Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-06

son. Lord Alfred Douglas, and Wilde.
Continuing, counsel said that he now
approached a more painful duty. 1t
would be his task to call the several
young men who would tell their own
tales and who would show that the man
Taylor, frequently referred TO during
the proceedings, was Wilde's procurer.
lt was no wonder that the Marquis OF
Queensberry protested against the in
timacy between his son and Wilde.
The wonder is, counsel said, that this
man has been so long tolerated in Lon~
don society. Wilde's conduct in re-
gard TO the boy at Worthing, continued
Mr. Carson, was an instance Of his dis
gUstiDg audacity. He picked up this
boy on a pier and introduced him TO
his family, dressed him up as gen.
ueman, and put public schools
COLORS UPON HIS HAT
Mr.. Carson was continuing his ter
rible denunciatiOn of Oscar Wilde
when Sir Edward Clark and others Of
Wilde's counsel left the Courtroom
for consultation. They soon returned
and Sir Edward asked permission to
interrupt the proceedings. Then, amid
a most impressive silence the lead
ing counsel for the plaintiff annOunc-
ed the withdrawal Of the case on be-
half his client. The chief concern Of
Sir Edward Clarke seemed TO be his
desire TO justify himself in undertake
ing 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 Ed
ward Clarke began his statement, he
asked TO withdraw the suit and on
Wilde's behalf 20 submit to a verdict
for the Marquis of not guilty in re-
gard 10 the words posing as a -."
Counsel said that he did this more es-
pecially i'm view Of the extracts which
had been read in Court from WildeS
novel 0f modern social life, Dorian
Gray" and from the magazine, the
ChamelOn. Mr.. Carson here inter
posed. saying that il there was to be a
verdict of not guilty it also involved a
verdict of justification, as the case OF
his client must succeed upon that
plea.
Justice Collins said that as to the
Jury putting any limit on their verdict
that the words posing as q - were
either justified or not justified, if the
Jury consented TO the course suggest
ed and were TO return n verdict of not
guilty. they We're also to find that the
justification set up by the defense was
true i'm substance and in fact, and that
the words complained of were pub
ished for the public benefit.
The jurymen consulted together for
a moment, and then without leaving
their seats. they returned a verdict as
directed ty Justice Collins. namely,
that the Marquis of Queensberry was
not guilty of libel. and that the words
that he had written on he card which
formed the basis of the suit were pub
lished i'm the
INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC.
The verdict was received with loud
applause in Court, and Justice Collins
-uade no attempt 20 check it.
The Marquis OF Queensberry was
then discharged from custody and left
the Court triumphant. smiling and
surrounded by his friends. The de-
fense. it appears, had a long array Of
witnesses on hand, including walters
employed in the hotels of Paris. Lon
don and other cities which Wilde had
freQuented.
At the close of the proceedings it
became known that warrant for the
arrest of Oscar Wilde was TO be
issued. Counsel for the Marquis Of
Oueeusberry have written to the Pub
lie Prosecutor. enclosing copies Of the
statements made by all the witnesses
for the defense, and also enclosing the
shorthand notes taken at the trial,
in order tina there may be no miscar-
raige of Justice.