The National Police Gazette - Saturday, April 20, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
WILDE’S CAREER ENDED.
His Downfall Follows the Queensberry Prosecution.
THE MARQUIS LOUDLY CHEERED
London, April 6 — The career of Oscar Wilde ended today in blackest infamy. All London is saying it is a pity the miserable creature had not sufficient pluck to blow out his brains before the police seized him and put him behind the bars to await the punishment for the crime of which he is already proved guilty. Those who were his friends until his guilt was established by his own admissions under yesterday’s merciless cross-examination, urged him last night to take the shortest road to oblivion, which they declared, was the only proper sequel to the exposure of his character.
LONDON, April 5. - The career of Oscar Wilde ended to-day in blackest infamy. All London is saying to-night that it is a pity the miserable creature had not sufficient pluck to blow out his brains before the police seized him and put him behind bolts and bars to await the punishment for the crimes of which he is already proved guilty. Those who were his friends until his guilt was established by his own admissions under yesterday's merciless cross-examination urged him last night to take the shortest road to oblivion, which, they declared, was the only proper sequel to the exposure of his character.
This poor fool imagined it still possible to brazen it out, so he persuaded his lawyer, who refused to go on with the case, to bring the trial to close by withdrawing the charges against Lord Queensberry. This was done, and then the fact was speedily brought home to Wilde that although nominally the prosecutor it was him and not the Marquis of Queensberry who was really on trial. Even the prompt verdict of the jury declaring explicitly that the infamous crime against him was true did not make the strange creature realize his position. He wrote a note to an evening newspaper declaring that he was unable to prove his innocence except by putting Lord Alfred Douglas to the witness box, and that he preferred to suffer with his father than to allow the son to testify against his father. This was simply imbecile, because nothing been adduced in the trial about the relations between Wilde and Lord Alfred.
The poor fool imagined it still possible to brazen it out, so he persuaded his lawyer, who refused to go on with the case, to bring the trial to a close by withdrawing the charges against Lord Queensberry. This was done, and then the fact was speedily brought home to Wilde that although nominally the prosecutor it was he and not the Marquis of Queensberry who was really on trial. Even the prompt verdict of the jury declaring explicitly that the infamous charge against him was true did not make the strange creature realize his position. He wrote a note to an evening newspaper declaring that he was unable to prove his innocence except by putting Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box, and that he preferred to suffer shame rather than to allow the son to testify against his father. This was simply imbecile because nothing has been adduced in the trial about the relations between Wilde and Lord Alfred.
There is reason to believe that the disgraced man was prepared to flee from the country. But English law for sure acted with commendable promptness. [...] The public prosecutor applied for a warrant within two hours after the dramatic collapse of the case in court, and the man who a few days ago was a pampered exquisite, was on a plunk bed in an eight by four cell in the Bow street police station. The charge against him, for some reason not explained, is not felony, but misdemeanor, and the maximum penalty is two years at hard labor, but the Grand Jury may change the indictment to a more serious offence.
There is reason to believe that the disgraced man was prepared to flee from the country. But English law for once acted with commandable promptness. Red tape was cut. The public prosecutor applied for a warrant within two hours after the dramatic collapse of the case in court, and tonight the man who a few days ago was a pampered exquisite, lies on a plank bed in an eight by four cell in the Bow street police station. The charge against him, for some reason not explained, is not felony, but misdemeanor, and the maximum penalty is two years at hard labour, but the Grand Jury may change the indictment to a more serious offence. He must remain in jail until the trial takes place in May, for the magistrate is certain to refuse to accept bail.
It is impossible to describe the sensation which this case has created in London. The Cleveland street scandals of a few years ago were bad enough, but the public interest then was mild compared to the talk created by this case. It has been the only subject discussed wherever man have congregated for the last few days. It must be said that public opinion is almost unanimous in thanking the Marquis of Queensberry, for bringing to a crisis what has long been a rapidly spreading scandal in the metropolis.
It is impossible to describe the sensation which the case has created in London. The Cleveland st scandal of a few years ago was bad enough, but the public interest then was mild, compared to the talk created by this case. It has been the only subject discussed wherever men have congregated, for the last few days.