Dublin Evening Telegraph - Tuesday, August 27, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
OSCAR WILDE’S AFFAIRS.
A Public Examination Next Month
At the Bankruptcy Court yesterday Mr Wildy, Official Receiver, presided over the meeting of the creditors of this bankrupt. Ten proofs were put in, including that of the Marquis of Queensbury for £677 for the costs of the criminal proceedings. From the statement of the bankrupt, it appears that amongst his fully-secured creditors is Mr George Alexander, of the St James’s Theatre, his debt being £414 19s 7d, balance of a sum of £1,500 advanced in May, 1895, secured by a share in the dramatic right in "Lady Windermere’s Fan," "The Importance of Being Ernest," also the scenario by a modern play. He further returns as assets the royalties that may be received for the future dramatic production or publication in book form of the two plays above named, also "A Woman of no Importance," "An Ideal Husband," "Dorian Gray," a novel, and "The Sphinx" poems. The deficiency accounts sets out that he has received for royalties and the publication of books since July 25, 1893, £4,000, and he states that as he has kept no books of any kind, and can therefore only roughly approximate his income, he returns the excess of liabilities over assets at July 25 as £1,450, and the expenses of self, wife, and two children since that date at £5,817 19s 9d. He has paid his solicitor on account of costs of the criminal proceedings £323 10s. He was married in 1884, and has a life interest under his marriage settlement, subject to his surviving his wife. The income from that fund is £800. So far as his plays were concerned, it appears that while "The Importance of Being Earnest" was running he received 10 per cent up to £1,000 of the gross weekly receipts, and 15 per cent of any sum exceeding that amount. For "Lady Windermere’s Fan," the amount was not so large. As to the "Woman of No Importance" and "The Ideal Husband," he received 5 per cent for the weekly receipts over £600 and under £800, and 10 per cent for over £800 and under £1,000.
At the Bankruptcy Court to-day, Mr. Wildy, Official Receiver, presided over the meeting of the creditors of this bankrupt. Ten proofs were put in, including that of the Marquis of Queensberry for £677 for the costs of the criminal proceedings. From the statement of the bankrupt, it appears that amongst his fully-secured creditors is Mr. George Alexan-der, of the St. James’s Theatre, his debt being £414 19s. 7d., balance of a sum of £1,500 advanced in May, 1895, secured by a share in the dramatic right in "Lady Windermere’s Fan," "The Importance of Being Ernest," also the scenario by a modern play. He further returns as assets the royalties that may be received for the future dramatic production or publication in book form of the two plays above named, also "A Woman of no Importance," "An Ideal Husband," "Dorian Gray," a novel, and "The Sphinx" poems. The deficiency account sets out that he has received for royalties and the publication of books since July 25, 1893, £4,000, and he states that as he has kept no books of any kind, and can therefore only roughly approximate his income, he returns the excess of liabilities over assets at July 25 as £1,450, and the expenses of self, wife, and two children since that date at £5,817 19s. 9d. He has paid his solicitor on account of costs of the criminal proceedings £323 10s. He was married in 1884, and has a life interest under his marriage settlement, subject to his surviving his wife. The income from that fund is £800. So far as his plays were concerned, it appears that while "The Importance of Being Ernest" was run-ning he received 10 per cent. up to £1,000 of the gross weekly receipts, and 15 per cent. of any sum exceeding that amount. For "Lady Windermere’s Fan," the amount was not so large. As to the "Woman of No Importance" and "An Ideal Husband," he received 5 per cent. for the weekly receipts over £600 and under £800, and 10 per cent. For over £800 and under £1,000.
This was the first meeting of creditors under the failure of this bankrupt, who is described as late of Tite-street. Chelsea, now of her Majesty's Prison, Wandsworth, author. The petitioning creditor is the Marquis of Queensberry, whose debt of £677 is for the costs of the criminal libel action. The accounts filed show unsecured debts £3,591, and no available assets. Ten proofs were put in, including that of the petitioning creditor, while one creditor, a Mr. Campbell, who complained that he had received no notice, was omitted from the statement of affairs altogether. From the statement of the bankrupt's affairs it appears that amongst his partly secured creditors is Mr. George Alexander, of the St. James's Theatre, his debt being £414 19s. 7d., balance of a sum of £1,500 advanced in May, 1895, secured by a share in the dramatic rights in "Lady Windermere's Fan," "The Importance of Being Earnest," also the scenario of a modern play "of no present value." He further returns as assets the royalties that may be received from the future dramatic production of the publication in book form of the two plays given above, also "A Woman of No Importance," "An Ideal Husband," "Dorian Gray" (a novel), and "The Sphinx" (poems). The deficiency account sets out that he has received for royalties and the publication of books since the 25th of July, 1893, £4,000, and he states that as he has kept no books of any kind, he can, therefore, only roughly approximate his income. He returns the excess of liabilities over assets at the 25th of July at £1,450, and the expenses of self, wife, and two children since that date at £5,817 19s. 9d. He has paid his solicitor on account of costs of the criminal proceedings £323 10s. He was married in 1884, and has a life interest under his marriage settlement subject to his surviving his wife. The income from that fund is about £800. So far as his plays were concerned, it appears that while "The Importance of Being Earnest" was running he received 10 per cent, up to £1,000 of the gross weekly receipts, and 15 per cent, of any sum exceeding that amount. For "Lady Windermere's Fan" the amount was not so large. As to "A Woman of No Im- portance" and "An Ideal Husband," he received 5 per cent, for the weekly receipts over £600 and under £800, and 7 1/2 per cent, for over £800 and under £1,000, and 10 per cent, for over £1,000.
The proofs having been gone through, the chairman stated that the bankrupt was not in attendance owing to his present position. Steps would be taken to procure his attendance upon his public examination on the 24th of next month, when the creditors could attend and examine him if so advised. A proxy for a creditor proposed the appointment of a trustee, but this was not carried, and the case was left in the hands of the Official Receiver to wind up in bankruptcy. Mr Humphreys, on behalf of the bankrupt, stated that his client had done everything in his power to make a proposal to the creditors, and regretted that he had been unable to do so. The unsecured debts are £3,591.
The proofs having been gone through, the Chairman stated that the bankrupt was not in attendance owing to his present position. Steps would be taken to procure his attendance upon his public examination on the 24th of next month, when the creditors could attend and examine him if so advised. A proxy for a creditor proposed the appointment of a trustee; but this was not carried, and the case was left in the hands of the Official Receiver to wind up in bankruptcy. Mr. Humphreys, on behalf of the bankrupt, stated that his client had done everything in his power to make a proposal to the creditors, and regretted that he had been unable to do so.
The proofs having been gone through, the chairman stated that the bankrupt was not in attendance owing to his present position. Steps would be taken to procure his attendance upon his public examination on the 24th of next month, when the creditors could attend and examine him if so advised. A proxy for a creditor proposed the appointment of a trustee, but this was not carried, and the case was left in the hands of the Official Receiver to wind up in bankrupt, stated that his client had done everything in his power to make a proposal to the creditors, and regretted that he had been unable to do so. The unsecured debts are £3,591.