Irish Daily Independent - Saturday, April 6, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
ARREST OF OSCAR WILDE.
London, Friday Night.
The Press Associations says — Mr Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o’lock this evening, and conveyed to Bow street Police Station, where he arrived at ten past eight.
LONDON, FRIDAY NIGHT.Mr. Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o’clock this evening, and conveyed to Bow Street Police Station, where he arrived at ten past eight.
The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half past six at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane street, Chelsea, where Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Wilde’s visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr Wilde it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct, but when the inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conduced to a room in the establishment, where Mr Wilde was engaged with his two friends. The inspector informed him that he was a police officer, and that he would arrest him, a warrant being out for his arrest. Wilde made no reply.
The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half-past six, at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane Street, Chelsea, where Mr. Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving the Holborn Viaduct Hotel. Mr. Wilde’s visit to the hotel was of a casual character, he being accompanied by two gentlemen. Throughout the day the accused had been closely followed by two officers, and when Inspector Richards entered the hotel and asked for Mr. Wilde, it was stated that he was not staying there. This was virtually correct, but when the Inspector insisted that he was in the establishment and explained the circumstances, he was conducted to a room in the establishment, where Mr. Wilde was engaged with his two friends. The Inspector informed him that he was a police officer, and that he would arrest him, a warrant being out for his arrest. Mr. Wilde made no reply.
In the custody of two officers, he was at once conducted to a cab, which conveyed the party to Scotland Yard, where Inspector Brockwell was waiting with the warrant for Wilde’s arrest. The formality of reading the warrant to the accused, and the administration of the statutory sanction having been gone through, Wilde hazarded no remark. The trio—Mr Wilde, Inspector Richards, and Inspector Brockwell—then drove to Bow street, where they arrived at ten minutes past eight o’clock in a four-wheeled cab. The accused the first to alight from the vehicle, and walked direct into the station, followed by the detectives. He was attired in a long black frock coat, dark trousers, and a silk hat. His demeanor was that of a gentleman self-confident of his own innocence of the charge alleged against him. He was at once placed in the prisoner’s doc in the charge room, and while the charge was being taken he stood with his hands in his pocket. Inspector Derby, who took the charge, read it to the prisoner, and warned him that anything he might say could be used in evidence against him. Mr Wilde maintained his sentence and his indifferent air.
Having been searched, Mr Wilde was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr Wilde’s arrival at Bow street a Mr Ross, a friend of the prisoner’s, drove up to the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothes and other necessaries for Mr Wilde: but after a short interview with the Inspector on duty Mr Ross retuned to his cab with the bag having been refused permission to leave it.
Later, Lord Alfred Douglas visited Bow street to inquire as to the possibility to the recused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner had ben arrested on a warrant for alleged criminal offences which admitted of no bail until the prisoner had appeared before a magistrate. Lord Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed the the prisoner had cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites, to makes him as comfortable as the police regulations would allow. It will be Mr Wilde’s privilege to receive the food sent him from a neighboring hotel. If he so desires, pending his transference from the cell in the police station to the calls of the adjoining Police Court at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.
Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will intestate the charge against Mr Wilde, which involves a penal offence.