Ballinrobe Chronicle - Saturday, April 13, 1895

OSCAR WILDE AT BOW-STREET.
ARREST OF TAYLOR.—PRISONERS REMANDED WITHOUT BAIL.

Oscar Fingal O'Flaherty Wills Wilde, who was arrested on the preceding evening at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, on a charge of a very grave and shocking description, was brought up on the 6th inst. before Sir John Bridge at Bow-street Police-court. For half-an-hour before the doors opened a large crowd had gathered in front of the Court, but only those having professional duties to discharge, the witnesses, and a few friends of the accused were then admitted. These were at first allowed to take their seats in the large court, but after an interval of more than half an hour it was announced that the case would be taken in the Extradition Court, and a rush was made for places in that small and inconvenient room. A few of the public were subsequently admitted. The prisoner wore a black frock coat and dark trousers. He showed no great concern at any time during the proceedings. The prisoner was charged with several acts of impropriety. The charge-sheet was signed by Inspector Thomas Brockwell and Sub-Divisional Inspector Digby.

Mr. C. F. Gill, instructed by Mr. Angus Lewis, of the Treasury, prosecuted, and Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, defended.

Mr. Gill said he appeared in this case on behalf of the Public Prosecutor to prosecute the prisoner on a series of charges, partly under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, but having regard to the nature of the case, he (counsel) did not think it desirable that he should trouble the magistrate with many opening observations. No good purpose would be served by going into the matter in an opening speech, and he would therefore only indicate generally what the character of the evidence was that he proposed to introduce, and after that he would ask that the prisoner should be formally committed. The case which he proposed to go into in the first instance, related to the conduct of the prisoner as regarded a young man named Charles Parker. It would appear that at the end of 1893 the prisoner was staying at the Savoy Hotel. He stayed there from March 2 to March 29. At the same time there was living at Little College-street, Westminster, in the upper part of the house, a man named Alfred Taylor. He was a man closely connected with Wilde, and the evidence would disclose that he was a person engaged to act for the prisoner in certain ways. The prisoner was in the habit of visiting Taylor at Little College-street, and in the course of the case the Court would hear of the condition of things that existed at this house, and of the rooms occupied by this man. Parker was a servant out of a place, but he had been in the employment of a gentleman as valet. Being out of employment, he was in the company of his brother, William, who was a groom. At the end of February or the beginning of March, in St. James's Restaurant, they were approached by Alfred Taylor. Counsel then described the way in which the boys were introduced to Wilde, and various circumstances which subsequently occurred. Continuing, he said the police had had an enormously difficult task to obtain evidence, but they had some time ago been all over the house in College-street. There were also several other cases of the same kind which it was proposed to go into.

Charles Parker was then called, and gave evidence bearing out the opening statement.

In the course of his examination, Mr. Gill interrupted the proceedings to state that he had just been informed that the man Alfred Taylor had been arrested, and it would save time if he were now brought into the dock, so that he might also hear the evidence.

Sir J. Bridge. Very well.

Mr. Humphreys, representing Mr. Wilde, asked how long the case would now go on.

Sir J. Bridge: A case of this sort ought to be dealt with as speedily as possible, and I shall propose to sit until four or five o'clock, if necessary.

The proceedings were stopped for several minutes, and when Taylor, a smart-looking man, entered the dock, Wilde bowed to him.

Sir J. Bridge explained to Taylor that the evidence already given related also to a charge against him, and it should therefore be read over.

This having been done, Parker continued his statement.

Mr. Humphreys having retired owing to other important engagements, his place, as representing the defence, was taken by Mr. Travers Humphreys, who said they had been taken completely by surprise in this matter, and he asked that he might be allowed to cross-examine any of the witnesses who might be called to-day on a future occasion.

Taylor, on being asked by the magistrate, also said he reserved the cross-examination.

Witness was bound over to give evidence at the Old Bailey.

William Parker, brother of the last witness, gave evidence of his introduction to Oscar Wilde. He only saw him once.

Mrs. Grant, living at Little College-street, spoke of the number of persons who frequented the house, and said she knew it was being watched by the police.

Sidney Mayvon said he had been to Little College-street and the Albemarle Hotel with Wilde, but the latter had never given him money.

After further evidence of a nature not fitted for newspaper reproduction, the case was adjourned. Bail was applied for on behalf of Mr. Oscar Wilde, and refused.