The herald., 1895-04-05
SCANDAL SM|RCRES Wilde
The Famous Dude TestifieS in
the Libel Case
GAVE YOUNG MEN MONEY
Tells of How He Attended Afternoon
Tea Parties
Nature of the Testimony Was Such That the
st. James Gazette Would Not Publish
It-A Remarkable Story

LONDON, April H. There was nm
abated interest today at the Old Bailey
in the taking of testimony in the suit
for libel brought by Oscar Wilde against
the Marquis of Queensberry. The audience
was largely composed of lawyers and re-
porters. There were few notable persons
present. The plaintiff arrived at an early
hour and took seat at the table reserved
for solicitors. The Marquis of Queens
berry entered few minutes later looking
jaunty and confident. Several of his
friends shook the defendants hands as
resuming his place upon the witnes
stand admitted that he had attended tea
parties in the rooms of man named
Taylor which ere artistically furnished
and in which perfumes were burning.
He denied however, he had seen Taylor
in woman's costume. Further questions
upon the part of Mr. Carson, counsel for
the Marquis OF Queensberry. brought forth
the admission that Taylor introduced to
Wilde five youths whom Wilde gave money
and took to q restaurant. The plalntltf
admitted he was not aware that one of
these was Halet and another coachman,
or that Taylor had. been arrested In RAID
on house on Fitzroy square. Wilde, in
answer to questions, eXhlbltel confusion,
ana COntraulcIpu nIIlSSll IlS
also lost his temper. CarSonS questions
were in the main pitiless and imprint
able Carsons cross-examination of the
plaintiff was concluded at noon, having
lasted over six hours.
Sir Edward Clarke, counsel for Wilde,
then examined his client by putting
certain letter of the Marquis OF Queens
berry in which he called upon his son,
Lord Alfred Douglass, to cease his in
famous intimacy" with the plaintiff, say
ing his "blood turned cold" at the sight
OF their infamous faces. He added: 81
hear Wilde's wife will petition for di-
vorce on the ground of unnatural crimes.
Ii you do not cease letting him disgrace
us, | shall feel justified in shooting him
on sight,
To this letter Lord Alfred replied:
"What funny little man you are.
Most of the newspapers are printing tes-
timony in the suit almost verbatim, but
the character of the testimony is such
today that the st. James Gazette says:
1.-The nature OF the evidence and the
whole circumstances of the case prove
to be of such a characer we cannot repeat
it, The st. James Gazette adds: 1.-The
English public is at present involved in
one of those orgies of indecency per-
mitted by the operations of open law
courts and an cnterprising press.
AT the afternoon session the crowd
in the courtroom was larger than ever,
filled ten deep with well-dressed men
waiting.
Wide kept the court waiting ten minutes
for which he apologized to Justice Collins,
saying he had been consulting his doctor.
Alter the production of other letters the
case for the plaintiff closed and Carson
began his speech foT the defense 1t was
terribly denunciatory of Wilde. who left
the court room as soon as counsel Tor the
defense began to speak. Lord Alfred
Douglass was present in court short
time during the morning, but did not re-
turn in the afternoon.
The speech of Mr.. Carson for the de
fense lasted until court adjourned at p.
M, and was not finished. He reviewed
the evidence point by point, denounced
Wilde and said the witnesses he would
produce would prove beyond any doubt
the guilt of the plaintiff. Carson alluded
in supplementary terms to the course OF
Beerbohm Tree in forwarding to plaintiff
a copy OF the anonymous letter headed
the English actor, which justice Collins
said "There is no occasion to mention
the name OF Beerbohm Tree" Carson in
reply remarked: Nor should do SO. my
message from him today asking his con-
nection with the case be fully explained"
Everyone understsnds Mr.. Tree S con-
nection with the case. 1t is in every way
honorable and praiseworthy, said the
justice in conclusion.
Wilde returned to the court room few
minutes before it adjourned. Among the
letters produced by the Marquis OF
Queensberry to his son Lord Alfred Doug
lass was one saying, wilde was cur
and coward ~