Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
Queensberry Committed for Trial for
Libeling Oscar Wilde.
BLACKBALLING OF PREMIER RHODES
Thousands of Londoners Suffering
From the Grip.
NOVEL FANCY DRESS BALL

LONDON, March 9.-The Marquis of
Queensberry was today at the Marlborough
street police court formally committed for
trial by Mr.. Newton the sitting magistrate,
on the charge Of having nbeled Oscar
Wilde in leaving at the Albemarle Club on
February Is a card upon which was writ
| ten dlsgraceful epithet
The marquis declared In court that he
wrote the card simply to bring matters to
head and to save his son, and that he
abided by what he wrote.
Mr.. Edward H. Corson, @. c., M. p, for
merly solicitor general for Ireland, and
who was counsel in most of the govern
ment prosecutions in Ireland under the
crimes act. defended the Marquis of
Queensberry.
The court was crowded with well-known
people. Oscar Wilde, who wore a long
dark blue overcoat, with velvet cuffs, drove
to the police court in great style in car
riage and pair, with footman and coach
man. Accompanying Mr.. Wilde was Lord
Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquis of
Queensberry.
faced and rather good-looking young man.
By direction Of the magistrate Lord AL
fred was not allowed to remain in court
during the examination Of Mr.. Wilde and
the young man left the court room, look
ing rather surprised and crestfallen.
Mr.. Wilde was Immediately placed upon
the stand and began his evidence with an
air of languid holiness. When he was ask
dramatist, the witness replied Il think I
am we'll KNOWN
This remark made MI Newton interpose
sharply, saying: Answer the question,
please"
Thereupon the plaintiff replied yes"
The reproof of the magistrate caused. Mr..
Wilde to assume less important air.
Replying to questions put to him by his
nj said hat ha frSt
became acquainted with the Marquis of
Queensberry in 1898. He remembered lunch
ing with Lord Alfred Douglas, who is the
marquis second son, and who was born
in 1870. in the Cafe Royal during the
month of October, 1892 when the defendant
entered the room and by invitation of his
son sat down at the same table.
Continuing, Mr.. Wilde said that he did
not see the Marquis of Queensberry again
until 1893, when he and Lord Alfred Doug
las were again lunching in the same cafe.
The defendant upon this occasion shook
hands with both Mr.. Wilde and his son
Join them.
At this stage of the proceedings counsel
for Mr.. Wilde handed him letter and the
| witness was asked If such a document had
been placed In his hands by Lord Alfred
Douglas shortly afterward. The magistrate
here remarked that he thought this dccu-
ment should not be put In evidence.
Mr.. Carson, counsel fer the MARQUIS In
terposed. saying that he did not object to
the letter being put in evidence. On the
contrary, he preferred that it should be
brought before the court, as he wished to
snow that the Marquis of Queensberry was
ting In the interest Of his son.
To this Mr.. Newton said that he could
not then enter into that question Mr..
Carson objected to this. and asked that
the document be put in evidence in order
that the matter might he investigated in
the fullest manner possible.
Counsel for Mr.. Wilde said that it was
NNt fv,kD Id =, !.
In court, as the names of exalted person
ages were mentioned and he did not think
1t right that their names should transpre
Counsel also explained that the mystic
rlous letter was introduced with the view
OF charging the Marquis of Queensberry
with additional ibels. Counsel for the
plaintiff withdrew the letter.
Mr.. Wilde then continued his evidence,
| testifying as to how he was handed the
card of the Marquis of Queensberry, upon
| which was written the offensive words. by
a porter at the Albemarle Club.
Mr.. Carson then croSS-examined the wit
ness in regard to his acquaintance with
Lord Alfred Douglas, saying that he wish
| ed to show that the object of the MARQUIS
OF Queensberry was to end the acquaint-
| ance of his son with the plaintiff
The magistrate said he considered this
| defense to be plea of justification, and
did not allow Mr.. Carson to proceed.
The MARQUIS of oueensberry was then
| asked If he had anything to say, whereupor
| he arose and declared that he wrote the
card Simply to bring matters to head
and to save my SON." He added: 81 abide
| by what 1 wrote"
The marquis was then formally commit.
| ted for trial, bail being allowed in f5CO.
In club circles this week there has been
much comment upon the sensation caused
| hrst, by the blackballing of Cecil Rhodes
premier of Cape Colony, at the Travellers
| Club; and. second, at the fact that the
| Prince of Wales, the Duke of Fife his son.
in-law. and Earl Grey have resigned their
! am her Of hot nl,,I,
| damaging blow to its prestige.
The blackballing of Mr.. Rhodes follow
| ing closely upon the refusal of the Marl-
borough Club to elect Mr.. Belt, the South
| African millionaire, and partner of Mr.
Rhodes in the diamond mines, is giving
clubmen a lot to talk about. The MARI
| borough is the favorite club of the Prince
of Wales, and nobody is proposed for mem
| bership there until his name has first been
| submitted to the prince. To make matters
! uglier, Mr.. Belt, it will be remembered, was
proposed by the Duke of Fife. The prince
| when he heard that Mr.. Belt had been
| blackballed, offered to have him renomi-
mated, but the South African millionaire
| declined.
The Grip In London.
| The weather and the epidemic of influ-
| enZa have been moderating recently, al
| though thousands of houses are still with
out water result of frozen pipes, and
many thousands of people are suffering
from the prevailing ma1ady.
The present epidemic of influenza has
been more severely felt inland than in any
other part Of the country, and the death
rate has risen, during the past week. from
| q per thousand, the normal rate, to $50
| per thousand, remarkably high record.
! Lord Rosebery, it now appears, has been
| more seriously i'll than was generally i'm
| agined, and, 1t is added he is improving
very slowly. Among the other distinguish
ed sufferers is Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
The home secretary, Mr.. Henry Asquith,
| has recovered from his attack; Mr.. Henry
| Fowler, the secretary of state for Indian
| affairs, is confined to his room; the Mar
| chioness of Salisbury, who has been suf-
| fering, is now able to leave her bed, and
| the Duchess Of Sutherland is down with an
| attack of the same disease.
| The queens drawing room at Bucking-
| ham palace on Wednesday showed the eff
| feet of the Influenza epidemic, for the usual
| attendance was considerably reduced.
Many rumors have been circulated re-
| garding the absence of the Princess OF
| Wales from the drawing room, but the gen.
eral opinion seems to be that the failure OF
| the princess to be present upon that occa-
sion was the result of feeble health, and
| the fact that she was DESTROYS of not ex.
| posing herself to the cold or Of mourning
| the attendant fatigue.
| The queen has granted letters patent tc