The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-04
TOO MUCH FOR OSCAR
Opposing Counsel DenOunces
Wilde in Severe Terms.
The Defendant Didn't Stay to
Hear 1t.
QUESTIONS PITILESS.
Wilde Was Not Spared in the
Examination.
Lord Douglass Father Appealed
to His Son.

LONDON. April 4-There was unabated
interest today at the Old Bailey in the
taking of testimony on the second day of
the trial of the suit for libel brought by
Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of
Queensberry. The audience was largely
composed of lawyers and reporters.
There were few notable persons present
The plaintiff arrived in court at an early
hour and took his seat at the table re-
served for the solicitors. The Marquis
of Queensberry entered few minutes
later looking jaunty and confident. Sew
eral of his friends rushed forward and
shook the defendants hand as he en-
tered the dock.
Oscar Wilde upon resuming his place
on the witness stand admitted that he
had attended tea parties in the rooms of
a man named Taylor, which were ar
tistically furnished and in which per-
fumes were burning. He denied how
ever that he had ever seen Taylor In
woman's costume.
Further questions upon the part of
Mr.. Carson, counsel for the Marquis of
sion that Taylor introduced to Wilde five
youths to whom Wilde gave money and
took them to a restaurant The plaintiff
admitted that he was not aware that one
of them was a valet and another a coach
man, or that Taylor had been arrested in
a raid on house in Fitzroy square.
Wilde in his answers to the questions
put 10 him, exhibited confusion and
contradicted himself frequently. He also
lost his temper.
Mr.. Carson's questions were in the
main pitiless and unprintable. Mr.. Car
sons cross examination of the plaintiff
was concluded at noon, after having
lasted over six hours.
Sir Edward Clarke. leading counsel
for Wilde, then began the examination of
his client, by putting in certain letters of
the Marquis of Queensberry, in which
he called upon his son, Lord Alfred
Douglass, to cease his ''infamous intima-
cy" with plaintiff, saying that his "blood
turned cold at the sight of their Infamous
faces"
He added: 81 hear that Wildes wife
will petition for divorce on the grounds
of unnatural crimes. If you do not cease
to let him disgrace US, | shall feel justi-
fed in shooting him on sight"
To this letter Lord Alfred replied by
saying: "What funny little man you
are"
Most of the newspapers are printing
the testimony in the suit almost ver-
batim, but the character of the testimony
| is such today that the St. James Gazette
SAYS: "The nature of the evidence and
the whole circumstance of the case prove
to be of such character that we cannot
reprint it."
/ The St. James Gazette adds: "The
English public is at the present moment
involved in one of the orgies of indie
cency permitted by the operation of open
| law courts and an enterprising press
The Gazette urges that all such cases
should be heard in camera.
After the noon recess the crowd in the
court room was larger than ever and the
hall and the stairs leading to it were
filed ten deep with we'll dressed mer
who were waiting to enter.
The Marquis of Queensberry touched
| with several of his friends and the sym
pathy OF all present in court seems tC
be with him.
Wilde kept the court waiting for ter
minutes, for which he apologized to Jus
tice Collins, saying that he had beer
consulting his doctor.
After the production of other letter
the case for the plaintiff was closed anC
Dr. Carson began his speech for the de
fense. It was terribly denunciatory o
Wilde, who left the court room as sooE
as counsel for the defendant began t
speak.
Lord Alfred Douglass was present il
court for short tina during the morn
ing, but he did not return in the after
noon.
The speech of Mr. Carson for the de
fense lasted until the court adjourned q
.. NJ, and was not finished at ths
hour. He reviewed the evidence poin
by point, denounced Wilde, and sal
that the witnesses he would pEoduc
would prove to the jury beyond an
doubt the guilt of the plaintiff
During the course of his remarks MI
Carson alluded in complimentary term
to the course of Mr.. Beerbohm Tree, i
forwarding to the plaintiff a copy of tn
anonymous letter handed to the Englis
actor whereupOn Justice Collins said:
There is no occasion to mention tn
name of Mr.. Beerbohm Tree"
Mr.. Carson, in reply, remarked: "Nt
should 1 do so, my lord, had it not bee
that received a cable message from hi
today asking that his connection with tt
case be fully explained"
"Eyery one understands that Mr.. Tree
| connection with the case is in every wa
honorable and praiseworthy," said IL
, justice. in conclusion.
Wilde returned to the court room for
few minutes before adjournment.
Among the letters produced in cou
and addressed by the Marquis Of Queen
berry to his son, Lord Alfred Dougla
was one saying that Wilde was SCI
and coward of the Rosebery type"
The STATE JOURNALS Want and Mi
cellaneous columns reach each workin
day in the week more than twice
T.