Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-06
WILDE IS ARRESTED.
His Case Against Queensbelry His Own
Undoins.
VERDICT FOR THE MARQUIS.
Charge Against Oscar Indicated by
His Testimony Before the Court
He Is Apparently tnconcerned-
Effect Of Denouement ON His Plays.

| LONDON, April 5-The case OF Oscar
Wilde against the Marquis OF lueensber-
~. for libel. was brought to a close this
morning by a verdict In favor Of the de-
PENDANT The jury found not only that
the defendant was not guilty of libel,
bur in a SUBSIDIARY verdict declared that
the MARQUIS OF Queensberrys charges
were true. and had been made for the
public good.
The Old Bailey courtroom was crowded
almost to suffocatlon this morning when
Mr.. Carson resumed his speech In behalf
Of the Marquis of Queensberry. II would
be his painful duty. he said, to put upon
| the vltness-stand men who would speak
freely OF the nature of their connection
with the plaintiff, wilde. The ages of
these men varied from Is to - years
| They were OF the class Of servants val
cts. etc. not belonging TO Wilde's station
| in life, not interested In literature or art
yet they addressed this distinguished
dramatist by his Christian name, Oscar
| he in turn calling them Charlie, Fred
| die. etc.
| Mr.. Carson said he would produce over
| whelming evidence of abominahe immo-
| rality on the part of this man Wilde.
| Sir Edward Clarke interrupted Mr.. Car
| son and said he had undertaken great
| responsibility I'm defending Wilde against
the charges made against him by the
| Marquis Of Queensberry. In regard to
the literature which Wilde had published,
| and upon which Mr. Carson had ques-
| toned him, he (Sir Edward had come 10
the painful conclusion that 1t could not
| be expected that the jury would find
verdict OF guilty on the actual words
used by the defendant. viz: That Wilde
| was posing as a devotee OF unnatural
practices He had consulted with Wilde
| in the interim OF the adjournment OF court,
| and in order to save the court painful de-
| tails connected with the rest OF the case
| he was prepared to accept verdict OF
| the Jury In regard 10 Wilde's literature.
The Judge lnterposed and said If the
| Jury were justified in agreeing upon
| verdict on one part OF the case theS
must return verdict OF guilty or not
| guilty as regards the entire case.
THE VERDICT.
The Jury then rendered a verdict OF not
| guilty. to which Sir Edward Clarke as
| sented. and supplemented their verdic'
| with a declaration that the charges made
| by the defendant against Wilde. which
constituted the libel complained Of, were
| true. and that they had been made In the
| public interest.
When the verdict was rendered the
Marquis Of Queensberry left the dock
amid loud cheers.
The Judge granted an order requiring
| Wilde 10 pay costs Of the defence.
Wilde was not in court this morning.
| He and companion drove from the Old
| Bailey to the Holborn Hotel, where they
were Joined soon afterwards by Lord
| Alfred Douglas and companion, ana
| the four took luncheon together in a pri-
| vate room. Wilde's carriage remaining IN
front OF the hotel
The Evening News has received the
| following letter from Oscar Wilde. writ
| ten upon note-paper of the IIolborn Via
| duct Hotel: 1T would have been impos-
| sible for me 10 have proved my case
| without putting Lord Alfred Douglas In
| the witness-box against his father. lie
| was extremely anxious 10 go into the
| witness-box, but / would not let him.
| Rather than put him In so painful po-
| sition determined TO withdraw from the
| case and bear upon my own shoulders
| whatever ignominy and shame might re-
| suit from my prosecution Of the Marquis
| OF Qucensberry.
| (Sgned) OSCAR WILDE.
After rInchlng at the Holborn Hotel
Wilde went to the Westminster Bank,
where he drew out the funds to his ac-
count He was constantly Swallowed. He
| returned to the hotel, accompanied by
| Lord Alfred Douglas only. Remainns
| a few minutes they drove to Ely Place,
and thence TO the Cadogan Il lei. where
| they vanished for the time. and the pos
lice issued descriptions OF Wilde, spread
ing them all over the city.
wILDE'S ARREST.
|. Later he was found in the Cadogan
Hotel taken to Scotland Yard, and after
wards placed I'm cell at the Bow-Street
Station before being locked up When
| the charge indicated by his testimony In
| court was read to him he stood with his
hands In his pockets, silent and appa-
rently unconcerned The warrant for
his arrest was procured by Mr. Lewis
Solicitor Of the Treasury.
one Of the managers Of the Haymarket
Theatre, where one of Wilde's pieces "a
running. in reply to the question how the
result OF the case would affect future
business said he would rather not ex>
press an opinion. He would say, how
ever. that Mr. Wilde's name had been
taken out Of the bills and advertise,
mants of IAN Ideal Husband and from
this the public could form its own con-
illusions. Mr. George W. Alexander man.
ager Of the St. James Theatre, where
Wilde's play, THE Importance Of Being
Earnest" is running. said: when the
scandal was first rumored business here
was slightly affected. but II IL now nor
NAL Mr. Wilde's name has been with
drawn from the bills and advertisements
of his comedy which Is the most inno-
cent play in the world. II does not con-
tain a line that could hurt the most ten
der susceptbilities."
He said also that the play would be
kept on the stage. pending the public
verdict If he should be compelled 10
withdraw il, some 80 persons would be
thrown out of work, as he had nothing
ready TO replace il.
Ii IS reported that the Criterion, 10
which IAN Ideal Husband" was 10 be
transferred from the Haymarket, has de-
clined 10 put the play on its slate.
QUEENsBERRY TO WILDE.
In an interview this afternoon the Mar
quis OF Queensberry said 10 representa-
tive of the United Press: Il have sent
this message TO Wilde: II the country al
lows you TO leave. all the better for the
country; but II you take my son with
you | will follow you wherever you 20
and shoot you.
sworn lniOrmdtlOHS nave Dr'H lOuStb
against several persons mentioned In the
trial, whose names were not made pub
lie. and the civil officers are only wait
ing the authority OF the Treasury Depart
ment to make the arrests.
The Daily Telegraph will say tomorrow
I'm leader on the Wilde case:
1T was a just verdict, and must be held
20 include with Wilde the tendency OF
his peculiar career the meaning and
the influence OF his teachings, and all the
shallow and specious arts by which he
attempted 10 establish ocult and even
set up new schools OF literature and So
cial thought"
WILDE PLAYS CRITICISED.
The audiences at the Haymarket and
st. James theatres, where Mr.. Wilde's
plays are being given, were rather small
this afternoon, but they made no hostile
demonstration At the ST. James there
were few persons. excepting those who
had bought their tickets in advance. The
gallery was somewhat critical, and two
or three audible comments confused the
players slightly.
NEW YORK. April 5.-Mr. Frohman, OF
the Lyceum Theatre. where Oscar Wide's
play. IAN Ideal Husband" is now run
ming. has decided, on account Of the ter
Injection 81 the euit against Wilde IA