The Hong Kong Telegraph - Tuesday, April 9, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE OSCAR WILDE SCANDAL.
THE MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY ARRESTED.
The following report is taken from the News of the World of the 10th ultimo:—
The Marquis of Queensberry was arrested on a warrant the other morning at a few minutes past nine o'clock by Inspector Greet and Detective Sergeant Shaddock, and conveyed to Vine-street Police Station. The arrest took place at Carter's Hotel, Albemarle street. The warrant against the Marquis was issued in consequence of information sworn concerning an alleged defamatory libel against Mr. Oscar Wilde, said to have been published on February 18th.—Later in the day the Marquis of Queensberry, described as having no occupation, and as residing in Carter's Hotel, Dover-street, W., aged 50, was charged before Mr. Newton at Marlborough street, "for that he did unlawfully and maliciously publish a certain defamatory libel of and concerning one Oscar Wilde at Albemarle street on February 19th, 1895, In the parish of St. George'."—Mr. Humphreys, in opening the case, said that Mr. Oscar Wilde was a married man, and living on most affectionate terms with his wife and family of two sons. He had been the object of
A MOST CRUEL PERSECUTION
at the hands of Lord Queensberry, certainly within his (Mr. Humphreys') knowledge, for about nine or ten months, or, he was informed, even longer than that. Ten months ago Mr. Oscar Wilde consulted him on the matter, and in consequence of family affairs Mr. Oscar Wilde was very unwilling to take any steps of a criminal nature against Lord Queensberry. But he had been so fearfully persecuted by that gentleman that eh was compelled to take the step he had now taken for self-protection and peace of mind. The last act in this most melancholy drama, continued Mr. Humphreys, was performed on February 18th, but it only came to the notice of Mr. Wilde on Thursday night. Mr. Wilde was a member of the Albemarle Club, where both ladies and gentlemen are admitted. Mrs. Wilde is also a member of the club. On Thursday night Mr. Oscar Wilde went to this club, and the hall porter presented him with a card enclosed in an envelope, and addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Esq," explaining that a gentleman had called and requested that the card should be handed to Mr. Oscar Wilde. The porter was astonished at what was written upon the card, and considered it of sufficient importance to add the date and hour when the card was left; he wrote "4.30, February 18th, 1895." The words upon the card were "Ponce," then a word he could not decipher, then followed improperly spelt another word of a gross character.—The Marquis of Queensberry: "The missing word is ‘posing.'"—Mr. Humphreys, continuing, said that a more
Mr. Humphreys, in opening the case, said that Mr. Oscar Wilde was a married man, and living on most affectionate terms with his wife and family of two sons. He had been the object of a most cruel persecution at the hands of Lord Queensberry, certainly, within his (Mr. Humphreys's) knowledge, for about nine or ten months, or, he was informed, even longer than that. Ten months ago Mr. Oscar Wilde consulted him on the matter, and in consequence of family affairs Mr. Oscar Wilde was very unwilling to take any steps of a criminal nature against Lord Queensberry. But he had been so fearfully persecuted by that gentleman that he was compelled to take the step he had now taken for self-protection and peace of mind. The last act in this most melancholy drama, continued Mr. Humphreys, was performed on the 18th of last month, but it only came to the notice of Mr Oscar Wilde the night before last. Mr. Wilde was a member of the Albemarle Club, where both ladies and gentlemen are admitted. Mrs. Wilde is also a member of the club. On the night before last Mr. Oscar Wilde went to this club, and the hall porter presented him with a card enclosed in an envelope and addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Esq.," explaining that a gentleman had called and requested that that the card should be handed to Mr. Oscar Wilde. The porter was astonished at what was written upon the card, and considered it of sufficient importance to add the date and hour when the card was left. He wrote 4.30, February 18, 1895. The words written upon the card were "Ponce," then a word he could not decipher, then followed improperly spelt another word of a gross character.
Mr. Humphreys, in opening the case, said that Mr. Oscar Wilde was a married man, and living on most affectionate terms with his wife and family of two sons. He had been the object of a most cruel persecution at the hands of Lord Queensberry, certainly, within his (Mr. Humphreys's) knowledge, for about nine or ten months, or, he was informed, even longer than that. Ten months ago Mr. Oscar Wilde consulted him on the matter, and in consequence of family affairs Mr. Oscar Wilde was very unwilling to take any steps of a criminal nature against Lord Queensberry. But he had been so fearfully persecuted by that gentleman that he was compelled to take the step he had now taken for self-protection and peace of mind. The last act in this most melancholy drama, continued Mr. Humphreys, was performed on the 18th of last month, but it only came to the notice of Mr Oscar Wilde the night before last. Mr. Wilde was a member of the Albemarle Club, where both ladies and gentlemen are admitted. Mrs. Wilde is also a member of the club. On the night before last Mr. Oscar Wilde went to this club, and the hall porter presented him with a card enclosed in an envelope and addressed to "Oscar Wilde, Esq.," explaining that a gentleman had called and requested that that the card should be handed to Mr. Oscar Wilde. The porter was astonished at what was written upon the card, and considered it of sufficient importance to add the date and hour when the card was left. He wrote 4.30, February 18, 1895. The words written upon the card were "Ponce," then a word he could not decipher, then followed improperly spelt another word of a gross character.
FRIGHTFUL, SERIOUS, OR ABOMINABLE
libel for one man to publish about another he could not conceive. Mr. Humphreys added that he now proposed to call as witnesses only the hall porter of the club and the officer, Detective Inspector Greet, who executed the warrant. After the evidence he would ask for an adjournment, that the whole matter might be gone into on a future occasion, because he did not propose to rest his case simply upon the question of this libel. He proposed to go into other cases which had occurred before February 18th, and after they had been investigated would ask the Magistrate to commit defendant to take his trial.—Sir George Lewis asked that before any evidence was taken the case should be adjourned, so that he might consult with his client and have more time to consider the matter.—Mr. Humphreys said that he only proposed now calling two witnesses whose evidence would be very short, and the whole matter could be gone into next week.—Sidney Wright, hall porter of the Albemarle Club, Piccadilly, said that defendant presented himself at the club on February 18th, and handed him the card produced. He wrote the words on the card in his (witness's) presence, expecting the letter "A." He said, "Give that to Oscar Wilde." He (witness) wrote on the back of the card the date and hour when the card was given him. He put the card into an envelope, so that it should not be lost. On February 29th Mr. Oscar Wilde called at the club. (In reply to the magistrate: He did not seal the envelope down.) Continuing, he knew that Mrs. Wilde was a member of the club. When Mr. Wilde called at the club
HE HANDED HIM THE ENVELOPE
containing the card, and said that Lord Queensberry had left the card for him.—Inspector Greet, C Division, deposed that he arrested the prisoner at Carter's Hotel. He told him that he held a warrant for his arrest. He then read the warrant to him. He (the Marquis) said:—"In these cases I thought proceedings were generally taken by summons, but I suppose it is all right. What is the date?" He (Greet) told him February 18th. He (the Marquis) then said, "I have been wanting to find Mr. Oscar Wilde for nine or ten days. This thing has been going on for about two years." He made no reply when charged at Vine street Police Station.—Sir George Lewis: Let me say one word, Sir, I venture to say that when the circumstances of this case are more fully known Lord Queensberry acted as he did under feelings of great indignation and—Mr. Newton (interrupting): I cannot go into that now.—Sir George Lewis: I Don't wish this case to be adjourned without it being known that there is nothing against the honour of Lord Queensberry.—Mr. Newton: You mean to say that you have a perfect answer to the charge?—Sir George Lewis: I ask you, sir, to allow his lordship to be at large on his entering into his own recognisances in $1,000.—Mr. Humphreys: I should like to have a surety.—The Magistrate: The case will be adjourned for a week, and the defendant will have to find one surety in the sum of £500, and enter into his own recognisances in the sum of £1,000.—Mr. William Tyser, a merchant, of Gloucester Square, then went into the witness-box, and tendered the necessary bail, and the Marquis of Queensberry left the court with his friends.
The result of the trial is set forth by Reuter under date London, 6th and 8th April, as follows:—
The libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry has been brought to a sudden conclusion by a verdict of acquittal. In his speech for the defence Mr. Carson stated that he had absolutely damning evidence to bring forth later. Oscar Wilde has been arrested on a criminal charge.
The libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry has been brought to a sudden conclusion by a verdict of acquittal. In his speech for the defence Mr. Carson stated that he had absolutely damning evidence to bring forth later.
The libel suit brought by Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry has been brought to a sudden conclusion by a verdict of acquittal. In his speech for the defence, Mr Carson stated that he had absolutely damning evidence to bring forth later.
8th April.
The evidence against Oscar Wilde at Bow Street was of a highly damning nature. The case was remanded to Thursday and bail refused.
The evidence against Oscar Wilde at Bow Street was of a highly damning nature. The case was remanded to Thursday and bail refused.
The evidence against Oscar Wilde at Bow Street was of a highly damning nature. The case was remanded to Thursday and bail refused.