The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-06

LONDON, April 5.-The libel suit Of
Oscar Wilde against the Marquis Of
Queensberry came to sudden and un-
expected termination to-day, shortly
after the third days proceedings were
begun In the Old Bailey before Justice
Collins.
Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel
for the plaintiff, asked permission on
behalf of his client to withdraw the
suit and submit 30 verdict of no.
guilty In regard to the offensive words
written by the Marquis Of Queensberry
on the card LETT at the Albemarlo Club
by the Marquis of Queensberry on Feb
ruary 1S, and which card formed the
outward basis of the suit. The jury,
under instruction from Justice Col
Inns, returned a verdict Of not guilty.
coupled with the statement that the
Justification set up as 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 justice, and the MARQUIS of
Queensberry was discharged from cus-
tody and left the court, iumphant,
smiling and surrounded by his friends.
The Marquis of bloomsbury at 1920 q.
m. entered the court, looking calm and
confident OF the result. Promptly at
1890 q. m. Justice Collins entered and
the court was opened. Oscar Wilde,
UNI a huon
Carson. Q. O., leading counsel for
defendant, resumed his speech, which
was not concluded yesterday when the
court ad journed.
Mr.. Carson said he hoped he had
demonstrated that the MARQUIS was
justified in bringing to o climax, in the
way he did, the connection between his
son, Lord Alfred Douglass, and Wilde.
Continuing, counsel said that he now
approached a more painful duty. It
would be his task to call the several
young men who would tell their own
tales, and who would show TINT the man
Taylor, frequently referred to during
the proceedings, was Wildes agent. 1t
was no wonder that the Marquis of
Queensberry protested against the in
timacy between his son and Wilde.
The wonder is, counsel said, that the
man had been 40 long tolerated in . Lon
don society. Wilde's conduct in regard
to the boy at WorthinR, continued Mr..
Carson, was an instance OF his audacity
He picked up this boy on pier and in
troduced him to his family, dressed him
up as gentleman, and put q public
school colors upon his hat
Mr.. Carson was continuing his denim.
citation of Oscar Wilde when Sir Edward
Clarke and others of Wilde's counsel,
left the courtroom for consultation.
They soon returned and Sir Edward
asked for permission to interrupt the
proceedings. Then emid most i'm
pressive silence, the leading counsel for
the plaintiff announced the withdrawal
of the case on behalf Of his client. The
chief concern of Sir Edward Clarke
seemed to be his desire 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 hurriedly
when Sir Edward Clarke began his
statement, he asked to withdraw the
suit, and on Wilde's behalf to submit to
verdict for the marquis of not guilty
in regard to the offensive words.
Mr.. Carson here interposed, saving IL
SA&oAO "oo w w q HUU
also involves verdict OF Justification.
as the case Of his client must succeed
upon that plea. Justice Collins said as
to the jury pu tting any limit on the YER
dict. e.wordscomplained of we're either
justified or not justified If the jury
consented to the course suggested and
returned verdict of not guilty thew
were also to find that Justification set
py the defense was true in substance
and in fact, and that the words com.
planned of were published for the public
benefit.
The 1urymen consulted together for
moment and then without leaving their
seats they returned verdict as directed
by Justice Collins, namely, that the
Marquis Of Queensberry was not guilty
OF libel and that the words he had writ.
ten on the card, which formed the basis
OF the suit were published in the in
terests Of the public.
The defense, 1t appears, had long
array OF Witnesses on hand. including
walters employed in the hotels Of Paris,
London and other cities which Wilde
had frequented. At the close of the
proceedings 1t became known that q
warrant for the arrest of Oscar Wilde
was to be issued. Counsel for the Mar
quis OF Odeensberry have written to the
public prosecutor, inclosing copies of
the statements made by all the wit
nesses for the defense and also inclos-
Ing the shorthand notes taken at the
trial in order that they take no miscsr.
rage OF Justice.
Oscar Wilde has written letter to
the newspapers in which he says: "Is
was impossible to prove my case with
out puttinR Lord Alfred Douglass in
in the witness box against his father.
Lord Alfred was extremely anxious to