OSCAR WILDE'S COLLAPSE AND ARREST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1895, Page 4

OSCAR WILDE'S COLLAPSE AND ARREST.

[By Mail Steamer at Auckland.] The collapse of Oscar Wilde's case and subsequent arrest, says the 'New York World' on sth April, hnvo caused a sensation without parallel in London since the exposure and flight of the forger Pigott during the sitting of the Parnoll Uommissiou, fctill, since ■"Wilde's first day's testimony the result •was foreseen. The expectation was that the jury, would stop Hie trial aud return a verdict for Lord Queensbcrry. Wilde's lawyers acted wisely in consenting to a verdict at the stage the suit had reached, if Lord Queensberry's witnesses had beeu'jjexumincd the judge would have had no recourse but must, have isbUtd a warrant for Wilde's arrest on a charge entailing as a maximum a penalty of twenty years' imprisonment, but upon the evidenco already unfolded, if Wilde is convicted, it can only bo of a misdemeanor, for which the inaxU mum penalty is two years' imprisonment. Wilde looked a changed man this morning as he slunk into the court buildings. His complexion was gasliy and altogether he-had the aspect of a man who had past a wakeful and anxious night. To au iuterviewer Wilde stated, in a nervious tone quite unlike his flippant audaciiy as a witness, that he had withdrawn from the case to spare Lord Alfred Douglas the pain of testifying against his father, adding that he willingly sacrificed himself for his friend. 'J hat was the hollowest "bluff." The truth is that "Wilde's chief lawyer, Kir Edward Clarke, decided after the close of Thursday's . proceedings to withdraw from the suit. This decis.on wat immediately communicated to Oscar, hence the restless, hopeless night he passed, Wilde's lawyers say that up to that time he had never evinced the slightest appreciation of tho enormity of the accusations against him. It •was only when the imminent prospect of his taking Lord Qneensberry'a place in the dock dawned upon him that he lost his self-command. Tho mass of testimony ready to he given against him, as foreshadowed by Lord Queensberry's counsel, took Wilde completely back. The World's correspondent hears that this testimony was tendered by the police to Lord Queensberry's lawyers, it having accumulated during their investigations. They had planned a public firosecution if the case had proceeded, t is rumoured that one of the'reasons why Sir Edward Clarke decided to stop the trial was that to go on would have involved the disclosure of the names of distinguished [personages, but this story is discredited, If Wilde had escaped to the Contiuo he would have been safe from arrest, as he could not have been extradited under the charge. It was reported he had fled, but he was seen in Chelsea at 4 p.m. to-day, and was arrested by 7 p.m. Mrs Wilde, who is distracted with grief at the tnrn affairs have taken, has about £000 a year of her own. For the last, three years she has received no iiuaucial help from her husband. Em* since the Police Court proceedings the bookings for both Wilde's pieces have steadily do clined. The London public will never tolerate the performance of any more of his plays. Thus his principal means of livelihood is gone, and as he lived very extravagantly he has nothing from the large income he has had for some years. FLIGHT PROJECTED. A later London- cable says: — "Oscar Wilde was arrested by a detective of HcotlandYard this afternoon on charges growing out of his own evidence given in the libel suit against Lord Queesberry, which ■was decided against tho dramatist to-day, 'i he warrant was issued on the application of bir George Lewis on behalf of tho Public i'rosecutor. After the trial this afternoon Wilde ■went to to the Wesininster Bank, ■where he drew out the funds to his account, after which he was constantly shadowed. He returned to his hotel, accompanied by Lord Alfred Douglas, only remaining a few minutes, after which, they drove off to Eiy place, and thenea to the Oadogan Hotel, whero they vanished. The Scotland Yard authorities issued a description of Wilde, and spread them over the city, and he "was captured before he could get out of the country, as was evidently his intention, lie was taken to Scotland Yard aud locked up ; then he was taken to Bow street and placed iu the dock. At the police station he stood with his hands in his pockets while the charge against him was being taken. The police inspector then read the charge aloud, and asked Wildo if he had anything to say, adding the usual warning that anything he said might be used against him. The prisoner, apparently indifferent, made no reply. He was then searched, after which he waa locked in a cell. Subsequently Lord Alfred Douglas went to the police station and inquired Wildo would be admitted on bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde was arrested for a criminal offence, which did not allow of bail being accepted until he had bueu arraigned hi court. Lord AU.cci seomed ('really diolrcFgcd by this information. Sworn informations linvu bueu lodged against buvurl pcis'jiie mcr Lioncd iu tho trial, wine of who-6 Minos were nob lnado public, They ui;lUu airtslnJ. 1 ' AVIMjE's tXI'LASATION. 'ihoUfciiiny A tics tod.,y ice ived the following lcttji' from Oscar Wilde, written upon l.oto pa.er ol Ihu Uolljoni Hotel :— '' It wculti Lave butiu ini|>o.''ii*i]<; for mo loliave pios'td my cueu v. ilhoui putting Loicl Alfred L).ju;<l.i-j in tlio \.anes» box aguiijsL his I'm her, fiu >Vi\stxtreinely ulxioub to p,o inlo tuu Vriuiif,bos.but i uotild i.ol iot him. It.iti.u;thau put. him iii bo painful u po-ition I determined to withdiuw from tuu tiisc; and bear nj;ou rny own shoulders whatever ignominy and Bhmno iuigl.l rociill from my prosecution of ihu Miirnuw ol QaocuaJjerry."— L/f'CAji V\ iluu.