The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-05

London, April 4.-There was undated
interest today at the old Bailey in the
taking testimony in the suit for libel
brought by Oscar Wilde against the
Marquis of Queensberry. The audience
was largely composed of lawyers and re-
'pcrters There were few notable persons
present
Plaintiff arrived at an early hour and
took a seat at the table reserved for
the solicitors.
The Marquis Of Queensberry entered a
few minutes later. looking jaunty and
Several of his friends shook. the de-
PENDANT by the hand as he entered the
Attended Tea Parties.
Oscar Wilde, upon resuming his place
On the witness stand. admitted that he
had attended tea parties in the room OF
man named Taylor, which were artistic
ally furnished and in which perfumes
were burning. He denied, however, that
he had seen Taylor III a woman COS
tune. Further questions upon tne pa! |
of Mr.. Carson, counsel for the Marquis
I of Queensberry, brought forth the az
mission that Taylor introduced 10 Nllde
1--WE youths whom Wilde gave money ana
took to a restaurant. Plaintiff admitted
that he was not aware that one or tneIn
was valet and another q coacnman, OF
that Taylor had been arrested IN RAD
on a house on Fitzrey Square. Wide
in answers to the questions. exhiblted
confusion and contradicted himself ire
Quently. he also lost his temper. Car
sons questions We're in the main pluIesS
and unprintable. Carson's cross-examin-
alton of plaintiff was concluded at noon,
having lasted over six hours.
Infamous Intimacy.
Sir Edward Clark, the leading counsel
for Wilde then began the examination OF
his client by putting in certain letters or
the Marquis of Queensberry in Which ne
called upon his son, Lord Alfred Douglas,
TO cease the Infamous intimacy with
plaintiff, saying that his blood turned
He added: II hear Wildes wife will pc
tition for a divorce on the grounds OF
unnatural crimes. If YOU, do not cease
20 let him disgrace us, shall feel Justl-
fed in shooting him on sight"
To this letter. Lord Alfred replied:
"What a funny little man you are;
Most of the newspapers are printing
the testimony in the suit almost verba-
tim, but the character of the testimony
IS such today that the st; James Gazette
says: The nature of the evidence ana
the whole circumstances of the case
prove TO be OF such a character that we
cannot repeat it," The St. James Gazette
edds: 1.-The English public is at the pres
ent moment involved in one OF those or
gies of indecency permitted. by the opera
lions of the open law courts and an en-
terprising press"
Wilde Couldn't stand 1t.
After the noon recess the crowd in the
hall and stairs leading TO 1t TILED ten oeep
with well-dressed men waiting to enter
Wilde kept the court waiting ten minutes
for which he apologiZed TO the justice
saving that he had been consulting his
doctor After the production of other let
ters the case for the plaintiff was closed
and Carson began his speech for the de.
Tense 1t was terribly denunciatory or
wilde who left the court room as soon
as counsel for the defendant began TO
Lord Alfred Douglas was present in the
court a short time during the morning,
nut did not return in the afternoon.
The speech of Mr.. Carson for the de-
tense lasted until court adjourned at p.
m, and was not finished. He reviewed
the evidence point by point, denounceq
Wide and said the witnesses he would
produce would prove beyond any doubt
the guilt of plaintiff. Carson alluded in
complimentary terms to the course of
Beerbohm Tree in forwarding to plaintiff
a COPY of the anonymous letter handed
the English actor, whereupon Justice Col
Inns said: There is no occasion 10 men
lion the name of Seerbohm Tree"
Carson, in reply, remarked: Nor should
! do Sc. my lord, had IL not been that L
received a cable message from MIN To-Day
asking that his connection with the case
be fully explained
Everyone understands that Mr.. Trees
connection with the case is in every way
honorable and praiSeworthy, said the
Justice in conclusion
Cur and Coward.
Wilde returned TO the court room few
minutes before adjournment. Among the
letters produced and addressed by the
MARQUIS of Queens bury to his son, Lord
Alfred Douglas, was one saying that
Wilde was a cur and a coward OF the
Rcsebery type"