Taranaki Herald - Monday, April 29, 1895

OSCAR WILDE AND THE MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY.
MARQUIS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

By our late files of English papers, we have fuller particulars respecting this extraordinary libel case.

There was a great demand for admission to Marlborough-street Police Court, London, on Saturday, March 9th, it being known that the case between he Marquis of Queensberry and Mr Oscar Wilde would come before the presiding magistrate. The accommodation afforded by the little court is extremely limited. All applications for seats in the court were unheeded, the public being informed that the doors would not be opened till 11.30, and then only to a limited number. The charge against the Marquis of Queensberry, which first came before the Court a week previous, was that of having unlawfully and wilfully published a certain defamatory libel of and concerning one, Oscar Wilde, of Albemarle-street, on the 28th February, 1895, at the parish of St. George's.

Mr Humphreys, solicitor, prosecuted; Mr E. H. Carson, Q.C., M.P., and Mr C. F. Gill (instructed by Mr Charles Russell, of Messrs Day and Russell) appeared for the Marquis of Queensberry. The parties immediately concerned came into the court about half-past eleven. The Marquis of Queensberry on entering the court at once stepped into the dock. On noticing this the magistrate said, "Give Lord Queensberry a chair." A chair was thereupon placed near the solicitor's table, and leaving the dock Lord Queensberry sat down. Mr Oscar Wilde, with Lord Alfred Douglas, the Marquis of Queensberry's son, a young man of delicate appearance, came into court about the same time. Mr Oscar Wilde was provided with a seat, bus as soon as the case was called Lord Alfred Douglas left the court by the direction of the magistrate.

Mr Oscar Wilde was then called. Examined by Mr Humphreys, he said he was a dramatist and author, and took a great interest in matters of art. He was acquainted with defendant and many members of his family. He first became acquainted with defendant in 1893. He remembered on one occasion lunching at the Cafe Royal with Lord Alfred Douglas, Lord Queensberry's son. That was in November, 1892. The defendant came into the room at the time, and was invited up to the table by Lord Alfred Douglas. The defendant shook hands with them both, and took luncheon at the same table. Witness next saw Lord Queensberry in March, 1894, also on an occasion when witness and Lord Alfred Douglas were lunching at the Cafe Royal. They invited Lord Queensberry to join them at lunch. That was just after Lord Alfred had returned from Egypt. Shortly after that Lord Alfred Douglas handed him a letter.

Mr Carson said he hoped the letter would be put in in fairness to Lord Queensberry.

Mr Humphreys.—You don't know the letter contains advice.

Mr. Carson.—Oh! yes I do. I have a copy of it.

Mr Humphreys.—I never intended to read the letter in public. With reference to that particular letter the names of exalted persons are used, and I do not think it would be right for their names to be called into question in matters of this description.

Mr Humphreys said he would adopt the magistrate's suggestion and would not put the letter in.

Witness, continuing, said that on this day, the 28th of last March, about five o'clock in the afternoon, he drove up to the Albemarle Club. He had recently returned from Algiers, and this was his first visit to the club since his return. On entering the club he spoke to the hall porter who handed him an envelope. Witness's name was written on the back of it. In handing him the envelope the hall porter said something to him. What he said was—"Lord Queensberry desired me, sir, to hand this to you when you come to the club." There was a card inside the envelope. Witness thereupon opened the envelope, and found the card produced. On the back of the card was—"4.30. 13-2-65.' Witness read what was on the card as well as he could, and immepiately communicated with his solicitor, and had an interview with him the following day. On the same day he applied, through his solicitor, for a warrant for Lord Queensberry's apprehension.

Mr Newton (the magistrate).—Mr Humphreys, I would suggest that you and Mr Carson should come into my room and we should have a word together.

The magistrate then retired, and was followed by Mr Carson and Mr Humphreys. There immediately arose a buzz of conversation in the court. Mr Oscar Wilde, remaining in the witness box, lolled back in a chair, at the same time resting his hand upon a silver-headed cane. The Marquis of Queensberry had by this time taken a seat at the back of the court, and faced the witness.

On the magistrate and the legal representatives returning into court in about ten minutes, Mr Humphreys simply said—"I have no further questions to ask Mr Wilde."

Mr Carson was then proceeding to cross-examine Mr Wilde, but was overruled by the magistrate.

Mr Carson said he did not mean to ask any questions on the plea of justification. That was a plea which Lord Queensberry, with full responsibility of its effect, would raise if this matter was sent for trial. He did not propose to ask certain questions to show how Lord Queensberry came to write this card. His object in writing it was connected with his previous letters to Mr Wilde, Lord Queensberry's view being that he was entitled, if he thought it in the interest of the morality of his own son, to do everything in his power to put a stop to the connection of his son with Mr Wilde. He professed to ask the question solely in that view. It would go much beyond the case of the Queen v. Carden.

The magistrate directed that Mr Carson's question was directed to this, that Lord Queensberry was justified in writing this card, he having told his son not to make the acquaintance of Mr Wilde, and that if he did so he must take the consequences. Therefore, he (the magistrate) objected to the question.

The evidence of Mr Oscar Wilde was then read over. He then said that what the porter said to him was that he had been desired to hand "this card' (not letter) to him. With regard to the date when he first met Lord Queensberry it was in 1892, not 1893.

These corrections in the depositions were duly made.

Mr Humphreys (to the magistrate): That is the case, upon which I ask you to commit for trial.

The magistrate: Let defendant stand up.

Lord Queensberry, who had divested himself of his fur-lined coat, then rose at the back of his counsel. The magistrate then asked defendant if he had anything to say, at the same time administering the usual caution.

Lord Queensberry: Your Worship, I simply wish to say this. I wrote the card simply with the intention of bringing matters to a head, having been unable to meet Mr Wilde otherwise, and to save my son, and I abide by what I said.

Lord Queensberry then resumed his seat.

The Magistrate: "Abide by what I said?"

Lod Queensberry: By what I wrote.

The Magistrate: You have no witnesses?

Mr Carson: No.

The Magistrate (to Lord Queensberry): You are committed to take your trial at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court.

Bail was then entered of one surety of £500 and his own recognisance of £1000.

Mr. Wm. Tyser, a merchant of Gloucester-square, London, was accepted as surety, and the Marquis of Queensberry left the court with his friends.

[The case was dismissed in the higher court, and Oscar Wilde was arrested on a criminal charge.—Ed. T.H.]