The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-04
THE WILDE INFANY.
Trial Of the Marquis Of Queens
berry For Libel
POET ON the WITNESS STAND
He Begins Brazeniys but Bs1ore -
Cru@-Ex&nfnstion II kndsd He
scems Ready @ Fstnt.

of Jaeenskserry by Oscar Wide Vas
opened before Justice Collins w1ns
charges the marquis with leaving on Eso-
ruary q an uncovered card at the Abe
marie Club. on which was written GER
tain foul spsfhets. As result Wide on
Marca caused the arrest OF the marquis.
AMI the latter at the Marlborough street
notice court, Was placed under fl-sp naiI-
The court room today was erowasd Win
lawyers Admission was obtained Dy
tickets only. aud the snsfih ~ enA.ss
showed a representative Of the Associates
press a Pile OF applications a foot high.
many being from wels-snogn people
Eurnorw were current ia London yester-
day that Wilde had suddenly left the
city TO avoid being present In court TO-DAY
and reports were also current Thar start
ling deyesopn4ents would arise today. but
ioth Of fheae rurnors were set al rest by
the arrival in court Of the principals 10
thu suit.
The MARQUIS. who wore shabby over
coat was placed In the docket. and an
ewercd 10 the Indictment BY pleading
first, not guilty. and second. that the
statement was true and was puoiisned
for the public good. The marquis seemed
unconcarned, and In replying 10 ques-
tions spoke quietly and clearly.
Sir Edward Clarke. formerly solicitor
general In opening the case said the card
left at the Aibemarie Club for Ar. Wilde
was one Of the visiting cards OF the Mar
auis Of oueensberry. Continuing, the
counsel said the gragest issues have been
raised, as the defendant Ia his pieadings
alleged that plaintiff had for some time
solicited persons named TO commit indie
cent crimes. Certain letters addressed
by the plaintiff to Lord Alfred Douglass.
the second son of the Marquis OF Queens
berry were brought 70 the plaintiff by a
man who said he WAS In distress. and
N NIT sxM
passage TO America Another letter was
handed To Beerbohm Tree. the actor. who
gave II 20 the plaintiff. The counsel then
recounted the facts already known In the
case. showing that Wilde. who had re-
Gently returned from Aigiers. drove to
the Aibemarie club about o'clock p. m.
February =. and on entering was handed
an envelope by the hall porter, Sydney
Wright who said. Lord Queensberry
desired me, SIR. TO hand this 20 you when
you came 20 the club" Inside the en-
veIope the plaintiff found q card On the
back was the date. '4:s0. Is. 2. 49," and
on this card were written certain foul
epIthets which formed the basis OF the
suit.
Oscar Wilde was called. He ianguidly
rose from the solicitors table, where he
was seated. and entered the witness box.
The plaintiff was fauiflessly dressed In
a black frock coat. and carried his gloves
In his hand. showing his fingers. which
were covered with rings. He was very
paie. but seemingly composed Wilde
spoke with his customary drawi. leaning
his arms upon the rail of the witness box,
and replying distinctly 10 the questions.
The jury, which vas composed of very
Intelligent men Of elderly appearance,
mainly prosperous tradesmen. eyed him
with curiosity. The witness said that up
on his arriving at his house n few months
ha mr. x-.sf trer IN
the library. One was the Marquis or
Quecnsberry and the other was unknown
90 the plaintiff. The former said: ''Slt
Down" ! replied: Lord Queensberry.
VIII not allow any one to talk that way
IN my house. ] suppose you have come
10 apologize IL IL possible you accuse
me and your son of sodomy2' He re-
piled; II don't say II. but you look like
II and appear like IT,.
Counsel for the plaintiff then asked the
witness about the man to whom he Rad
given 20 with which 10 pay bis passage
10 Amsrica- Witness said: The man
told me he had been offered ESQ for a let
ter, and l advised him Immediately 10 ac-
cept IL. but | finally gave him the money
In order TO relieve his distress and he
gave me the letter" The document re-
ferrsd 10 was here produced In court and
handed to Justice Collins. The letter re-
ferred 20 the rose red lips" OF Lord
dressed him as MY own boy" and asked
why are you alone I'm London The
letter was signed with undying love
Oscar" Counsel. ia explaining this letter
said IL might seem extravagant To those
not IA the habit of writing letters.
But" he added. III was mere poetry"
laughter.
Interest In the case was increased when
Sir Edward Clarke. upon finishing the
direct examination. turned the witness
ever To- T.. ~. Carson. @ e. NJ. T.. couu-
eel for the Marquis Of oueensberry. for
cross-examsnatian. Carson began the
presentation or the case for the marquis
BY reading passages from Dorian Crey.''
one OF Oscar Wilde's novels OF modern
life. Co show that the author upheld sod
envy. the riainttn following counsel with
q copy OF the book and laughing at Car
sons insinuaticn.
Carson. addressing the plaintiff. asked
DO you think the description OF Dorian
GRAY given on page s. IL moral oae2'
Yes. replied Nnde. Just what an
artist would notice in a beautiful per-
soaality."
''pld yeu ever adore madiy. as described
IN "Doltan Gray" any person Of the
male sex younger than yourselfs'' was
the next question.
la reply Wilde said: II took the .a.a
from Shakespeare'a sennets"
Daring this portion 81 ths rroc settnEs
The Marquis 81 QuensheTrv followed his
counsel with n copy % Dorian Gray" 81.
hand. With seeming enjoyment
Wilde testified that The uan To whoy,
he gave go on receipt OF the letter n,
whica he referred 20 toe rose red IlpS''
OF lord Douglass. which amount was
used - pay his passage 20 America was
named Wood Replying 60 q question ~
Mr.. Carson, Willie said the isgfer % Lord
Alfred WAS merely pesticaL and raaesi
that he had "unaying love- for Lord
Alfred. who. he claimed was his best
friend, Witness denied having mlxcon-
dactesi himself with Wood The iassar.
he added. was introduced 90 him nv Lord
Alfred who asked him 20 bcsrlena tire
man. Wilde ana Wood. Il was show n.
also ny the cr0ss-exasntnatfon. addressed
each ether ~ tneiy Christian names II
was also developed that IN writing ~ ah'
not concern himself 20 produce morality
or immortality. lie Nsa no purpose. ard
Was eences0ei merely With ntsfa-
tare. beauty, Wit ard emotion. lie rars N
thought 81 ANYTHING ~ wrote as trsse. sfr
Edward Clarke Objected "a Carson
crcss-exanaEnaitoa 81 h}S client on ,As
.ovei Dorian GRAY SIS "a appeared ~
ffppfncott'S Magazine ans aeS .a~ e. vas
published in England Wilde sAeranf,,r
STEPPED frora the witness hox ans Wits
rerea few words 20 his counsel afsar
witch Edward Clarke Withdrew The %.
lection.
TIE eroxS-exsminats0n Was very revere
asa brought snt the great difference tr
che aces 81 Oscar Wilde and Lard Aifrei
Douglass TIE former was horn "a fNk
TIE latter IN 1870; how sas Two hsa v.sisasl
VartaGs towns together stopped Al TIE
Savoy hotel together. sna how sFa Al.
fred Waited wiide's chamber
Carson then drew eat Whites aFssn -