Part 5

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."

Sir EDWARD.--"Give me the names of two or three of the people whom you have taken home to that address?"

WITNESS.--"I cannot. I forget them."

Sir EDWARD.--"Now I am going to ask you a direct question, and I ask you to be careful in your reply. Were you and Burton ever taken to Rochester Road Police Station?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Sir EDWARD.--"Well, was Burton?"

WITNESS.--"I think not--at least, he was not, to my knowledge."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did the Birmingham gentleman give to Burton a cheque for £200 drawn in the name of S. Denis or Denny, your own name?"

WITNESS.--"Not to my knowledge."

Sir EDWARD.--"About two years ago, did you and someone else go to the Victoria Hotel with two American gentlemen?"

WITNESS.--"No, I did not. Never."

Sir EDWARD.--"I think you did. Be careful in your replies. Did Burton extort money from these gentlemen?"

WITNESS.--"I have never been there at all."

Sir EDWARD.--"Have you ever been to Anderton's Hotel and stayed a night with a gentleman, whom you threatened the next morning with exposure?"

WITNESS.--"I have not."

Sir EDWARD.--"When did you go abroad with Burton?"

WITNESS.--"I think in February, 1892."

Sir EDWARD.--"When did you last go with him abroad?"

WITNESS.--"Last spring."

Sir EDWARD.--"How long were you away?"

WITNESS.--"Oh! about a month."

Sir EDWARD.--"Where did you stay?"

WITNESS.--"We went to Nice and stayed at Gaze's Hotel."

Sir EDWARD.--"You were having a holiday?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Which you continued with business in your usual way?"

The witness did not reply.

Sir EDWARD.--"What were you and Burton doing at Nice?"

WITNESS.--"Simply enjoying ourselves."

Sir EDWARD.--"During this visit of enjoyment you and Burton fell out, I think."

WITNESS.--"Oh, dear, no!"

Sir EDWARD.--"Yet you separated from this Burton after that visit?"

WITNESS.--"I gave up being a bookmaker's clerk."

Sir EDWARD.--"What name did Burton use in the ring?"

WITNESS.--"Watson was his betting name."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did you blackmail a gentleman at Nice?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Sir EDWARD.--"Are you sure there was no quarrel between you and Burton at Nice?"

WITNESS.--"There may have been a little one, but I don't remember anything of the kind."

Mr. Grain then put some questions to the Witness.

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did you go to Scarbro' about a year ago?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did Burton go with you?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GRAIN.--"What was your business there?"

WITNESS.--"I was engaged professionally. I sang at the Aquarium there."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did you get acquainted while there with a foreign gentleman, a Count?"

WITNESS.--"Not acquainted."

At this moment Mr. Grain wrote a name on a piece of paper and handed it up to the witness, who read it.

Mr. GRAIN.--"Do you know that gentleman?"

WITNESS.--"No, I heard his name mentioned at Scarborough."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Then you never spoke to him?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Was not a large sum--about £500--paid to you or Burton by that gentleman about this time last year?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Had you any engagement at the Scarborough Aquarium?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GRAIN.--"How much did you receive a week?"

WITNESS.--"I was paid four pounds ten shillings."

Mr. GRAIN.--"How long were you there?"

WITNESS.--"Three weeks."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Have you ever lived in Buckingham Palace Road?"

WITNESS.--"I have."

Mr. Grain wrote at this stage on another slip of paper and it was handed up to the witness-box.

Mr. GRAIN.--"Look at that piece of paper. Do you know the name written there?"

WITNESS.--"I never saw it before."

Mr. GRAIN.--"When were you living in Buckingham Palace Road?"

WITNESS.--"In 1892."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Do you remember being introduced to an elderly man in the City?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did you take him to your room, permit him to commit sodomy with and upon you, rob him of his pocket-book and threaten him with exposure if he complained?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did you threaten to extort money from him because he had agreed to accompany you home for a foul purpose?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Did you ever stay at a place in the suburbs on the South Western Railway with Burton?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Mr. GRAIN.--"What other addresses have you had in London during the last three years?"

WITNESS.--"None but those I have told you."

This concluded the evidence of this witness for the time being.

Mary Applegate, employed as a housekeeper at Osnaburgh Street, said Atkins used to lodge there and left about a month ago. Wilde visited him at this house on two occasions that she was cognisant of. She stated that one of the housemaids came to her and complained of the state of the sheets of the bed in which Atkins slept after Wilde's first visit. The sheets were stained in a peculiar way. It may be explained here, in order to make the witness's evidence understood, that the sodomistic act has much the same effect as an enema inserted up the rectum. There is an almost immediate discharge, though not, of course, to the extent produced by the enema operation.

The next witness called was Sidney Mavor, a smooth-faced young fellow with dark hair and eyes. He stated that he was now in partnership with a friend in the City. He first made the acquaintance of the prisoner Taylor at the Gaiety Theatre in 1892. He afterwards visited him at Little College Street. Taylor was very civil and friendly and introduced him to different people. The witness did not think at that time that Taylor had any ulterior designs. One day, however, Taylor said to him, "I know a man, in an influential position, who could be of great use to you, Mavor. He likes young men when they're modest and nice in manners and appearance. I'll introduce you." It was arranged that they should dine at Kettner's Restaurant the next evening. He called for Taylor, who said, "I am glad you've made yourself pretty. Mr. Wilde likes nice, clean boys." That was the first time Wilde's name was mentioned. Arrived at the restaurant, they were shown into a private room. A man named Schwabe and Wilde and another gentleman came in later. He believed the other gentleman to be Lord Alfred Douglas. The conversation at dinner was, the witness thought, peculiar, but he knew Wilde was a Bohemian and he did not think the talk strange. He was placed next to Wilde, who used occasionally to pull his ear or chuck him under the chin, but he did nothing that was actually objectionable. He, Wilde, said to Taylor, "Our little lad has pleasing manners; we must see more of him." Wilde took his address and the witness soon after received a silver cigarette-case inscribed "Sidney, from O. W. October 1892." "It was," said the innocent-looking witness, "quite a surprise to me!" In the same month he received a letter making an appointment at the Albemarle Hotel and he went there and saw Wilde. The witness explained that after he saw Mr. Russell, the solicitor, on March 30th, he did not visit Taylor, nor did he receive a letter from Taylor.

Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"With regard to a certain dinner at which you were present. Was the gentleman who gave the dinner of some social position?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Taylor sent or gave you some cheques, I believe?"

WITNESS.--"He did."

Mr. GRAIN.--"Were they in payment of money you had advanced to him, merely?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. C. F. GILL.--"The gentleman--'of position'--who gave the dinner was quite a young man, was he not?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GILL.--"Was Taylor, and Wilde also, present?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Mr. GILL.--"In fact, it was their first meeting, was it not?"

WITNESS.--"So I understand."

Mavor being dismissed from the box, Edward Shelley was the next witness. He gave his age as twenty-one and said that in 1891 he was employed by a firm of publishers in Vigo Street. At that time Wilde's books were being published by that firm. Wilde was in the habit of coming to the firm's place of business and he seemed to take note of the witness and generally stopped and spoke to him for a few moments. As Wilde was leaving Vigo Street one day he invited him to dine with him at the Albemarle Hotel. The witness kept the appointment--he was proud of the invitation--and they dined together in a public room. Wilde was very kind and attentive, pressed witness to drink, said he could get him on and finally invited him to go with him to Brighton, Cromer, and Paris. The witness did not go. Wilde made him a present of a set of his writings, including the notorious and objectionable "Dorian Gray." Wilde wrote something in the books. "To one I like well," or something to that effect, but the witness removed the pages bearing the inscription. He only did that after the decision in the Queenberry case. He was ashamed of the inscriptions and felt that they were open to misconception. His father objected to his friendship with Wilde. At first the witness thought that the latter was a kind of philanthropist, fond of youth and eager to be of assistance to young men of any promise. Certain speeches and actions on the part of Wilde caused him to alter this opinion. Pressed as to the nature of the actions he complained of, he said that Wilde once kissed him and put his arms round him. The witness objected vigorously, according to his own statement, and Wilde later said he was sorry and that he had drank too much wine. About two years ago--in 1893--he wrote a certain letter to Wilde.

Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"On what subject?"

WITNESS.--"It was to break off the acquaintance."

Sir EDWARD.--"How did the letter begin?"

WITNESS.--"It began 'Sir'."

Sir EDWARD.--"Give me the gist of it."

WITNESS.--"I believe I said I have suffered more from my acquaintance with you than you are ever likely to know of. I further said that he was an immoral man, and that I would never, if I could help it, see him again."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did you ever see him again after that?"

WITNESS.--"I did."

Sir EDWARD.--"Why did you go and dine with Mr. Wilde a second time?"

WITNESS.--"I suppose I was a young fool. I tried to think the best of him."

Sir EDWARD.--"You seem to have put the worst possible construction on his liking for you. Did your friendly relations with Mr. Wilde remain unbroken until the time you wrote that letter in March, 1893?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Have you seen Mr. Wilde since then?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"After that letter?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Where did you see him?"

WITNESS.--"I went to see him in Tite Street."

Sir EDWARD CLARKE then proceeded to question the witness with regard to letters which he had written to Wilde both before and after the visits to the Albemarle Hotel, and in the course of his replies the witness said that he formed the opinion that "Wilde was really sorry for what he had done."

Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"What do you mean by 'what he had done'?"

WITNESS.--"His improper behaviour with young men."

Sir EDWARD.--"Yet you say he never practised any actual improprieties upon you?"

WITNESS.--"Because he saw that I would never allow anything of the kind. He did not disguise from me what he wanted, or what his usual customs with young men were."

Sir EDWARD.--"Yet you wrote him grateful letters breathing apparent friendship?"

WITNESS.--"For the reason I have given."

Sir EDWARD.--"Well, we'll leave that question. Now, tell me, why did you leave the Vigo Street firm of publishers?"

WITNESS.--"Because it got to be known that I was friendly with Oscar Wilde."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did you leave the firm of your own accord?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Why?"

WITNESS.--"People employed there--my fellow-clerks--chaffed me about my acquaintance with Wilde."

Sir EDWARD.--"In what way?"

WITNESS.--"They implied scandalous things. They called me 'Mrs. Wilde' and 'Miss Oscar.'"

Sir EDWARD.--"So you left?"

WITNESS.--"I resolved to put an end to an intolerable position."

Sir EDWARD.--"You were in bad odour at home too, I think?"

WITNESS.--"Yes, a little."

Sir EDWARD.--"I put it to you that your father requested you to leave his house?"

WITNESS.--"Yes. He strongly objected to my friendship with Wilde."

Sir EDWARD.--"You were uneasy in your mind as to Wilde's object?"

WITNESS.--"That is so."

Sir EDWARD.--"When did your mental balance, if I can put it so, recover itself?"

WITNESS.--"About October or November last."

Sir EDWARD.--"And have you remained well ever since?"

WITNESS.--"I think so."

Sir EDWARD.--"Yet I find that in January of this year you were in serious trouble?"

WITNESS.--"In what way?"

Sir EDWARD.--"You were arrested for an assault upon your father?"

WITNESS.--"Yes, I was."

Sir EDWARD.--"Where were you taken?"

WITNESS.--"To the Fulham Police Station."

Sir EDWARD.--"You were offered bail?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did you send to Wilde and ask him to bail you out?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"What happened?"

WITNESS.--"In an hour my father went to the station and I was liberated."

This witness now being released, the previous witness, Atkins, was recalled and a very sensational incident arose. During the luncheon interval, Mr. Robert Humphreys, Wilde's solicitor, had been busy. Not satisfied with Atkins's replies to the questions put to him in cross-examination, he had searched the records at Scotland Yard and Rochester Road and made some startling discoveries. A folded document was handed up to the Judge. Mr. Justice Charles, who read it at once, assumed a severe expression. The document was understood to be a copy of a record from Rochester Road. Atkins, looking very sheepish and uncomfortable, re-entered the witness-box and the Court prepared itself for some startling disclosures.

Sir EDWARD CLARKE.--"Now, I warn you to attend and to be very careful. I am going to ask you a question; think before you reply."

The JUDGE.--"Just be careful now, Atkins."

Sir EDWARD.--"On June 10th, 1891, you were living at Tatchbrook Street?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"In Pimlico?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"James Burton was living there with you?"

WITNESS.--"He was."

Sir EDWARD.--"Were you both taken by two constables, 396 A & 500 A--you may have forgotten the officer's numbers--to Rochester Road Police Station and charged with demanding money from a gentleman with menaces. You had threatened to accuse him of a disgusting offence?"

WITNESS.--(huskily)--"I was not charged with that."

Sir EDWARD.--"Were you taken to the police station?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"You, and Burton?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"What were you charged with?"

WITNESS.--"With striking a gentleman."

Sir EDWARD.--"In what place was it alleged this happened?"

WITNESS.--"At the card-table."

Sir EDWARD.--"In your own room at Tatchbrook Street?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"What was the name of the gentleman?"

WITNESS.--"I don't know."

Sir EDWARD.--"How long had you known him?"

WITNESS.--"Only that night."

Sir EDWARD.--"Where had you met him?"

WITNESS.--"At the Alhambra."

Sir EDWARD.--"Had you seen him before that time?"

WITNESS.--"Not to speak to."

Sir EDWARD.--"Meeting him at the Alhambra, did he accompany you to Tatchbrook Street?"

WITNESS.--"Yes, to play cards."

Sir EDWARD.--"Not to accuse him, when there, of attempting to indecently handle you?"

WITNESS.--"No."

Sir EDWARD.--"Was Burton there?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"Anyone else?"

WITNESS.--"I don't think so."

Sir EDWARD.--"Was the gentleman sober?"

WITNESS.--"Oh, yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"What room did you go into?"

WITNESS.--"The sitting-room."

Sir EDWARD.--"Who called the police?"

WITNESS.--"I don't know."

Sir EDWARD.--"The landlady, perhaps?"

WITNESS.--"I believe she did."

Sir EDWARD.--"Did the landlady give you and Burton into custody?"

WITNESS.--"No; nobody did."

Sir EDWARD.--"Some person must have done. Who did?"

WITNESS.--"All I can say is, I did not hear anybody."

Sir EDWARD.--"At any rate you were taken to Rochester Road, and the gentleman went with you?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Police Constable 396 A was here called into court and took up a position close to the witness-box. He gazed curiously at Atkins, who wriggled about and eyed him uneasily.

Sir EDWARD.--"Now I ask you in the presence of this officer, was the statement made at the police-station that you and the gentleman had been in bed together?"

WITNESS.--"I don't think so."

Sir EDWARD.--"Think before you speak; it will be better for you. Did not the landlady actually come into the room and see you and the gentleman naked on or in the bed together?"

WITNESS.--"I don't remember that she did."

Sir EDWARD.--"You may as well tell me about it. You know. Was that statement made?"

WITNESS.--"Well, yes it was."

Sir EDWARD.--"You had endeavoured to force money out of this gentleman?"

WITNESS.--"I asked him for some money."

Sir EDWARD.--"At the police-station the gentleman refused to prosecute?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"So you and Burton were liberated?"

WITNESS.--"Yes."

Sir EDWARD.--"About two hours ago, Atkins, I asked you these very questions and you swore upon your oath that you had not been in custody at all, and had never been taken to Rochester Road Police Station. How came you to tell me those lies?"

WITNESS.--"I did not remember it."

Atkins looked somewhat crestfallen and abashed. Yet some of his former brazen impudence still gleamed upon his now scarlet face. He heaved a deep sigh of relief when told to leave the court by the judge, who pointed sternly to the doorway.

Of all the creatures associated with Wilde in these affairs, this Atkins was the lowest and most contemptible. For some years he had been in the habit of blackmailing men whom he knew to be inclined to perverted sexual vices, and his was a well-known figure up West. He constantly frequented the promenades of the music-halls. He "made up" his eyes and lips, wore corsets and affected an effeminate air. He was an infallible judge of the class of man he wished to meet and rarely made a mistake. He would follow a likely subject about, stumble against him as though by accident and make an elaborate apology in mincing, female tones. Once in conversation with his "mark," he speedily contrived to make the latter aware that he did not object to certain proposals. He invariably permitted the beastly act before attempting blackmail, partly because it afforded him a stronger hold over his "victim" and partly because he rejoiced in the disgusting thing for its own sake. He was the butt of the ladies of the pavement round Piccadilly Circus, who used to shout after him, enquire sarcastically "if he had got off last night," and if his "toff hadn't bilked him." He would affect to laugh and pass the thing off with a joke; but, to his intimates, he assumed a great loathing for women of this class, whom he appeared to regard as dangerous obstacles to the exercise of his own foul trade. On several occasions he was assaulted by these women.

To return to the Trial of Wilde and Taylor. As soon as the enquiry was resumed, Mr. Charles Mathews went down into the cells and had an interview with the prisoner Wilde, and on his return entered into serious consultation with his leader, Sir Edward Clarke. In the meanwhile, Taylor conversed with his counsel, Mr. Grain, across the rail of the dock. It was felt that an important announcement bearing on the conduct of the case was likely to be made. It came from Mr. Gill, representing the prosecution.

As soon as Mr. Justice Charles had taken his seat, the prosecuting counsel rose and said that having considered the indictment, he had decided not to ask for a verdict in the two counts charging the prisoners with conspiracy. Subdued expressions of surprise were audible from the public gallery when Mr. Gill delivered himself of this dramatic announcement, and the sensation was strengthened a little later when Sir Edward Clarke informed the jury that both the prisoners desired to give evidence and would be called as witnesses. These matters having been determined upon, Sir Edward Clarke rose and proceeded to make some severe criticisms upon the conduct of the prosecution in what he referred to as the literary part of the case. Hidden meanings, he said, had been most unjustly "read" into the poetical and prose works of his client and it seemed that an endeavour, though a futile one, was to be made to convict Mr. Wilde because of a prurient construction which had been placed by his enemies upon certain of his works. He alluded particularly to "Dorian Gray," which was an allegory, pure and simple. According to the rather musty and far-fetched notions of the prosecution, it was an impure and simple allegory, but Wilde could not fairly be judged, he said, by the standards of other men, for he was a literary eccentric, though intellectually a giant, and he did not profess to be guided by the same sentiments as animated other and less highly-endowed men. He then called Mr. Wilde. The prisoner rose with seeming alacrity from his place in the dock, walked with a firm tread and dignified demeanour to the witness-box, and leaning across the rail in the same easy and not ungraceful attitude that he assumed when examined by Mr. Carson in the libel action, prepared to answer the questions addressed to him by his counsel. Wilde was first interrogated as to his previous career. In the year 1884, he had married a Miss Lloyd, and from that time to the present he had continued to live with his wife at 16, Tite Street, Chelsea. He also occupied rooms in St. James's Place, which were rented for the purposes of his literary labours, as it was quite impossible to secure quiet and mental repose at his own house, when his two young sons were at home. He had heard the evidence in this case against himself, and asserted that there was no shadow of a foundation for the charges of indecent behaviour alleged against himself.

Mr. Gill then rose to cross-examine and the Court at once became on the _qui vive_. Wilde seemed perfectly calm and did not change his attitude, or tone of polite deprecation.

Mr. GILL.--"You are acquainted with a publication entitled 'The Chameleon'?"

WITNESS.--"Very well indeed."

Mr. GILL.--"Contributors to that journal are friends of yours?"

WITNESS.--"That is so."

Mr. GILL.--"I believe that Lord Alfred Douglas was a frequent contributor?"