9 Mar 1895 - The Echo (London)
Saturday - No. 8166, Page 2, Column 7, Link
DEFENDANT COMMITED FOR TRIAL [edit]
The little Police-court at Marlborough-street, small even for a London Court, was crowded this morning to its utmost capacity. The cause of this exceptional bustle and crushing was the adjourned hearing of the charge of libel perferred by Mr. Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry. The accused, it will be remembered, was arrested on a warrant last Saturday morning at Carter's Hotel, Dover-street, where he resides. He was brought up the same morning at Marlborough-street Police-court, and in technical language, he was charged "for that he did unlawfully and maliciously publish a certain defamatory libel of an concerning one Oscar Wilde at Albemarle-street, on the 18th of Feb., 1895, at the parish of St. George's."
What the Prosecution Allege [edit]
On that occasion the complainant was represented by Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, who outlined the case for the prosecution. He said that Mr. Oscar Wilde, a married man, living on most affectionate terms with his wife, and family of two sons, had been subjected to a cruel persecution at the hands of Lord Queensberry; but in consequence of family affairs Mr. Wilde was unwilling to take action, of a criminal nature, until at last the persectuion had become too great to be borne any longer. It appeared from the solicitor's statement that the culminating point of this alleged persecution was reached on February 18th, though it had not come to Mr. Wilde's knowledge until last Thursday week. Mr. and Mrs. Wilde, it seemed, were members of the Albemarle Club, Piccadilly. On calling there on the evening of last Thursday week the former received from the porter a card that had been left on Feb. 18th by a man alleged to be the accused. Be that as it may, the card, which had been presented quite openly, contained the gravest imputations against Mr. Wilde - assertions too horrible to permit of specification.
The Witnesses [edit]
Only two witnesses were called last Saturday. One was the hall-porter, Sidney Wright, who swore that the Marquis of Queensberry presented the card, that he saw him write the greater part of the message, that he read the words, and that he enclosed the card in an unsealed envelope prior to handing it to the complainant - The other witness was Inspector Greet. He spoke as to arresting the Marquis, who said to him, "I have been wanting to find Mr. Oscar Wilde for nine or ten days. This thing has been going on for about two years" - The prisoner's solicitor, Sir George Lewis, declared that there was a perfect answer to the charge, and Mr. Newton adjourned the case for a week, the accused being admitted to bail in one surety of ₤500, and his own recognisances of ₤1,000.
In the Court To-Day [edit]
So great a crush as that experienced to-day has rarely, if ever, been witnessed in the whole history of the Court, and hundreds of people were unable to obtain admission. It is due to the officials to say that they had made excellent arrangements for the accommodation of the Press, considering the small amount of space at their disposal. The Marquis of Queensberry arrived early, and took a seat upon the bench usually reserved for witnesses. When the case commenced he moved up to the solicitor's table, and later still took a seat beside his counsel. Mr. Oscar Wilde, no longer an apostle of aesthetic culture, but an everyday sort of playwright and literary man, did not come into Court until the last moment, and had to wait some time for a chair, which was handed to him by direction of the magistrate, Mr. Newton - Mr. C. O. Humphreys, solicitor, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. E. Carson, Q.C., M.P., defended.
Mr. Oscar Wilde in the Box [edit]
The first witness called was the complainant, who, in answer to Mr. Humphreys, said he was a dramatist and author, and took a great interest in matters of art. He was acquainted with the defendant and with many members of his family. He first became acquainted with the defendant abotu 1893, though he believed he had met him once before. On one occasion, in October, 1892, he was lunching with Lord Alfred Douglas, the defendant's son, at the Cafe Royal. The defendant entered the room, and went up to their table by the son's invitation. He did not see Lord Queensberry again until the early part of March, 1894, when he (witness) and Lord Alfred Douglas were again lunching together at the Cafe Royal. The defendant again entered, and joined them. That was just after Lord Alfred had returned from Egypt. There was a general conversation, principally about Egypt. Shortly after that Lord Alfred Douglas handed him a letter.
Some Mysterious Letters [edit]
Mr. Newton asked what it was intended to show, and he doubted whether the evidence was relevant.
Mr. Carson said he would prefer to have the letters put in, and they would show that the defendant was acting in the interests of his son.
Mr. Humphreys suggested that the letters should not be read publicly, particularly as in one of them the names of exalted persons were mentioned, and it would be unfair to mention those names in public.
It was finally agreed that the letters should not be put in.
Continuing, the witness said he called at the Albemarle Club about 5 p.m. on February 28th. That was the first place he visited after his returne from Algiers. The hall-porter handed him an envelope, in which was a card. The porter said, "Lord Queensberry desired me, Sir, to hand this to you." The card was the one produced marked "A". At the back of the card were the time and date - "4:30, 18, 2, '95" After reading the words written upon the card, he communicated with his solicitor, and had an interview with him on March 1st. On the same day he applied at the Court for a warrant for Queensberry's apprehension.
Consultation with Counsel [edit]
At this point the magistrate retired to a private room in company with Mr. Carson and Mr. Humphreys, and meanwhile the witness was accomodated with a seat. The complainant and the defendant were now sitting face to face, but they avoided each other's glances. The reason for this retirement did not immediately transpire.
The Witness Cross-Examined [edit]
When the business of the Court was resumed, Mr. Carson rose to cross-examine the witness, explaining that he wanted to show that the step his client had taken was intended to break off Mr. Wilde's connection with Lord A. Douglas. The defendant, he contended, had been merely exercising a paternal right, and he (the learned counsel) did not propose to ask any questions in justification. He had a right, however, to ask the witness questions as to his acquaintance with the defendant's son.
Mr. Newton said he could not fall in with the course suggested by Mr. Carson; where upon the latter said he had no questions at all to ask.
Mr. Humphreys intimated that his case was now completed.
Lord Queensberry's Explanation [edit]
When asked by the Magistrate if he had anything to say, Lord Queensberry replied: "I have simply to say, your worship, that I wrote that card simply with the intention of bringing matters to a head, having been unable to meet Mr. Wilde otherwise, and to save my son. I abide by what I wrote."
Committed For Trial - On Bail [edit]
The Magistrate then said the accused would have to take his trial at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court, and the same bail as before would be allowed.
Mr. Wm. Tyser, a merchant, of Gloucester-square, again came forward as the defendant's bail.