The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05
HIS CASE rs PRESENTED,
The Defense Will Try to Prove
the Guilt of the Plaintiff
as Charged.
TREE DESIRES TO EXPLAIN.
The ST. James Gazette Will Not
Publish the Testimony Here
after Presented.

LONDON, ENG, April 4.-There was I'M
abated interest to-day at the Old Bailey in
the taking of testimony in the suit for libel
brought by Oscar Wilde against the Mar
quis of Queensberry. The audience was
largely composed of lawyers and reporters.
There were few notable persons present.
The plaintiff arrived at an early hour
and took a seat at the table reserved for So
licitors. The Marquis of Queensberry en-
tered few minutes later, looking jaunty
and confident Several of his friends shook
the defendants hand as he entered the
dock.
Oscar Wilde, upon resuming his place on
the witness-stand, admitted that he had at
tended tea parties in the rooms of man
named Taylor which were artistically fur
nished and in which perfumes were burn
ing.
Wilde, in answer to questions, exhibited
confusion and contradicted himself fire.
quently. He also lost his temper. Car
sons questions were in the main pitiless
and unprintable. Carson's cross-examina-
ton of the plaintiff was concluded at noon,
having lasted over six hours.
After the aft ernoon recess the crowd in
the courtroom was larger than ever, and
the hall and stairs leading to it were filled
ten feet deep with well-dressed men in
waiting. Wilde kept the court waiting ten
minutes, for which he apologized to JUS
tice Collins, saying he had been consulting
his doctor.
After the production of other letters the
case for the plain tiff was closed, and Car
son began his speech for the defense. 1t
was terribly denunciatory of Wilde, who
left the courtroom as soon as the counsel
for defendant began to speak. Lord Al
fred Douglas was present in the court for
short time during the morning, but did
not return in the afternoon.
The speech of Mr.. Carson for the de-
tense lasted until the court adjourned, at 5
p NJ, and was not finished. He reviewed
the evidence, point by point, denounced
Wilde, and said the witnesses he would
produce would prove beyond any doubt the
guilt of the plaintiff.
Carson alluded in mplimentary terms
to the course of Beerbohm Tree in forward
ing to the plaintiff copy of the anony-
nous letter handed the English actor,
whereupon Justice Collins said: There is
no occasion to mention the name of Beer
bohm Tree" Carson in reply remarked
"Nor should / do so, my Lord, had it not
been that received a cable message from
him to-day asking that his connection
with the case be fully explained"
every one understands Mr.. Trees con-
nection with the case. 1t is in every way
honorable and praiseworthy," said the
Justice in conclusion. Wilde returned to
the courtroom few minutes before adj
iournment.
Among the letters produced and adj
dressed by the Marquis of Queensberry to
his son, Lord Afr ed Douglas, was one say
ing Wilde twas cur and coward"
Most of the papers are printing the tes-
tinony in the suit almost verbatim, but
the character of the testimony is such to-
day that the st. James Gazette says: The
nature of the evidence and the whole cir
cumstances Of the case prove to be of such
a character that we cannot repeat it.