Dublin Evening Telegraph - Wednesday, November 13, 1895

OSCAR WILDE
Appears for Ten Minutes to the Public Gaze.

For the second time, says the Star of yesterday, the name of Oscar O’Flaherty Wilde was down in the bankruptcy list this morning for public examination, and as a consequence a big muster was again attracted by the prospect of catching a glimpse of him. When the adjournment was applied for in September it was in the hope that with one exception all the claims would be satisfactorily settled, and that the debtor would be spared the ordeal of a public appearance. On that occasion his counsel, Mr Grain, stated that the accounts showed a deficiency of £3,591, and a reference to the bankrupt’s statement proves that his unsecured indebtedness comprised £2,514 for money lent, £677 for law costs, and £234 for tobacco, wine, jewellery, and flowers. The general expectation that Oscar Wilde would not have to undergo examination upon these matters WAS NOT REALISED, for although his friends have cleared off part of his liabilities he was compelled to make the journey from her Majesty’s prison, Wandsworth, to Carey street to-day. The convict came into court in charge of two warders, and the first two one noticed about his appearance was the growth of hair which now fringes his massive cheeks and chin. Pale and haggard, with deep, dark lines beneath his eyes, he looked a mere shadow of his former self. The hair on his head is no longer curled, but hangs limp and clammy on each side of the parting as that of an invalid who has JUST LEFT A SICK BED. He was warmly clad in a thick black ulster and carried the usual un-Bohemian silk hat in his hand. As he pushed his way with a long, heavy stride to the place where debtors stand, he locked neither to the right nor to the left, and when he got there not a glance did he cast round the court, but concentrated his attention on his own statement of affairs, which the official received held in his hands. Very mercifully he was spared the agony of a prolonged examination, and it was all over in less than ten minutes.

In his replies to Mr Wildy’s questions there was none of that buoyant flippancy and those epigrammatic paradoxical touches which characterised his first cross-examination in the Queensberry trial. For the most part his answers consisted of a monosyllabic "Yes" or "No." Describing himself as a writer and dramatist Oscar said, or rather admitted, that Mr Wilday was right in saying that his chief source of income had been from the royalties on his published works and plays, and that he had been LIVING BEYOND HIS INCOME. He had obtained from theatrical managers payments in advance for royalties due to him, and that was the reason why the names of some of those managers figured among the creditors.

When did you become aware that you were insolvent? On the occasion of my trial.

You attribute your insolvency to the failure of legal proceedings instituted by you against the Marquess of Queensberry, and to the later suit of Regina v Wilde? Yes.

Have you now any desire to add further to that statement? No. That is the answer.

Oscar then went on to state that he married his wife in 1884, and that was entitled to a life interest under the marriage settlement should he survive her. There were two children of the marriage. He was aware that the furniture at his house in Tite street was sold in April last.

These were the principal questions the Receiver asked, and when he sat down the Registrar asked if there was any creditor present who desired TO ASK ANY QUESTION.

There was none, and Mr. J P Grain, who had been in and out of court all the morning did not volunteer to prolong the proceedings.

The examination was accordingly closed, and Oscar, gathering up his hat and looking relieved that it was all over so quickly, was marched out of court to a cab waiting to take him back to Wandsworth.