besieged on each day that the trial lasted. Remarkable revelations were
expected and they were indeed forthcoming. Enormous pains had been taken
to provide a strong defence and it was quite clear almost after the first
day that Wilde's case would infallibly break down. He made some
astonishing admissions in the witness-box and even disgusted many of his
friends by the flippancy and affected unconcern of his replies to
questions of the most damaging nature. He, apparently, saw nothing
indecorous in facts which must shock any other than the most depraved. He
saw nothing disgusting in friendships of a kind to which only one
construction could be put. He gave expensive dinners to ex-barmen and the
like: ignorant, brutish young fools--because they amused him! He presented
youths of questionable moral character with silver cigarette-cases because
their society was pleasant! He took young men to share his bedroom at
hotels and saw nothing remarkable in such proceedings. He gave sums of
thirty pounds to ill-bred youths--accomplished blackmailers--because they
were hard-up and he felt they did not deserve poverty! He assisted other
young men of a character equally undesirable, to go to America and
received letters from them in which they addressed him as "Dear Oscar,"
and sent him their love. In short, his own statements damned him. Out of
his own mouth--and he posing all the time--was he convicted. The case
could have but one ending. Sir Edward Clarke--pained, surprised,
shocked--consented to a verdict for the Marquis of Queensberry and the
great libel case was at an end. The defendant left the court proudly
erect, conscious that he had been the means of saving his son and of
eradicating from society a canker which had been rotting it unnoticed,
except by a few, for a very long time. Oscar Wilde left the court a ruined
and despised man. People--there were one or two left who were loyal to
him--turned aside from him with loathing. He had nodded to six or seven
friends in court on the last day of the trial and turned ashen pale when
he observed their averted looks. All was over for him. The little
supper-parties with a few choice wits; the glorious intoxication of
first-night applause; the orgies in the infamous dens of his boon
companions--all these were no more for him. Oscar Wilde, _bon vivant_, man
of letters, arbiter of literary fashion, stood at the bar of public
opinion, a wretch guilty of crimes against which the body recoils and the
mind revolts. Oh! what a falling-off was there!
* * * * *
If any reader would care to know the impression made upon the opinion of
the London world by the revelations of this lawsuit, let him turn to the
"Daily Telegraph" of the morning following the dramatic result of the
trial. In that great newspaper appeared a leading article in reference to
Oscar Wilde, the terms of which, though deserved, were most scathing,
denunciatory, and bitter. Yet a general feeling of relief permeated the
regret which was universally expressed at so terrible a termination of a
distinguished career. Society was at no pains to hide its relief that the
Augean stable has been cleansed and that a terrible scandal had been
exorcised from its midst.
It now becomes a necessary, albeit painful task, to describe the
happenings incidental or subsequent to the Wilde & Queensberry
proceedings. It was certain that matters could not be allowed to rest as
they were. A jury in a public court had convinced themselves that Lord
Queensberry's allegations were strictly true and the duty of the Public
Prosecutor was truly clear. The law is not, or should not be, a respector
of persons, and Oscar Wilde, genius though he were, was not less amenable
to the law than would be any ignorant boor suspected of similar crimes.
The machinery of legal process was set in action and the arrest of Wilde
followed as a matter of course.
A prominent name in the libel action against Lord Queensberry had been
that of one Alfred Taylor. This individual, besides being himself guilty
of the most infamous practices, had, it would appear, for long acted as a
sort of precursor for the Apostle of Culture and his capture took place at
nearly the same time as that of his principal. The latter was arrested at
a certain quiet and fashionable hotel whither he had gone with one or two
yet loyal friends after the trial for libel. His arrest was not
unexpected, of course; but it created a tremendous sensation and vast
crowds collected at Bow Street Police Station and in the vicinity during
the preliminary examinations before the Magistrate. The prisoner Wilde
bore himself with some show of fortitude, but it was clear that the iron
had already entered into his soul and his old air of jaunty indifference
to the opinion of the world had plainly given way to a mental anxiety
which could not altogether be hidden, though it could be controlled. On
one occasion as, fur-coated, silk-hatted, he entered the dock, he nodded
familiarly to the late Sir Augustus Harris, but that magnate of the
theatrical world deliberately turned his back upon the playwriting
celebrity. The evidence from first to last was followed with the most
intense interest and the end of it was that Oscar Wilde was fully
committed for trial.
The case came on at the Old Bailey during the month of April, 1895, and it
was seen that the interest had in no wise abated. Mr. Justice Charles
presided and he was accompanied by the customary retinue of Corporation
dignitaries. The court was crowded in every part and hundreds of people
were unsuccessful in efforts to obtain admission. A reporter for a Sunday
newspaper wrote: "Wilde's personal appearance has changed little since his
committal from Bow Street. He wears the same clothes and continues to
carry the same hat. He looks haggard and worn, and his long hair that was
so carefully arranged when last he was in the court, though not then in
the dock, is now dishevelled. Taylor, on the other hand, still neatly
dressed, appears not to have suffered from his enforced confinement. But
he no longer attempts to regard the proceedings with that indifference
which he affected when first before the magistrate."
As soon as Wilde and his confederate took their places in the dock, each
held a whispered consultation with his counsel and the Clerk of Arraigns
then read over the indictments. Both prisoners pleaded "Not guilty,"
Taylor speaking in a loud and confident tone. Wilde spoke quietly, looked
very grave and gave attentive heed to the formal opening proceedings.
Mr. C. F. Gill led for the prosecution and he rose amidst a breathless
silence, to outline the main facts of the case. After begging the jury to
dismiss from their minds anything that they might have heard or read in
regard to the affair, and to abandon all prejudice on either side, he
described at some length the circumstances which led up to the present
prosecution. He spoke of the arrest and committal of the Marquis of
Queensberry on a charge of criminal libel and of the collapse of the case
for the prosecution when the case was heard at the Old Bailey. He alluded
to the subsequent inevitable arrest of Wilde and Taylor and of the
committal of both prisoners to take their trial at the present Sessions.
Wilde, he said, was well-known as a dramatic author and generally, as a
literary man of unusual attainments. He had resided, until his arrest, at
a house in Tite Street, Chelsea, where his wife lived with the children of
the marriage. Taylor had had numerous addresses, but for the time covered
by these charges, had dwelt in Little College Street, and afterwards in
Chapel Street. Although Wilde had a house in Tite Street, he had at
different times occupied rooms in St. James's Place, the Savoy Hotel and
the Albermarle Hotel. It would be shown that Wilde and Taylor were in
league for certain purposes and Mr. Gill then explained the specific
allegations against the prisoners. Wilde, he asserted, had not hesitated,
soon after his first introduction to Taylor, to explain to him to what
purpose he wished to put their acquaintance. Taylor was familiar with a
number of young men who were in the habit of giving their bodies, or
selling them, to other men for the purpose of sodomy. It appeared that
there was a number of youths engaged in this abominable traffic and that
one and all of them were known to Taylor, who went about and sought out
for them men of means who were willing to pay heavily for the indulgence
of their favorite vice. Mr. Gill endeavoured to show that Taylor himself
was given to sodomy and that he had himself indulged in these filthy
practices with the same youths as he agreed to procure for Wilde. The
visits of the latter to Taylor's rooms were touched upon and the
circumstances attending these visits were laid bare. On nearly every
occasion when Wilde called, a young man was present with whom he committed
the act of sodomy. The names of various young men connected with these
facts were mentioned in turn and the case of the two Parkers was given as
a sample of many others on which the learned counsel preferred to dwell
with less minuteness.
When Taylor gave up his rooms in Little College Street and took up his
abode in Chapel Street, he left behind him a number of compromising
papers, which would be produced in evidence against the prisoners; and he
should submit in due course that there was abundant corroboration of the
statements of the youths involved. Mr. Gill pointed out the peculiarities
in the case of Frederick Atkins. This youth had accompanied the prisoner
Wilde to Paris, and there could be no doubt whatever that the latter had
in the most systematic way endeavoured to influence this young man's mind
towards vicious courses and had endeavoured to mould him to his own
depraved will. The relations which had existed between the prisoner and
another lad, one Alfred Wood, were also fully described and the learned
counsel made special allusion to the remarkable manner in which Wilde had
lavished money upon Wood prior to the departure of that youth for America.
Mr. Gill referred to yet another of Wilde's youthful familiars--namely:
Sidney Mavor--in regard to whom, he said, the jury must form their own
conclusions after they had heard the evidence. Among other things to which
he would ask them to direct careful attention was a letter written in
pencil by Taylor, the prisoner, to this youth. The communication ran:
"Dear Sid, I cannot wait any longer. Come at once and see Oscar at Tite
Street. I am, Yours ever, Alfred Taylor." The use of the christian name of
Wilde in so familiar a way suggested the nature of the acquaintance which
existed between Mavor and Wilde, who was old enough to be his father. In
conclusion, Mr. Gill asked the jury to give the case, painful as it must
necessarily be, their most earnest and careful consideration.
Both Wilde and Taylor paid keen attention to the opening statement. They
exchanged no word together and it was observed that Wilde kept as far
apart from his companion in the dock, as he possibly could.
The first witness called was Charles Parker. He proved to be a rather
smartly-attired youth, fresh-coloured, and of course, clean-shaven. He was
very pale and appeared uneasy. He stated that he had first met Taylor at
the St. James' Restaurant. The latter had got into conversation with him
and the young fellows with him, and had insisted on "standing" drinks.
Conversation of a certain nature passed between them. Taylor called
attention to the prostitutes who frequent Piccadilly Circus and remarked:
"I can't understand sensible men wasting their money on painted trash like
that. Many do, though. But there are a few who know better. Now, you could
get money in a certain way easily enough, if you cared to." The witness
had formerly been a valet and he was at this time out of employment. He
understood to what Taylor alluded and made a coarse reply.
Mr. GILL.--"I am obliged to ask you what it was you actually said."
WITNESS.--"I do not like to say."
Mr. GILL.--"You were less squeamish at the time, I daresay. I ask you for
the words."
WITNESS.--"I said that if any old gentleman with money took a fancy to
me, I was agreeable. I was terribly hard up."
Mr. GILL.--"What did Taylor say?"
WITNESS.--"He laughed and said that men far cleverer, richer and better
than I preferred things of that kind."
Mr. GILL.--"Did Taylor mention the prisoner Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"Not at that time. He arranged to meet me again and I
consented."
Mr. GILL.--"Where did you first meet Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"At the Solferino Restaurant."
Mr. GILL.--"Tell me what transpired."
WITNESS.--"Taylor said he could introduce me to a man who was good for
plenty of money. Wilde came in later and I was formally introduced. Dinner
was served for four in a private room."
Mr. GILL.--"Who made the fourth?"
WITNESS.--"My brother, William Parker. I had promised Taylor that he
should accompany me."
Mr. GILL.--"What happened during dinner?"
WITNESS.--"There was plenty of champagne and brandy and coffee. We all
partook of it."
Mr. GILL.--"Of what nature was the conversation?"
WITNESS.--"General, at first. Nothing was then said as to the purposes for
which we had come together."
Mr. GILL.--"And then?"
WITNESS.--"Wilde invited me to go to his rooms at the Savoy Hotel. Only he
and I went, leaving my brother and Taylor behind. Wilde and I went in a
cab. At the Savoy we went to his--Wilde's--sitting-room."
Mr. GILL.--"More drink was offered you there?"
WITNESS.--"Yes; we had liqueurs."
Mr. GILL.--"Let us know what occurred."
WITNESS.--"He committed the act of sodomy upon me."
Mr. GILL.--"With your consent?"
The witness did not reply. Further examined, he said that Wilde on that
occasion had given him two pounds and asked him to call upon him again a
week later. He did so, the same thing occurred and Wilde then gave him
three pounds. The witness next described a visit to Little College Street,
to Taylor's rooms. Wilde used to call there and the same thing occurred as
at the Savoy. For a fortnight or three weeks the witness lodged in
Park-Walk, close to Taylor's house. There too he was visited by Wilde. The
witness gave a detailed account of the disgusting proceedings there. He
said, "I was asked by Wilde to imagine that I was a woman and that he was
my lover. I had to keep up this illusion. I used to sit on his knees and
he used to play with my privates as a man might amuse himself with a
girl." Wilde insisted in this filthy make-believe being kept up. Wilde
gave him a silver cigarette case and a gold ring, both of which articles
he pawned. The prisoner said, "I don't suppose boys are different to girls
in acquiring presents from them who are fond of them." He remembered Wilde
having rooms at St. James's Place and the witness visited him there.
Mr. GILL.--"Where else have you been with Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"To Kettner's Restaurant."
Mr. GILL.--"What happened there?"
WITNESS.--"We dined there. We always had a lot of wine. Wilde would talk
of poetry and art during dinner, and of the old Roman days."
Mr. GILL.--"On one occasion you proceeded from Kettner's to Wilde's
house?"
WITNESS.--"Yes. We went to Tite Street. It was very late at night. Wilde
let himself and me in with a latchkey. I remained the night, sleeping with
the prisoner, and he himself let me out in the early morning before anyone
was about."
Mr. GILL.--"Where else have you visited this man?"
WITNESS.--"At the Albemarle Hotel. The same thing happened then."
Mr. GILL.--"Where did your last interview take place?"
WITNESS.--"I last saw Wilde in Trafalgar Square about nine months ago. He
was in a hansom and saw me. He alighted from the hansom."
Mr. GILL.--"What did he say?"
WITNESS.--"He said, 'Well, you are looking as pretty as ever.' He did not
ask me to go anywhere with him then."
The witness went on to say that during the period of his acquaintance with
Wilde, he frequently saw Taylor, and the latter quite understood and was
aware of the motive of the acquaintance. At the Little College Street
rooms he had frequently seen Wood, Atkins and Scaife, and he knew that
these youths were "in the same line, at the same game," as himself. In the
August previous to this trial he was at a certain house in Fitzroy
Square. Orgies of the most disgraceful kind used to happen there. The
police made a raid upon the premises and he and the Taylors were arrested.
From that time he had ceased all relationship with the latter. Since that
event he had enlisted, and while away in the country he was seen by
someone representing Lord Queensberry and made a statement. The evidence
of this witness created a great sensation in court, and it was increased
when Sir Edward Clarke rose to cross-examine. This began after the
adjournment.
Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"When were you seen in the country in reference to
this case?"
WITNESS.--"Towards the end of March."
Sir EDWARD.--"Who saw you?"
WITNESS.--"Mr. Russell."
Sir EDWARD.--"Was there no examination before that?"
WITNESS.--"No."
Sir EDWARD.--"Did you state at Bow Street that you received L30 not to say
anything about a certain case?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Sir EDWARD.--"Now, I do not ask you to give me the name of the gentleman
from whom this money was extorted, but I ask you to give me the name of
the agents."
WITNESS.--"Wood & Allen."
Sir EDWARD.--"Where were you living then?"
WITNESS.--"In Cranford Street."
Sir EDWARD.--"When did the incident occur in consequence of which you
received that L30?"
WITNESS.--"About two weeks before."
Sir EDWARD.--"Where?"
WITNESS.--"At Camera Square."
Sir EDWARD.--"I'll leave that question. You say positively that Mr. Wilde
committed sodomy with you at the Savoy?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Sir EDWARD.--"But you have been in the habit of accusing other gentlemen
of the same offence?"
WITNESS.--"Never, unless it has been done."
Sir EDWARD.--"I submit that you blackmail gentlemen?"
WITNESS.--"No, Sir, I have accepted money, but it has been offered to me
to pay me for the offence. I have been solicited. I have never suggested
this offence to gentlemen."
Sir EDWARD.--"Was the door locked during the time you describe?"
WITNESS.--"I do not think so. It was late and the prisoner told the waiter
not to come up again."
The next witness was William Parker. This youth corroborated his brother's
evidence. He said he was present at the dinner with Taylor and Wilde
described by the last witness. Wilde paid all his attention to
his--witness's--brother. He, Wilde, often fed his brother off his own fork
or out of his own spoon. His brother accepted a preserved cherry from
Wilde's own mouth--he took it into his and this trick was repeated three
or four times. His brother went off with the prisoner to his rooms at the
Savoy and the witness remained behind with Taylor, who said, "Your brother
is lucky. Oscar does not care what he pays if he fancies a chap."
Ellen Grant was the landlady of the house in Little College Street at
which Taylor lodged. She gave evidence as to the visits of various lords
and stated that Wilde was a fairly frequent caller. He would remain for
hours and one of the lads was generally closeted with him. Once she tried
the door and found it locked. She heard whispering and laughing and her
suspicions were aroused though she did not like to take steps in the
matter.
Lucy Rumsby, who let a room to Charles Parker at Chelsea, gave rather
similar evidence, but Wilde does not appear to have called there more than
once and that occasion it was to take out Parker, who went away with him.
Sophia Gray, Taylor's landlady in Chapel Street, also gave evidence. She
amused the court by the emphatic and outspoken way in which she explained
that she had no idea of the nature of what was going on. Several young men
were constantly calling upon Taylor and were alone with him for a long
time, but he used to say that they were clerks for whom he hoped to find
employment. The prisoner Wilde was a frequent visitor.
But all this latter evidence paled as regards sinister significance beside
that furnished by a young man named Alfred Wood. This young wretch
admitted to acts of the grossest indecency with Oscar Wilde. He said,
"Wilde saw his influence to induce me to consent. He made me nearly drunk.
He used to put his hand inside my trousers beneath the table at dinner and
compel me to do the same to him. Afterwards, I used to lie on a sofa with
him. It was a long time, however, before I would allow him to actually do
the act of sodomy. He gave me money to go to America."
Sir Edward Clarke submitted this self-disgraced witness to a very vigorous
cross-examination.
Sir EDWARD.--"What have you been doing since your return from America?"
WITNESS.--"Well, I have not done much."
Sir EDWARD.--"Have you done anything?"
WITNESS.--"I have had no regular employment."
Sir EDWARD.--"I thought not."
WITNESS.--"I could not get anything to do."
Sir EDWARD.--"As a matter of fact, you have had no respectable work for
over three years?"
WITNESS.--"Well, no."
Sir EDWARD.--"Did not you, in conjunction with Allen, succeed in getting
L300 from a gentleman?"
WITNESS.--"Yes; but he was guilty with Allen."
Sir EDWARD.--"How much did you receive?"
WITNESS.--"I advised Allen how to proceed. He gave me L130."
Sir EDWARD.--"Who else got any of this money?"
WITNESS.--"Parker. Charles Parker got some and also Wood."
Thos. Price was the next witness. This man was a waiter at a private hotel
in St. James's and he testified to Wilde's visits there and to the number
of young men, "of quite inferior station," who called to see him. Then
came Frank Atkins, whose evidence is given in full.
Mr. AVORY.--"How old are you?"
WITNESS.--"I am 20 years old."
Mr. AVORY.--"What is your business?"
WITNESS.--"I have been a billiard-marker."
Mr. AVORY.--"You are doing nothing now?"
WITNESS.--"No."
Mr. AVORY.--"Who introduced you to Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"I was introduced to him by Schwabe in November, 1892."
Mr. AVORY.--"Have you met Lord Alfred Douglas?"
WITNESS.--"I have. I dined with him and Wilde on several occasions. They
pressed me to go to Paris."
Mr. AVORY.--"You went with them?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Mr. AVORY.--"You told Wilde on one occasion while in Paris that you had
spent the previous night with a woman?"
WITNESS.--"No. I had arranged to meet a girl at the Moulin Rouge, and
Wilde told me not to go. However, I did go, but the woman was not there."
Mr. AVORY.--"You returned to London with Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Mr. AVORY.--"Did he give you money?"
WITNESS.--"He gave me a cigarette-case."
Mr. AVORY.--"You were then the best of friends?"
WITNESS.--"He called me Fred and I addressed him as Oscar. We liked each
other, but there was no harm in it."
Mr. AVORY.--"Did you visit Wilde on your return?"
WITNESS.--"Yes, at Tite Street. Wilde also called upon me at Osnaburgh
Street. On the latter occasion one of the Parkers was present."
Mr. AVORY.--"You know most of these youths. Do you know Sidney Mavor?"
WITNESS.--"Only by sight."
Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"Were you ill at Osnaburgh Street?"
WITNESS.--"Yes, I had small-pox and was removed to the hospital ship.
Before I went I wrote to Parker asking him to write to Wilde and request
him to come and see me, and he did so."
Sir EDWARD.--"You are sure you returned from Paris with Mr. Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Sir EDWARD.--"Did any impropriety ever take place between you and Wilde?"
WITNESS.--"Never."
Sir EDWARD.--"Have you ever lived with a man named Burton?"
WITNESS.--"Yes."
Sir EDWARD.--"What was he?"
WITNESS.--"A bookmaker."
Sir EDWARD.--"Have you and this Burton been engaged in the business of
blackmailing?"
WITNESS.--"I have a professional name. I have sometimes called myself
Denny."
Sir EDWARD.--"Has this man Burton, to your knowledge, obtained money from
gentlemen by accusing them or threatening to accuse them of certain
offences?"
WITNESS.--"Not to my knowledge."
Sir EDWARD.--"Not in respect to a certain Birmingham gentleman?"
WITNESS.--"No."
Sir EDWARD.--"That being your answer, I must particularize. On June 9th,
1891, did you and Burton obtain a large sum of money from a Birmingham
gentleman?"
WITNESS.--"Certainly not."
Sir EDWARD.--"Then I ask you if in June, '91, Burton did not take rooms
for you in Tatchbrook Street?"
WITNESS.--"Yes; and he lived with me there."
Sir EDWARD.--"You were in the habit of taking men home with you then?"
WITNESS.--"Not for the purposes of blackmail."
Sir EDWARD.--"Well, for indecent purposes."
WITNESS.--"No."