Belfast News-Letter - 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. — The Press Association says — 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 minutes past eight. 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 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 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 a warrant for Mr. Wilde's arrest. The formality of reading the warrant to the accused and the administration of the statutory caution having been gone through, Mr. Wilde hazarded no remark. The trio—Mr. Wilde, Inspector Richards, and Inspector Brockwell—then drove to Pow Street, where they arrived at ten minutes past eight o'clock, in a four-wheeled cab. The accused was 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 silk hat. His demeanour was that of a gentleman self-confident of his own innocence of the charge alleged against him. He was at once placed in the prisoners' dock in the charge-room, and while the charge was being taken he stood with his hands in his pockets. Inspector Digby, 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 reticence and indifferent air. The charge alleged against Mr. Wilde is that of committing acts of indecency with divers persons. Having been searched, Mr. Wilde was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr. Wilde's arrival at Bow Street Mr. Rosse, a friend of the prisoner's, drove up to the station with a small Gladstone bag containing a change of clothes and other necessaries ; but after a short interview with the inspector on duty Rosse returned 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 of the accused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner had been arrested on warrant for an alleged criminal offence which admitted of no bail until prisoner had appeared before the magistrate. Lord Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed that the prisoner had a cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites to make him as comfortable as the police regulations would allow. It will be Mr. Wilde's privilege to receive food sent him from the neighbouring hotel if he so desires pending his transference from the cell in the police station to the cells of the adjoining police court at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will investigate the charge against Mr. Wilde, which involves a penal offence.
The Press Association says:—Mr Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o'clock this evening, and conveyed to Bow street police station, where he arrived at 10 past eight. The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half past six at Cadogan Hotel, Sloane street, Chelsea, where Mr. Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving 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. Mr. Wilde, in custody of the two officers, was at once conducted to a cab which conveyed the party Scotland Yard, where Inspector Brockwell was waiting with a warrant for Mr Wilde's arrest. The formality of reading the warrant to the accused and the administration of the statutory caution having been gone through, Mr 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 was 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 silk hat. His demeanour was that of a gentleman, self-confident of his own innocence of a charge alleged against him. He was at once placed in the prisoners' dock in the charge room, and while the charge was being taken he stood with his hands in his pocket. Inspector Digby, 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 reticence and indifferent air. Having been searched, Mr Wilde was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr Wilde's arrival at Bow street a Mr Rosse, a friend of the prisoner, 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 Rosse returned 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 of accused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner was arrested on a warrant for alleged criminal offences which admitted of no bail until prisoner had appeared before the magistrate. Lord Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed that the prisoner had a cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites to make him as comfortable as police regulations would allow. It will be Mr Wilde's privilege to receive food sent him from a neighbouring hotel if he so desires pending his transferrence from the cell in the police station to the cells of the adjoining police court at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will investigate the charge against Mr Wilde, which involves a penal offence.
Mr Oscar Wilde was arrested between six and seven o’clock on Friday evening and conveyed to Bow-street police station, where he arrived at ten minutes past eight. The arrest was made by Inspector Richards at half-past six o’clock at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, Chelsea, where Mr Wilde, it appears, drove after leaving 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 offices, 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. Mr Wilde, in custody of two officers, was conducted to a cab, which conveyed the party to Scotland Yard, where Inspector Brockwell was waiting with a warrant for Mr Wilde’s arrest. The formality of reading the warrant to the accused and the administration of the statutory caution having been gone through, Mr 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 was 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 silk hat. He was at once placed in the prisoners’ dock in the charge room, and while the charge was being taken he stood with his hands in his pockets. Inspector Digby, 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 reticence and indifferent air. Having been searched he was removed to the cells. Shortly after Mr Wilde’s arrival at Bow-street a Mr Rosse, 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 the prisoner, but after a short interview with the inspector on duty, Mr Rosse returned 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 of accused being bailed out, but it was explained that the prisoner had been arrested on a warrant for alleged criminal offences which admitted of no bail until the prisoner had appeared before a magistrate. Lord Alfred Douglas appeared much distressed when he was informed that on no consideration could the authorities entertain his application. He was respectfully informed that the prisoner had a cell to himself, and had been supplied with a blanket and other requisites to make him as comfortable as the police regulations would allow. It will be Mr Wilde’s privilege to receive food sent him from the neighbouring hotel, if he so desires, pending his transference from the cell in the police-station to the cells of the adjoining police-court at ten o’clock on Saturday morning. Sir John Bridge, who signed the warrant for his arrest, will investigate the charge against him.