The New York Herald (European Edition) - Tuesday, August 27, 1895

OSCAR WILDE’S AFFAIRS.
Interesting Details of the Percentage on the Debtor’s Plays.
[BY THE HERALD'S SPECIAL WIRE.]

LONDON, August 27.––Some further details of Oscar Wilde’s bankruptcy were made at the first meeting of creditors which was held yesterday. Wilde was not present, the Official Receiver stating that it was not thought necessary to bring him up at this stage of proceedings.

Mr. Humphreys, representing the debtor, said he had hoped to be in a position to lay a proposal before the creditors, but he now found that he was unable to do so. A resolution for bankruptcy was then carried and a proposal for the appointment of a trustee was put to the meeting and negatived by the vote of the Marquis of Queensberry, his Lordship preferring to leave the matter in the hands of the official receiver.

The debtor has stated that on July 9, 1893, he had a surplus of a £1,450 19s. 9d. He was married in 1884 and has an interest under the marriage settlement subject to his surviving his wife, the income from the fund being about £800 per annum.

It appears that while "The Importance of Being Earnest" was running the debtor received 10 per cent. of the gross weekly receipts up to £1,000, and 15 per cent. of any sum in excess of that amount. For "Lady Windermere’s Fan" the amount was not so large. As to "A Woman of No Importance" and "An Ideal Husband," he received 5 per cent. on the weekly receipts over £600 and under £800, 7 ½ per cent. over £800 and under £1,000, and 10 per cent. for anything over £1,000.

It was intimated that the bankrupt would probably be brought up for examination at the public sitting on September 24.