St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-06
WILDE BEHIND BARS
His Case Against the MARQUIS
Of Queensberry Suddenly
Collapses.
HE OCCUPIES A JAIL CELL
Having Been Arrested as the
Result Of the Findings of
the Jury.
HE OCCUPIES A JAIL CELL
VERDICT OF JUSTIFICATION
Brought In for Queensberry--
Oscar to Have a Hearing
Today.

car Wilde against the Marquis of
Queensberry came to a sudden and
unexpected termination shortly after
the third days proceedings were be-
gun in the Old Bailey, before Justice
Collins.
Sir Edward Clarke, leading coun-
sci for the plaintiff, asked permis-
sion on behalf of his client, to with
draw the suit and submit to a YER
dict of not guilty in regard to the
words posing as a -, -
written by the Marquis of Queens
berry at the Albemarle club for
Wilde on Feb. IS, and which card
formed the outward basis of the
suit. The jury, under instructions
from Justice Collins, returned YER
dict Of
NOT GUILTY,
coupled with the statement that the
justification set up as a defense by
the Marquis of Queensberry was
true in substance and in fact, and
that the statement complained of
was published for the public good.
The verdict was received with loud
applause, which was not checked by
the presiding judge, and the marquis
was discharged from custody, smil-
ing and surrounded by his friends.
Shortly afterwards it was an
nounced that a warrant for the ar
rest of Oscar Wilde was to be ap-
piled for, all the papers in the case
having been submitted to the public
prosecutor.
Before 10 o'clock today every avail
able foot of space in the court room
was filled with spectators, who were
armed with newspapers and pack
ages of sandwiches, and who were
otherwise ready to spend the day in
court, in the happiest and most COM
Portable manner possible. The mar
squis, at 1920 a. M, entered court
looking calmly confident of the re-
suit. Promptly at 10:30 Justice Col
Inns entered, and the court was
opened. Oscar Wilde, however, was
absent. Edward NJ. Carson, Q. c.,
leading counsel for the defense, re-
p
finished yesterday when court ad-
journed. Mr.. Carson said that he
hoped that the marquis was justified
in bringing to a climax in the way
he did the connection between his
son, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde.
Continuing, counsel said that he
now approached a more painful duty.
1t would be his task to call the sew
eral young men who would tell their
own tales, and who would show that
the man Taylor, frequently referred
to during the proceedings, was
Wilde's procurer 1t was no wonder
that the Marquis of Queensberry
protested against the intimacy be-
tween his son and Wilde. The Won
der is, counsel said, that this man has
been SO long tolerated in London So
ciety. Wilde's conduct in regard to
the boy at Worthing, continued Mr..
Carson, was an instance of his
DISGUSTING AUDACITY.
He picked up this boy on pier and
introduced him to his family, dressed
him up as a gentleman, and put pub
lie school colors upon his hat.
Mr. Carson was continuing his ter
rible denunciatic4l of Oscar Wilde,
when Sir Edward Clarke and others
of Wilde's counsel left the court room
for consultation. They soon returned
and Sir Edward asked for permission
10 interrupt the proceedings. Then,
amid a most impressive silence the
leading counsel for the plaintiff an
nounced the withdrawal of the case
on behalf of the client. The chief con-
Germ of Sir Edward Clarke seemed to.
be to justify himself in undertaking
the case for Wilde. He said that after
consulting with his client, who, by
the way, was in the room to which his
counsel adjourned, and who left the
building hurriedIy when Sir Edward
Clarke began his statement, he asked
to withdraw the suit and on WiIdes
behalf to submit to a verdict for the
marquis of not guilty in regard to the
words posing as ---" Counsel
said that he did this more especially
in view of the extracts which had
been read in court from Wilde's novel
of modern social life, Dorian Gray"
and from the magazine, the Chameleon.
MT. Carson here interposed, saying
that if there was to be a verdict of
not guilty, it also involves verdict of
justification, as the case of his client
must succeed upon that plea.
Justice Collins said, as to the Jury
putting any limit on their verdict,
that the words posing as
were either justified or not justified.
II the jury consented to the course
suggested and were to return a verdict
OF not guilty, they were also to find
that the justification set UP by the de-
tense was true in substance and in
fact' and that the words complained
OF were published for the public ben
eht. The jurymen consulted together
Tor moment, and then, without leav-
ing their seats, they returned a YER
dict ash directed by Justice Collins.
namely that the Marquis of Queens
berry was not guilty of libel, and that