THE CROSSLAND TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 17697, 8 July 1914, Page 7

THE CROSSLAND TRIAL

RESULTS IX ACQUITTAL. WILDE SCANDALS REVIVED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON. July 6. A verdict of not guilty was returned in the case of the author. T. W. H. Crossland. who was charged with conspiracy in connection with accusing Robert Baldwin Ross of committing a serious offence. STORY OK THE CHARGE. On April 111. Mr T. W. H. Crossland, a well-known writer, was charged at the Marylebonc Police Court with conspiring with Lord Alfred Douglas and other persons unknown, to make a false accusation against Mr Robert Baldwin Ross (the literary executor of the late Oscar Wilde), in regard to a youth named Charles Garratt. The case has teen before the lower courts for some weeks. At a silting in May. when the hearing was resumed. Detective-Inspec-tor McPherson was recalled in reference lo the three tercels of documents that he produced at the first hearing. The inspector said that in the bundle was a document containing the following iines. addressed to "A. D., a disagreeable witness at the Old Bailey”:— We spoke the truth, and bared their shame and so They bring the gag, the thumb-screw, and the knout; And hired mouths to spit their venom out. And marshal all their bullies in a row; Whereat, mark well their silk, charging we go To give them thump for thump and shout for shout. And shake the bowel of their principal lout. Who would have killed our honours for a show. Chiefly to you this victory by God's grace. Most disagreeable witness with the th rust That withers liars in their obscene Place; Tiio honour in which Kings have put their trust ; The name that was a name at Che. y ('base. .Shine on serene a hove the smirch and dust. T. W. 11. CROSSLAND. The Magistrate—l must say it seems to me particularly fine work. Mr Carr- —My client nil! no doubt appreciate that. The Magistrate—lt really it. There is no doubt about that. In cross - examination the inspector also produced letters from Mr Crossland to Mr Ross. One dated January 11. 1011. began; Robt. H. Ross.—Kor years past you have been engaged in creating for Oscar Wilde a literary and general reputation which is to a great extent a fraudulent cue. With the help of hishonest prefaces and the garbling of the work Wilde wrote in prison, you have succeeded in foisting him on the public in the figure of a repentent saint, and incidentallv you have obtained for yourself a literary credit thereby which would not otherwise have come your way. Another letter, dated March 2. .1911, contained (he following:— 1 am told that you are giving it out that you have refrained from prosecuting Lord Alfred Douglas for criminal nhel because you have a tenderness with regard to proceeding criminally against a man of Douglas's rank. 1 take it that no such worthy feeling will influence jmi in dealing with a plebeian undischarged bankrupt like myself. THE WILDE TRIALS. It was in lS9f> that the famous trials were held, in which Oscar Wilde was the principal person concerned, and Lord Alfred Douglas an important witness. Lord Alfred Doughts is the second son of the late Marquis of Queensberry. Consequent upon the marquis's suspicions of the relations existing between Wilde and Lord Alfred, the marquis bombarded Wilde with postcards, alleging against him criminal practices. Wilde thereupon brought an action for libel against the marquis, but after two days’ hearing the case was withdrawn. This was followed immediately by Wilde's being arrested on the criminal charge, together with a companion named Alfred Taylor. Lord Alfred Douglas was one of the witnesses in the trial, which resulted in the conviction of both Wilde and Taylor, and their sentence to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Lord Alfred Douglas is now known as an accomplished writer on literary topics. For some years he owned and edited the Academy, which he sold two years ago. His poems have also received high praise from the critics. Mr T. W. IL Crossland. who was bom in Yorkshire, is best known a.s the author of "The Unspeakable Scot.”