The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-03
LAST EDITION
OSCAR IN COURT.
The Libel Suit Begun in Lon
don Today.
Court Room Crowded by Scandal.
Lovers and Persons In interest
The Dramatist and the Marquis Of
Queensberry Face to Face.

LONDON, April s.-Every available inch
OF the Old Bailey was occupied this morn
ing when the Marquis of Queensberry
surrendered to bail and the libel suit
brought by Oscar Wilde against the
Marquis was opened before Justice Col
Inns. Oscar Wilde, or to give him his full
name, Oscar Fingall 'Flaherty Wilde, the
author and dramatist, charges the Mar
| gus of Queensberry with libeling him by
leaving on February 2S, last, an uncovered
card at the Albemarle Club, on which card
was written certain foul epithets, As a
result Mr.. Wilde, on March 2, caused the
arrest of the Marquis of Queensberry, AID
the latter, at the Marlboro street police
court, was released on f1500 bail.
| The aisles of the old court room were
crowded with lawyers. Admission was
obtained by ticket only and the sheriff in
charge showed the representative Of The
Associated Press a pile of applications
foot high, many of them being from un-
known persons.
Rumors were current in London yester-
| day that Oscar Wilde had suddenly left
the city in order to avoid being present in
| court today, and reports were also
current as to the developments that
would arise today. But both these
| rumors were set ut rest by
| the Arrival in court of the principals of
the suit. The Marquis of Queensberry,
who wore a shabby overcoat, was present,
occupying the docket, and answered the
indictment by pleading, first, not guilty,
and secondly, that the libel was true and
that 1t was published for the public good.
| The Marquis seemed quite unconcerned
and replying to the questions put to him
he spoke quietly and clearly.
Sir Edward Clarke, formerly solicitor
general, in opening the case said that the
card left at the Albemarle Club for
Mr.. Wilde was of the visiting
card nature of the Marquis Of
| Queens berry and it was upon this that the
libel was written. Continuing, counsel
said that the gravest issues had been
raised as the defendant put in his
| pleadings, alleged that the plaintiff
had for some time solicited persons
named to commit indecencies. Certain
| itttclo uuAicooSo W tbo pAoAhtAh ~
Lord Alfred Douglass, second SON
of the Marquis Of Queensberry. were
brought to plaintiff by man who said he
was in distress and Mr.. Wilde gave him
G20 with which to pay his passage to
| America. Another letter was handed to
| Mr.. Beerbohm Tree, the actor, who gave
| it to the plaintiff.
| Counsel then recounted the facts al
ready known in the case, showing that
Mr.. Wilde. who had recently returned
from Algiers, drove up to the Albe-
marie Club at about 8 o'clock p. m. on
February 2s, and on entering the club
he was handed an envelope by the hall
porter, Sidney Wright, who said that the
Marquis of Queensberry had desired him
to hand it to Mr.. Wilde. The exact words
were "Lord Queensberry desired me, sir,
to hand this to you when you came to
the club"
Inside the envelope the plaintiff found
a card on the back of which was the date
4:30, 1s-2-1S95, and on this card were writ
ten certain foul epithets which formed
the basis of the suit.
Oscar Wilde was then called and he
languidly arose from the solicitors' table
at which he had been seated and en-
tered the witness box. The plain
tiff was faultlessly dressed in q long,
black frock coat and carried his gloves in
his hands, showing his fingers to be COW
cred with rings. He was very pale,
but was seemingly composed. Wilde
spoke with his customary drahl,
leaning his arms upon the rail OF the wit
ness box and replying distinctly to tn
questions addressed to him.
The jury, which was composed of every
intelligent gentlemen OF elderly appear
ance and prosperous tradesmen, received
him with curiosity. The witness said
that upon arrival at his house a
few months ago he found two gentlemen
waiting in the library. One of thom was
the Marquis of Queensberry and the other
one unknown to the plaintiff. The for
mer said, ''sit down." Wilde replisd. "Lord
Queens berry, will not allow any one to
talk that way in my house. suppose you
come to apologize. Is 1t possible that you
accuse your son and me Of such q
crime
lie replied, Z" / don't say 1t, but you
look like IL and appear like it,"
Counsel for the plaintiff then asked the
witness about the man to whom be had
given e2O with which to pay his passage
to America. The witness said;
| nf, Da