OSCAR WILDE AND MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10296, 1 May 1895, Page 2

OSCAR WILDE AND MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY.

• « THE TRIAL AT THE'OLD BAILEY OSCAR WILDE ARRESTED. (Continued from yesterday.) THIRD AND LAST DAY. The collapse of Oscar Wilde's case, and subscqupnt arrest, says the London correspondent of the New York papers, on April sth, caused a sensation without parallel in London, since tbe exposure and flight of the forger Pigott during the sittings of the Parnell Commission. Still, since Wilde's first day's testimony, the result had been foreseen. The expectation was that the jury would stop the trial and return a verdict for Lord Queensberry. Before 10 o'clock every available foot of space in the Old Bailey courtroom was filled with spectators armed with newspapers and packages of sandwiches, and otherwise ready to spend the day in court in the most comfortable manner possible. Tho Marquis entered tho court at 10.20 o'clock, looking calm and confident of the result. Promptly at 10.30 o'clock Justico Collins entered and court was opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was absent. Edward M. Carson, leading counsel for the defence, resumed his speech, which was not concluded yesterday when the court adjourned. Carson said he hoped he had demonstrated that the Marquis was justified in bringing to a climax in tho way he did the connection betweon his son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde. Continuing, the counsel said he now approached the more painful duty. It would be his task to call several young men who would tell their own tales, and who would show that the man Taylor, frequently referred to during the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer. It was no wonder the Marquis of Queensberry protested against the intimacy between his son and Wilde. The wonder was, the counsel said, that this man had been so long tolerated in London Society. Widle's conduct regarding the boy at Worthing, continued Carson, was an instance of his disgusting audacity. He picked up the boy on the pier and introduced him to his family, aud dressed him up as a gentleman. Caison -was continuing bis terrible demmciatian of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edwaid Clarke and the witnesses for Ui>i plaintiff left the courtroom for consultation. They soon returned and Sir Edward asked tor permission to interrupt the proceedings. 'i hen. amid tho most oppressive silonco, the loading counsel for the plaintiff anuouueed the withdrawal of the case on behalf of his client. The chief concern of Sir Edward Clarko seem to be his desire to justify himself in undertaking tho case for Wilde. He aaid that after consulting with his client—who, by the way. wis in tho room to which his counsel had adjourned, but left the building hurriedly when Sir Edward Clarke began his statement—he asked to withdraw the suit, and on Wilde's behalf counsel said he did this more especially in view of the extracts which had been read in court from Wilde's novel of modern social life." Dorian Gray," and from a magazine " The Chameleon." Carson here interposed, saying if there was to be a verdict of not guilty it also involved a verdict of justification as the case of his client must succeed upon that plea. Justice Collins said that as to the jury putting any limit on thoir yerdict, the words on the Marquis' card were either justified or not ]ustified.' If" tho jury consented to the course suggested, and were to return a verdict of not guilty, they were also .to find that the justification set up by the defence was true in substance and in fact, and that the words complained of were published for the public benefit. The jurymen consulted together for a moment, and then without leaving their seat 3 returned a verdict as directed by Judge Collins, namely, that the Mnrquis of Queensberry was not guilty of libel, and that the words he had written on a card, which formed the basis of the suit, were published in the interests of the public. Tho verdict was received with loud applause in court, and Justice Collins made no attempt to check it. The Marquis of Queenßberry was then discharged from custody and left the court triumphant, smiling, and surrounded by his friends. The defence, it appears, had a long array of witnesses on hand, including waiters omployed in ihe hotels of Paris London, aud other cities which Wilde had visited. Later in the day application was made at the Bow-street Police Court, for a warrant for the arrest of Wilde, and tho magistrate granted the application. He was subsequently arrested at the Cadogan Hotel. The officials of the Treasury Department, under which branch of tho Government public prosecutions are directed, visited tho Bow street Police Court several times this afternoon previous to gr.mting the warrant for Oscar Wilde's arrest. Upon the last visit they were accompanied by a detective and two boy.". After a short consultation between tho Treasury official? and Sir John Bridge, during which several questions wero addressed to the detective and tho boys, the magistrate issued the warrant. Wildo spent several hours in company with Lord Alfred Douglas at tho Hotel Ilolborn. His brougham wai waiting' in front of tho hotol. Early in tho afternoon Lord Alfred drove to the bank, cashed a. cheque and returned to the hotel. Soon after both Wilde and Alfred drove away. Wilde, after his arrest at the Cadogan Hotel, was taken in a cab by two detectivoa Lo Scotland Yard. Wilde wove au ulster and a silk hat. Ho was very pale, but cool, when he arrived tit, Scotland Yard. Later, Lord Alfrod DougUs went to tho police stvtion and inquired whether Wilde could be admitted to bail. The police inspector explained that Wilde had been arrested for a criminal offence, which did not allow of bail being accepted until ho had heen arraigned in court. Lord Alfred was greatly distressed by this information.