The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-04
OSCAR WILDE in COURT
lie Is in Excellent Spirits and An
SVers All Questions.
!; ADMIREs GENTLEMEN
With His Gloves In Hand and Rings
Exposed the Arristocrat Tells
What He Thinks of the Mar
quis OF Queensbury.


of the old Bailey was occupied this morn |
ing, when the hearing of the libel suit |
brought against the Marquis of Queens
bury by Oscar Wilde, was opened before |
Justice Collins. Wilde charges tho mar |
quis with leaving, Feb. 20, an uncovered
card ut the Albemarle club on which was
written certain foul epithets. Asa result.
Wilde, on March 2, caused the arrest OF
the marquis, and the latter at the Marl-
borough street police court, was placed
under 81 500 bail.
The court room was to-day crowded
with lawyers. Admission was obtained
by tickets only, and the sheriff in charge
showed a representative of the associated
press a pile of applications foot high,
many from wel-known people.
Rumors were current in London yester-
day that Wilde had suddenly left the city
to avoid being present in court to-day,
and reports were also current that start
| ling Developments would arise to-day.
| But both these rumors were set at rest by
the arrival in court of the principals to
| the suit. The marquis. who wore n shabby
overcoat, was placed in the docket and
answered to the indictment by pleading
| first, not guilty, and second that the libel
was true and it was published for the pub
lie good.
/ L
replying to the questions, spoke quietly
and clearly. Sir Edward Clarke, formerly
solicitor general, in opening the case, said
the card left at the Albemarle club for Mr..
Wilde was one of the visiting cards of the
| Marquis of Queensbury. Continuing,
counsel said the gravest issues had been
raised, as the defendant, in his pleadngs,
alleged that plaintiff had for some time
solicited persons who commit indecent
offences. Certain letters addressed by
the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglass, Sec
ond son of the Marquis of Queensbury.
were brought to the plaintiff by man
who said he was in distress, and Wilde
gave him 920, with which TO pay passage
to America.
Counsel then recounted facts already
known in the case, showing Wilde, who
had recently returned from Algiers,
drove up to the Albemarle club about p.
m, Feb. %, and on entering was handed
an envelope by the hall porter, who said /;
Lord Queensbury desired me, sir, to
send this to you when you came to the
club" Inside of the envelope the plaintiff
found a card. On the back was the date,
4:30, Is, 2, So. and on this card were writ
teu certain foul epithets which formed the
basis of the suit.
Oscar Wilde was then called. He
languidly arose from the solicitors table
where he was seated, and entered the
witness box. The plaintiff was faultlessly
attired in black frock coat and carried
his glove in his hand, showing his fingers
covered with rings. He was very pale,
but seemingly composed.
Wilde spoke with his customary drawl,
leaning his arms upon the rail of the wit
ness box, and replying distinctly to the
ho fur xuhi
of very intelligent men of elderly appear
ance, mainly, tradesmen, eyed him with
curiosity. Witness said that upon arriv-
ing at the house, few months ago, he
found two gentlemen waiting in the
library. One was the Marquis of Queens
bury, the other was unknown to the plain
tiff. The former said: "Sit down."
replied: 'Lord Queensbury, will not
allow anyone to talk that way in my
house. suppose you have come to apollo
gize. Is it possible you accuse me and
your son of sodomy?"
He replied: II don't say it, but you
look like it, and appear like it."
Counsel for the plaintiff then asked the
witness about the man to whom he had
given f20 with which to pay his passage to
America. Witness said: "The man told
me he had offered $50 for a letter and
advised him to Immediately accept it.
But finally gave him money in order to
relieve his distress, and he gave me the
letter."
The document referred to was here pro
duced in court aud 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.n and asked, "why are you alone in
London" The letter was signed, with
undying love, Oscar"
! Interest in the case was increased when
Sir Edward Clarke, upon finishing the di
rect examination, turned the witness owe
to E. Fl. Carson. Q. NJ. C. p, counsel fo
the Marquis of Queensbury, for cross-ex
animation. Carson began the presenta-
i ton of the case for the marquis by read
ing passages from dorian Gray" one oil
Oscar Wilde's novels of modern life, tC
show that the author upheld sodomy,
Tue plaintiff was following counsel with
, a copy of the book and laughing at Car
sons insinuations.
Carson, addressing the plaintiff, asked
"Do you think the description of Dorian
\ Gray. given on page 6, is a moral one?"
"Yes," replied Wilde, "just what an ar
| tist would notice in beautiful person
ality."
"Did you ever adore madly, as describes
In Dorian Gray any person OF the NAL
sex younger than yourself?" was the mex
question.
In reply Wilde said: II took the ide
from Shakespeare's sonnets."
During this portion of the proceeding
the Marquis of Queensbury followed hi
counsel with n copy of dorian Gray" il
his hands with seeming enjoyment
Wilde testified that the man to whom b
gave the sd on receipt of the letter i
i, which he referred to ''rose red lipsn Lor
Douglass, which amount was used TO pa
his passage to America. was name
Wood.