Evening star., 1895-04-03
Old Bailey Thronged to Hear the
! Testimony.
TEE PLAINTIFF Is PUT ON TEE RACK
Nearly tainted From the Exhaustion
ofCress Examination.
DISPOSED TO BE FLIPPANT

of the Old Bailey was occupied this morn
Ing. when the Marquis of Queensberry ap-
| peared, and the libel suit brought against
him by Oscar Wilde was opened before
Justice Collins. Oscar, Wilde charges the
Marquis of Queensberry with libel in leav-
| Ing, on February 2S last, an uncovered
card at the Albemarle Club, on which card
were written certain foul epithets. AS a
result, Mr.. Wilde on March caused the
arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, and
the latter at the Marlborough street police
| court was placed under Fl 800 bail.
Inc Old court room was crowded with
| lawyers. Admission was obtained by
ticket only, and the sheriff in charge show
| ed the representative of the Associated
Press a pile of applications a foot high,
many Of them being from well-known peo-
pie.
day that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left
the city, in order to avoid being present
| IN court today, and reports were also cur
agse aena thas .odav Startling sta, DEVELOPMENT would
set at rest by tho arrival in court of the
| principals to the suit.
The Marquis of Queensberry, who wore a
| shabby overcoat, was placed in the DOCK
ana answered two indictments, by plead
ing' nrst, not guilty. and, secondly, that
the libel was true, and that 1t was pub
| lished for the public good.
The marquis seemed quite unconcerned
| al q, replying to the questions put to him.
ne spoke quietly and clearly. Sir Edward
Clarke. formerly solicitor general, opened
| the case:
Oscar Wilde on the Stand.
Oscar Wilde was then called, and he
| languidly arose from the solicitors table,
| at which he had been seated, and entered
the witness box The plaintiff was fault
lessly dressed in long black frock coat
and carried his gloves in his hands, show
ing his fingers to be covered with rings.
He was very pale, but was seemingly COM
posed.
Wilde spoke with his customary drawl,
| leaning his arms upon the rail of the wit
ress box and replying distinctly to the
questions addressed to him. The jury,
which was composed of very intelligent
men. of elderly appearance, mainly pros
porous tradesmen, eyed him with uriosity.
He admitted giving f2O to man named
Wood, who had a letter which he ONilde)
had written to Lord Alfred Douglass. the
| marquis son. He gave him the money be-
cause he was in distress.
The document referred to was here pro-
duced in court and was handed to Justice
Collins. The letter referred to the rose
| red lips of Lord Alfred Douglass, and the
writer addressed him as My Own Boy
| and asked Why are You alone in London ?"
The letter was signed. with undying love,
Oscar" 81
Counsel, in explaining this letter. said
that 1t might seem extravagant to those
| who were in the habit of writing CONNER
cial letters; but. he added. 1t was mere
poetry.
Interest in the case was heightened when
Sir Edward Clarke. upon finishing the di-
rect examination of his client, turned the
latter over to Mr.. E. H. Carson, Q. c..
berry. for cross-examination.
MIR. Carson began the presentation of the
| case for the marquis by reading passages
from one of Oscar wiide's novels of mod
| ern life, claiming that it showed that the
author upheld indecent practices.
Replying to questions put to him by
| Lord Alfred was merely poetical," and he
added that he had "undying love" for
Lord Alfred, who, he claimed, was his best
| friend.
| the cross-examination. addressed each
| other by their Christian names.
Mr.. Carson then drew out Wilde's opin-
ions regarding literature in. general to
which line Of CroSs-eXamiuatfon the plain
| tiff made many smart responses in the
| same line as in his plays.
THE Interpretation Of my works does
| not concern me-" said Wilde. ST do not
| care 'tuppence' for what the Phi,istines
| think about me-"
| But Mr.. Carson severely repressed the
| 1evity Of the witness.
The croSs-eXamination then touched upon
| Wilde's relations with various boys and
| men, and the questions put to the witness
| were so pointed as to be unprntable
Wilde, however, emphatic ally denied that
he had done anything improper; but he
| was troubled and confused under the ter
| rihle cross-examination to which he was
| subjected, and frequently drank water. In
| fact, ne seemed ready to faint, and a chair
was placed inside the witness stand for his
use.
Throughout the questioning Of the plain
| tiff the Marquis of Queensberry stood fac
| ing him and did not take his eyes off the
| man in the witness box
| The cross-eXa mination of Wilde was not
| finished when the court adjourned for the
| day at pm.
A large crowd of people assembled about
the Old Bailey in order to see Wilde leave
| the court.