The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-04
OSCAR WILDE'S LIBEL SUIT.
THE MARQUIS READY TO ASSAULT
HIM IN COURT.

>
Gushy Letter From wilde 90 Lord
Alfred Douglas Produced in Court
and Described by the Author a. a
Prose sOnnet-The Marquis sticks
20 His Assertions.
London. April s-The central criminal
court in the old Bailey was densely pack
ed with people long before the hour OF
opening-l0:S0 a. m.-to-day. the attrac-
tion being the trial of the action OF Oscar
Wilde against Marquis of Queensberry for
libel Justice Collins took his seat on the
bench promptly at 1880 o'clock and the
case was called. The prosecution is con-
Quoted by Sir Edward Clarke. Q. c., NJ p,
and the Marquis of Queensberry is de-
Tended by Edward II. Carson. Q. c.. NJ. p.
Lawyer Besley watched the proceedings
on behalf of Lord Douglass Of Warwick
Oscar Wilde, wearing a light blue over
coat. entered the court room I'm company
with his solicitor. Mr.. Humphreys. He
resolutely maintained an air of unconcern,
despite the fact that everybody was star
ing at him. and took his seat in front OF
Sir Edward Clarke. The Marquis Of
Queensberry entered the dock and in an
swer to the usual questions, pleaded not
guilty adding that the so-called libel
was true and had been made known In
the interest Of public morality.
Sir Alfred Clarke in opening the case
reviewed the evidence taken in the police
court, dwelling upon the writing which
constituted the libel complained of. This
writing alleged that Mr.. wilde had been
posing immorally. 1t has been noticed he
4
was any actual offense, but the gravity
OF the case consisted I'm the fact that the
libels complained of had extended over
long period of time. Tho
Marquis of Queensberry, Sir Ed
ward said, has also accused M.
Wilde Of having solicited a num-
Der of gentlemen to engage with him in a
series OF grave offenses. Several OF these
gentlemen would be called to deny what
ever the marquis might say on cross ex-
animation.
At this point the marquis, who. with
clinched fists sat glaring at Mr.. Wilde,
made movement as thought he intended
to attack him and ne undoubtedly would
have done so had It not been for persons
between them.
Sir Edward Clarke continuing, said
Mr. Wilde had been close friend of
the Queensberry family until 1893, when
he learned of the offensive statements be-
ing made against him by a man named
Wood who had either stolen or found
some letters written by Mr.. Wilde to Lord
Alfred Douglas. He offered to return
these letters for money and afterwards
at Woods earnest entreaty, Mr.. Wilde
paid his fare to America. Later Mr.
Wilde learned that two men named
Knebly and Allen pretended to have in
their possession compromising letters, but
Mr. Wilde refused to purchase them. Mr..
Wilde, he said, ADMITTED having written.
In 1898, a most extravagant letter to Lord
Alfred Douglas, In answer to q poem the
latter had written. Despite the senti-
ments expressed in this letter, the jury
must take into consideration the artistic
circle in which Mr.. Wilde moved. Mr.
Wilde himself described this letter as
prose sonnet"
In 1893 Sir Edward said the Marquis
of Queensberry openly libeled Mr.. Wilde
sin the latter's own house and was shown
the door in the presence of servants and
refused further admittance The annoy
ance was aggravated by the behavior of
the Marquis of Queensberry on the first
night of the production of many Of Mr..
Wilde's plays.
The letter which Mr. Wilde had writ
ten to Lord Alfred Douglass was read as
follows: MY Dear Boy-Your sonnet is
quite lovely. Your roseleaf lips seem
made no less for the music of song than
for the madness Of kisses. Your SLIM gilt
soul walks between poetry and passion.
l know that Hyacinthus, who was loved
by Apollo was you in the Greek days.
Why are you alone in London, and when
do you go to Salisbury? DO you sleep in
the gray twilight of Gothis things? Come
here whenever you like, but go to Sails
bury first"
The Marquis, Sir Alfred Clarke said
now attacked Mr. Wilde respecting his
Dorian Grey and his articles in the
Chameleon, which 1t is alleged that he
published in the interests and for the
furtherance of immoral practices.
Mr.. Wilde was then called to the stand
and detailed his relations with the fami-
~ of the marquis. His testimony followed
the lines of his counsels address.
He said that he had no connection with
the Chameleon and strongly disapproved
of the article entitled "Acolyte and
Priest" which had been published there
in. AS regarded Dorian Grey" Mr.
Wilde said 1t had first appeared as
serial in Lippincott's Magazine, but had
been altered when published In book form.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Carson, Mr..
Wilde said he was aware that Lord Al
fred had written articles I'm the Chame-
leon. One OF them. entitled Two Loves"
he did not regard as improper. though the
Loves" were boys. He regarded por-
tions of Priest and Acolyte" as disgust
ing. but did not think 1t blasphemous.
He knew that the Chameleon had cir
culation among students Of oxford Uni
versity
Referring to his publication, 'PhiIoso-
ply for the Young" Mr.. Carson asked
Mr. Wilde II he believed what he had
written. Mr.. Wilde answered: Il rarely
write what 1 belieTe is true"
Continuing, Mr.. Wilde said that he be-
Iieved that the Eealization Of self was
the primal end Of life.
Mr.. Wilde said t%at the man Allen, when
endeavoring to obtain money for the copy
of the letter in his possession had remark
ed that it might bear a curious meaning.
To this Mr.. Wilde testified that he re-
piled 'art is rarely ineligible TO the Grim
inal classes"
Pressed to say whether the articles in the
Chameleon were not immoral. Mr.. Wilde
replied: They were worse; they were
badly written"
Mr. Wilde dec4ied generally and specih-
caliy all the charges of immortality
brought against him by the Marquis Of
oheensbury. Nj. Wilde said that he gave
Woow the fi5 because Lord Alfred Douglas
had asked hinA to assist Wood. lie admit
ted that he thought the matter was
blackmail, YET he gave the man f5 besides
his dinner. he next day and saw him Off
for America Throughout his testimony
ls,r a