The Trial of Oscar Wilde Part 7

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 r.e.c.t.u.m. 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 Sh.e.l.ley 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 a.s.sistance 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?"