insisted he should be allowed to continue his address to the jury long enough to bring out such essential facts as he deemed necessary.
Thus I am told on the best authority that an arrangement as to Wilde`s withdrawal from the prosecution was arrived at between counsel late on Thursday night. Mr. Carson, however, insisted he should be allowed to continue his address to the jury long enough to bring out such essential facts as be deemed necessary.
Before Lord Queensberry and his counsel left the Court the following letter was written to the Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Director of
Public Prosecutions:--
Dear Sir,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our
witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.--Yours faithfully,
Charles Russell.
37, Norfolk-street, Strand. To the Hon. HAMILTON CUFFE, Director of Prosecutions. DEAR SIR,-In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.-Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL.
To the Hon. HAMILTON CUFFE, Director of Prosecutions.DEAR SIR,--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial. Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL.
On leaving the Court Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:-- "37, Norfolk-street, Strand. Re: Oscar Wilde. The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, Director of Public Prosecutions, The Treasury, Whitehall.--In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial. Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL."
37, Norfolk Street, Strand. The Hon. Hamilton Cuffe, E-q., Director of Prosecutions. Dear Sir,—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses' statements together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.—Yours faithfully, Charles Russell. The Treasury, Whitehall.
37, Norfolk-street, Strand. The Hon Hamilton Caffe, Esq., Director of Prosecutions. Dear Sir,- In order that there may be a miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of our witness's statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial. -Yours faithfully, CHARLES RUSSELL The Treasury, Whitehall.
On leaving the court this forenoon, Mr. Charles Russell, Lord Queensberry's solicitor, addressed the following letter to the Public Prosecutor:—"37, Norfolk Street, Strand."The Honourable Hamilton Cuffe, Esq., Director of Prosecutions. "Dear Sir—In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice, I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of the trial.Yours faithfully, Charles Russell."The Treasury, Whitehall."
"37, Norfolk-street. Strand. " Dear Sir,— In order that there may be no miscarriage of justice. I think it my duty at once to send you a copy of all our Witnesses' statements, together with a copy of the shorthand notes of trial. — Yours faithfully, "Charles Russell."
And, then so far as Lord Queensberry was concerned, the case was ended. The rest lay with the Public Prosecutor.
"DONE MY DUTY.
"I think," said Lord Queensberry to me later in the afternoon when I found him at Carter's Hotel, Albemarle-street, his table littered with congratulatory telegrams which continued to arrive in batches at intervals, "I think I have done my duty, not only to my family and myself, but also to the community. It has cost me £1,200 and now if the law of England does not step in I must make my own law. I have sent a message to this creature Wilde that if he chooses to leave the country, I, for one, shall certainly not lift a finger to stay him, but he must distinctly understand that if he takes my son with him I shall follow him and shoot him like a dog. But I think he ought not to be allowed to leave the country; I think he ought to be placed where he can ruin no more-young men.
The Marquis of Queensberry is receiving hundreds of congratulatory telegrams and letters. In an Interview he said: "I think I have done my duty, not only to my family and myself, but also to the community. It has coat me £1,200, and now if the law of England don't step in I must make my own law. I have sent a message to this creature Wilde to the effect that if he chooses to leave the country. I, for one, shall not life a finger to stay him. But he must distinctly understand that if he takes my son with him I shall follow him and shoot him like a dog. But I think he ought not to be allowed to leave the country.
"For the part I have taken myself in this matter I can only say I acted absolutely and entirely from a sense of duty. Many of my friends have said, as many of these telegrams received also say, that I am to be commended for my pluck. I do not see that pluck had anything to do with it.
"For the part I have taken myself in this matter I can only say that I have acted absolutely and entirely from a sense of duty. Many of my friends said, as many of these telegrams received also say, that I am to be commended for my pluck. I do not see that pluck had anything to do with it. I do not see that I could have acted otherwise than I have done. I have preserved my self-respect.
"For the part I have taken myself in this matter I can only say that l have acted absolutely and entirely from a sense of duty. Many of my friends said, as many of these telegrams received also say, that I am to be commended for my pluck. I do not see that pluck had anything to do with it. I do not see that I could have acted otherwise than I have done. I have preserved my self-respect.
"I do not see that I could have acted otherwise than I have done and have preserved my self-respect I may tell you that the full measure of this man's baseness was not revealed to me until after my own arrest at his instance.
DEPTHS OF IMMORALITY.
"Then the evidence which accumulated and the voluntary confessions which were made to us showed us a depth of immorality which is almost incredible. But I have come to the conclusion that the man, if man you can call him, must be demented. No sane man could have adopted the tone he did on the witness stand ; no sane man could have made the ridiculous assertion you tell me he has concerning the reason of his counsel's withdrawal.
"Why he has not long since fled the country I cannot imagine, for he knew of our defence and our witnesses days ago, and must have anticipated the only result possible. I may tell you that our evidence was irrefutable, peculiarly so, indeed."
As I was talking to Lord Queensberry a serious conclave was in progress at Bow Street police court. When Mr. Russell's letter reached the Treasury the Hon. Hamilton Cuffe chanced to be there and at once went through the papers and communicated with the authorities at Scotland Yard.
They in turn applied to Sir J. Bridge, the presiding magistrate at Bow Street, who after personally examining two of the witnesses subpoenaed by Lord Queensberry's lawyers, signed at a quarter-past five a warrant of arrest for Mr. Wilde on the most serious charge short of a capital offence. This was taken by two detective-sergeants to the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, where Wilde was known to be.
CLOSELY SHADOWED.
I may say here, by the way, that for the last six weeks he has been closely shadowed by the police authorities. At the hotel Mr. Wilde was found sitting in an armchair, smoking and chatting with the two Douglas boys.
When one of the detectives explained the nature of their visit, Mr. Wilde quietly said: "Oh ! May I ask what you are going to do
with me?" He was told he would first be taken to Scotland Yard, and the warrant was read.
"Shall I be kept in a cell all night?" he asked. "Yes,"
was the reply.
"Can I be bailed out?"
"That," said the detective, "is not a matter for me to decide."
Picking up and taking with him a number of the Yellow Book which lay on the table he then put on his coat and hat and accompanied the detectives in a cab to Scotland Yard. It then became evident that he had been drinking heavily. As he left the cab he nearly fell and reeled somewhat as he crossed the pavement.
At half-past eight he left Scotland Yard for Bow Street. On the way he asked various questions as to the treatment he might expect. Whether he might smoke in his cell, and so forth.
CONDUCTED TO A CELL.
Arrived at the station he was at once charged and while the warrant was read stood quietly and collectedly in the dock with his hands in his pockets. He said nothing in answer, save to ask that the date of the alleged offence, which was March 25, 1895, might be repeated. He was then searched, all valuables and papers taken from him and was immediately conducted to a cell.
Later a Mr. Rosse arrived with a bag containing Wilde's dressing-gown and so forth, but was not allowed to see him or to leave the bag, and later still Lord Alfred Douglas appeared with a substantial sum in his possession which he was prepared to offer as bail. It was, of course, refused. Wilde is treated as an ordinary prisoner, no indulgences of any sort being allowed to him.
I am told that the case had already been informally submitted to the Public Prosecutor, and so there was not the least delay in the action taken by that functionary.
I also hear the case had already been informally submitted to the public prosecutor, and so there was not the least delay in the action taken by that functionary in relation to obtaining a warrant for Wilde’s arrest.
I also heard that the detectives have been scouring the city in search of the man Taylor, for whom a warrant is already signed. He has been under police surveillance for some time, but unluckily was allowed to slip away early yesterday morning and has not been seen since. It is not expected that he has left the city.
Late to-night I hear that detectives have been scouring the city in search of the man Taylor, for whom a warrant has already been signed. He has been under police surveillance for some time, but he was unluckily allowed to slip away early this morning, and has not been seen since. It is not expected, however, that he has left the city.
Late to-night I hear that detectives have been scouring the city in search or the man Taylor, for whom a warrant has already been signed. He has been under police surveillance for some time, but he was unluckily allowed to slip away early this morning and has not been seen since. It is not expected, however, that he has left the city.
The Herald’s London special says:— Detectives have been scouring the city in search of the man Taylor, for whom a warrant has already been signed. He has been under police surveillance for some time, but was unluckily allowed to slip away one morning, and has not been seen since. It is not expected, whoever, that he has left the city.
The Herald's London special says: Detectives have been scouring the city in search of the man Taylor, for whom a warrant ha already been signed. He has been under police surveillance for some time, but he was unluckily allowed to slip away one morning and has not been seen since. It is not expected, however, that he has left the city.
I need not say that London yesterday afternoon and night was completely possessed of but one idea, and that idea concerned itself with the arrest of Mr. Wilde. Not only has he been for a very long time a prominent figure in literary and artistic circles, but for the last few years rumors and innuendoes which have caused Lord Queensberry to insist upon his son breaking off his intimacy with the dramatist have been prevalent, and have included the names not only of Wilde and his close intimates, but many well-known men of social as well as artistic distinction.
I need not say that London this afternoon and to-night has been completely possessed of but one topic of conversation—the arrest of Oscar Wilde. Not only has he been for a very long time a prominent figure to literary and artistic circles, but during the last few years the rumors and innuendoes which caused the Marquis of Queensberry to insist upon his son’s breaking off his intimacy with the dramatist have been insistently prevalent, and have included the names not only of Wilde and his close intimates, but of many well-known men of social as well as artistic distinction.
I need not say that London this afternoon and to-night has been completely possessed of but one topic of conversation the arrest of Oscar Wilde. Not only had he been for a very long time a prominent figure in literary and artistic circles, but during the last few years the rumours and innuendoes which caused the Marquis of Queensberry to insist upon his son's breaking off with the dramatist have been insistently prevalent, and have included the names not only of Wilde and his close intimates, but of many well known men of social as well as artistic distinction.
Things, indeed, have been fast reaching a point at which no man's name has been safe, and it is therefore felt by everyone that Lord Queensberry has rendered a positive service to the community. This at all events is the opinion I have heard expressed on every hand to-day.
Things had indeed been fast reaching a point at which no man's name would have been safe, and it is, therefore, felt by every one that Lord Queensberry has rendered a positive service to the community. This, at all events, is the opinion I heard expressed on every hand to-day.
Things had indeed been fast in reaching a point at which no man’s name would have been safe, and it is, therefore, felt by every one that the Marquis of Queensberry has rendered a positive service to the community. This, at all events, is the opinion I heard expressed on every hand to-day.
Interest has of course attached to the course that would be taken by the managers of those theatres at which Mr. Wilde's plays are at present running. It was expected, indeed, by the majority of people that both would be immediately removed from the boards.
Neither Mr. Alexander nor Mr. Morrell, however, adopted this course. The author's name was omitted from the programme and the advertisements, and that was all. The attendance at both houses was, however, slight.
The prisoner will be brought before the magistrate at ten o'clock this morning.