The Chicago Tribune - Sunday, May 5, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Giving Wilde a Chance to Disappear.
Granting bail to Oscar Wilde means that the British authorities desire to give him all facilities for clearing out of the country. Otherwise the crown lawyers would certainly have opposed the application, in which case no judge would grant it. This proceeding is part of the policy consistently pursued by the authorities from the beginning. Twenty-four hours before the collapse of Wilde’s suit against the Marquis of Queensberry the police notified Wilde they had evidence which would convict him. He declined to take the hint and thought to brazen the matter out. The instructions to the crown lawyers were that the inquiry should be strictly limited to Wilde and Taylor and witnesses were prohibited from drawing in any other names. Moreover, the case was not pressed against Wilde as it might have been, lest in desperation and fear of his conviction he might have denounced many high placed personnages who were equally guilty with him and whose complicity is known to the police. As a matter of fact several of these individuals took the precaution of leaving the country when Wilde was arrested.
Granting bail to Oscar Wilde means that the British authorities desire to give him all facilities for clearing out of the country. Otherwise the Crown lawyers would certainly have opposed the application, in which case no Judge would grant it. This proceeding is a part of the policy consistently pursued by the authorities from the beginning. Twenty-four hours before the collapse of Wilde’s suit against the Marquis of Queensberry the police notified Wilde that they had evidence which would convict him. He declined to take the hint and thought to brazen the matter out. The instructions to the Crown lawyers were that the inquiry should be strictly limited to Wilde and Taylor, and witnesses were prohibited from drawing in any other names.
I hear on good authority that Mrs. Oscar Wilde and her children did not benefit by the large income Wilde was making from his plays. Mrs. Wilde had a fortune of about $2,000 a year when she was married, but, as it was chiefly in agricultural rents, her income has almost completely dwindled away of late years. While her husband was spending money freely on his wretched accomplices, or victims, his wife and children were almost in want. This fact has been known to her friends for several months, and it has prevented such sympathy as might possibly be felt with a once favorite playwright and author in his degradation.
It is stated on good authority that Mrs. Oscar Wilde and her children did not benefit by the large income Wilde was making from his plays. Mrs. Wilde had a fortune of about $24,000 a year when she married, but, as it was chiefly in agricultural rents, her income has almost completely dwindled away of late years. While her husband was spending money freely on his wretched accomplices or victims, his wife and children were almost in want. This fact has been known to her friends for several months, and it has prevented such sympathy as might possibly be felt with a once favorite playwright and author in his degradation.
I hear on good authority that Mrs. Oscar Wilde and her children did not benefit by the large income Wilde was making from his plays. Mrs. Wilde had a fortune of $2,000 a year when she married, but, as it was chiefly in agricultural rents, her income has almost dwindled away of late years. While her husband was spending money freely, his wife and children were almost in want. This fact has been known to her friends for several months, and it has prevented such sympathy as might possibly be felt for a once favorite playwright and author in his degradation.