The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-06
Marquis of Queensberry Acquitted OF
the Charge Of Libel an Motion OF
the Plaintiffs own Counsel.
WARRANT ISSUED AT ONCE
AND THE EsTHETE ARRESTED AND
TAKEN TO Bow-sTREET STATION.
Lord Alfred Greatly Distressed Bc-
cause the Cruel Police Treated
Wilde Like a Common Criminal.

LONDON. April s.--The suit of oscar
Wilde against the Marquis of Queensberry
came to sudden and unexpected termi-
nation 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 per-
mission on behalf OF his client to with
draw the suit and submit to verdict OF
not guilty in regard to the charge written
by the Marquis of Queensberry on the
card left by the Marquis at the Albemarle
Club for Wilde, on Feb. Is, and which card
formed the outward basis of the suit. The
jury, under instructions from Justice Coli
Inns, returned verdict of not guilty,
coupled with the statement that the justi-
fication 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. Ths
verdict was received with loud applause,
which was not checked by the presiding
justice, and the Marquis of Queensberry
was discharged from custody and left the
court triumphant, smiling and surrounded
by his friends. Shortly afterward war
rant for Oscar Wilde was issued, and he
was arrested.
Before 10 o'clock this morning every avail-
able foot of space in the court room was
filled with spectators. who were armed with
newspapers and packages of sandwiches.
and who were otherwise ready to spend
the day in court in the happiest and most
comfortable manner possible. The Marquis
of Queensberry, at 1920 a. M. entered the
court, looking calm and confident of the
result. Promptly at 1880 O'Clock Justice
Collins entered and the court was opened
Oscar Wilde. however, was absent. Mr.
Edward NJ Carson, q. c., leading counsel
for the defense, resumed his speech. which
was not concluded yesterday when the court
adjourned He proceeded to denounce Wilde
in vigorous terms While he was outlining
against the plaintiff Sir Edward Clarke
and others of Wildes counsel left the
court room for consultation. They soon
returned and Sir Edward asked for per-
mission to interrupt the proceedings. Then,
,' Ing counsel Self for T 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
to which his counsel adjourned and who
left the building hurriedly when Sir Ed
ward 9esan & t ms @ m de he h
half to submit to a verdict for the MARQUIS
Of not guilty n regard LIZ to the the words used.
cially in view of the extracts which had
been read from wildes novel of modern
magazine The Chameleon. Mr. Carson
here interposed, saying that IL there was to
be ae yerdlet f Of not t guilty n b also 70
client must succeed upon that plea.
Justice Collins said, as to the jury putting
fed or not justified II the jurors consented
find that the Justification set up by the. de-
Tense was true in substance and in fact,
and that the words complained of were pub
lished for the public benefit. The jurymen
consulted together for a moment and then.
without leaving their seats. returned a ver-
dict as directed by Justice Collins, namely.
tv 'ne of ibei and u that the words he had
written on the card which formed the basis
of the suit were published in the interests
of the public. The Marquis OF Queensberry
was then discharged from custody.
Officials of the Treasury Department, un-
are directed, visited the Bow-street police
station this afternoon. On the occasion OF
detective and by two boys After short
consultation between the treasury of1cials
questions were addressed to the detectives
and to the boys. the magistrate issued a
warrant for ,he arresn I OF conany Win foeI
Alfred Douglas at hotel IN HoIporn.
His brougham was waiting In front front OF the
to a bank, cashed a check and returned GO
the hotel. Soon afterward both Wilde and
rested at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloan street.
and taken in a cab by two detectives to
Counsel for the Marquis of Queensberry
have written to the public prosecutor IN,
closing copies of the statements made by all
the witnesses for the defense, and also In
closing the shorthand notes taken at une
trial in order that there may be no mis-
Wide wore an ulster and a silk hat. He
was very pale, but cool, when he arrived at
Scotland Yard. Few persons witnessed ms
arrival there, and those who did so main
tained silence; Wilde had merely called az
TT -. ~. n
when, at $50 O'Clock, detective waae.d
into the office and asked for him. Inc ss,,sn I'm
there. but the detective was not to be put
off with any such technical explanation,
and insisted whether Wide was ass SAYING ,o Ha
was in the hotel IIe was thereupon SHOWN
to a room, and. on entering. found WIDE 1s
sitting down. The officer at once told
wilde that he was under arrest and bade
him prepare to accompany him. Wide
said nothing but Immediately went with
the detective, who took him to Scotland
Yard where the warrant was reau. Inc
proceedings. He was then taken to Bow
street. He was not arraigned in the Ponce
Court. but was placed In the dock Kin IN me me
hands in his pockets while the charge
against him was being taken. The police
asked wilde if he had anything TO say.
adding the usual warning that anything ne
ener onsa remained apparently indifferent and
made no reply. He was then searcneu, alter
which he was locked In a cell. SHORTY aiter
he had been locked up one OF his friends
arrived in . carriage at the station with
light Gladstone bag containing change OK
cIofhing and other necessaries, but the po-
lice refused to permit him TO leave II
Later in the evening Lord Alfred Douglas
went to the police station and inquired
whether Wilde would be admitted 70 bail
The police inspector explained that WIDE
had been arrested for criminal offense
which did not allow Of bail being accepted
until he had been arraigned IN court; LORD
Alfred was greatly distressed by this in
formation. He was told by the Inspector
that Wilde had blanket and other requi-
sites in his cell. and was as comfortable
as the police regulations allowed The
prisoner will be allowed to receive food
from a hotel until tomorrow. when he viii
be arraigned in court on q charge involving
a penal offense.
Oscar Wilde has written letter to the
newspapers In which he says: lt was Inn
possible to prove my case without putting
Lord Alfred Douglas in the witness box
against his father. Lord Alfred was ex-
trenely anxious 70 go into the box, but
would not allow H. Rather than put him in
such 4 painful position determined TO re-
frrrr1 q "a ~ Sh0ul-