Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-04

sentation Of the case for the MARQUIS
by reading passages from Dorian
Gray" one Of
OSCAR WILDE'S NOVELS
of modern life, to show that the author
upheld sodOmy, the plaintiff follow
ing consul with a copy of the book,
and laughing al Mr.. CarsOn's insinua-
ton. MIR. Carson, addressing the plain
tin, asked: DO you think that the
description of Dorian Gray given on
page six is a moral one?"
es, replied Wilde, lust what an
artist would notice in a beautiful per-
sonality."
Did you ever adore madly. as de-
scrlbed in Dorian Gray, any person Of
the male sex younger than yourself?"
was Mr.. Carson's next question
In reply Wilde said: Il took the
idea from Shakespeare's sOnnets."
During this portion of the proceed
mss the Marquis of Queensberry fol-
lowed his counsel with a copy of Dor
ian Gray in his hands, with seeming
enjoyment
Wilde testified to the fact that the
man to whom he gave f20 on receipt
OF the letter in which he had referred
TO the rose red lips" of Lord Alfred
Douglas, which amount was used to
pay his passage to America, was
named Wood.
Replying to other questions put to
him by Mr.. Carson Wilde said that
the letter to Lord Alfred was merely
pOetical,' and he added that he had
'undying love- for Lord Alfred. who,
! he claimed, was his best friend The
witness denied having misconducted
himself with Wood The latter, he
added, was introduced to him by Lord
Alfred Douglas. who asked him to be-
friend the man. Wilde and Wood. it
was also shown by the oss-examina-
tiOn, addressed each other by their
chrictian names.
1t was also developed during the
cross examination Of Wilde that in
writing he did not concern himself
10 produce morality or immortality.
He had no purpose in the matter, and
was concerned merely with literature,
BEAUTY, WIT AND EMOTION.
He rarely thought if anything he
wrote was true; indeed, he might say
never in regard to Dorian Gray"
Sir Edward Clarke objected to Mr..
Carson CrOSSsexamining his client on
that novel, as it appeared in Lippin-
colts Magazine, and not as it was
publiShe din England Wilde there
upon descended from the witness box
and whispered a few words to his
counsel, after which Sir Edward
Clarke withdrew his objection.
The crOSs-eXaminatiOI was very Sc
we're, and brought out the great differ
Lord Alfred Douglas, (the former was
born in 1856 and the latter in 1870,
how the two had visited various towns
together, stopped at the Savoy Hotel
together and how Lord Alfred visited
Wilde's chambers in st. James Place,
which the plaintiff maintains, in addi-
ton to his house at No 10 Tite street,
s. w. Mr. Carson then drew out
Wilds'e opinions regarding literature
in general, TO which line of crOSs-eX-
animation the plaintiff made many
/ smart responses in the same line as
In his plays
"The interpretation Of my works
/ does not concern me-" said Wilde. Il
| do not care 'tuppence for what the
/ PhiliStines think about me- But Mr..
/ Carson severely repressed the lvity of
\ the witnss. and began the more seri-
Gus phase Of the cross-eXaminatiOn by
| questioning Wilde about his
INTIMACY WITH A NEWSBOY
/ IS years Of age. belonging to Worth
/ ing. and brought out the fact that
| Wilde took the boy to a hotel at
Brighton.
why did YOU seek the boys socie-
I ty?" asked Mr.. Carson. WAS 1t for
an intellectual treat?'
"Oh He was q bright, careless,
amusing creature" ." replied the witness.
MIR. Carson here produced silver
cigarette case, a handsome silver
mounted cane and a book which Wilde
admitted he had presented to the news
boy referred to.
The cross-examination then touched
uDon Wnde's relations with various
bows and men, and the questions put 10
the witness were so pointed as TO be
unprintable. ,
Wilde. however, emphatically denied
that he had done anything improper, ,
but he was troubled and confused
under the terrible discrimination
to which he was subjected, and fre-
quently drank water. In fact, he
seemed ready to faint, and a chair was
placed inside the witness stand for his
use. Throughout the questioning OF
the plaintiff, the Marquis Of Queens
berry stood facing him and did not
take his eyes off the man in the wit
ness box.
The cross-examinatiOn Of Wilde was
not finished when the court adjourned
for the day at p. m.
A large crowd of people assembled
about the Old Baily in order to see
Wilde leave the court.
Want Rev. Mr.. Cleveland to Resign