Trial of Oscar Wilde (Dramatic Reading) — Section 6

* * * * * The second trial of Oscar Wilde, with its dramatic finale, for no one thought much of its consequences to Alfred Taylor, came on in the third week of May at the Old Bailey.

It was agreed to take the cases of the prisoners separately, Taylor's first.

Sir Edward Clarke, who still represented Wilde, stated that he should make an application at the end of Taylor's trial that Wilde's case should stand over till the next sessions.

His lordship said that application had better be postponed till the end of the first trial, significantly adding, "If there should be an acquittal, so much the better for the other prisoner."

Meanwhile Wilde was to be released on bail.

Sir Francis Lockwood, who now represented the prosecution, then went over all the details of the intimacy of the Parkers and Wood with Taylor and Wilde and called Charles Parker, who repeated his former evidence, including a very serious allegation against the prisoner.

He stated in so many words that Taylor had kept him at his rooms for a whole week during which time they rarely went out, and had repeatedly committed sodomy with him.

The witness unblushingly asserted that they slept together and that Taylor called him "Darling" and referred to him as "my little Wife."

When he left Taylor's rooms the latter paid him some money, said he should never want for cash and that he would introduce him to men "prepared to pay for that kind of thing."

Cross-examined; Charles Parker admitted that he had previously been guilty of this offence, but had determined never to submit to such treatment again.

Taylor over-persuaded him.

He was nearly drunk and incapable, the first time, of making a moral resistance.

Alfred Wood also described his acquaintance with Taylor and his visits to what he termed the "snuggery" at Little College Street, but which quite as appropriately could have been designed by a name which would have the additional merit of strictly describing it and of rhyming with it at the same time!

It was not at all clear, however, that Taylor was responsible, at least directly, for the introduction of Alfred Wood to Wilde as the indictment suggested.

This was effected by a third person, whose name had not as yet been introduced into the case.

Mrs. Grant, the landlady at 13 Little College Street, described Taylor's rooms.

She was not aware, she said, that they were put to an improper use, but she had remarked to her husband the care taken that whatever went on there should be hidden from the eyes and ears of others.

Young men used to come there and remain some time with Taylor, and Wilde was a frequent visitor.

Taylor provided much of his own bed-linen and she noticed that the pillows had lace and were generally elaborate and costly.

The prosecution next called a new witness, Emily Becca, chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, who stated that she had complained to the management of the state in which she found the bed-linen and the utensils of the room.

When pressed for particulars the witness hesitated, and after stating that she refused to make the bed or empty the "chamber," she said she handed in her notice but was prevailed upon to withdraw it.

Then by a series of adroit questions Counsel obtained the particulars.

The bed-linen was stained.

The colour was brown.

The towels were similarly discoloured.

One of the pillows was marked with face-powder.

There was excrement in one of the utensils in the bedroom.

Wilde had handed her half a sovereign but when she saw the state of the room after he had gone she gave the coin to the management.

Evidence with regard to Wilde's rooms at St. James' Place was given by Thomas Price, who was able to identify Taylor as one of the callers.

Mrs. Gray--no relation, haply, to the notorious "Dorian"--of 3 Chapel Street, Chelsea, deposed that Taylor stayed at her house from August 1893 to the end of that year.

Formal and minor items of evidence concluded the case for the prosecution of Taylor, and Mr. Grain proceeded to open his defence by calling the prisoner into the witness-box.

Mr. Grain examined him.

Mr. GRAIN.

--"What is your age?"

WITNESS.

--"I am thirty-three."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"You are the son of the late Henry Taylor, who was a manufacturer of an article of food in large demand?"

WITNESS.

--"I am."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"You were at Marlborough School?"

WITNESS.

--"Till I was seventeen."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"You inherited L45,000 I believe?"

WITNESS.

--"Yes."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"And spent it?"

WITNESS.

--"It went."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"Since then you have had no occupation?"

WITNESS.

--"I have lived upon an allowance made me."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"Is there any truth in the evidence of Charles Parker that you misconducted yourself with him."

WITNESS.

--"Not the slightest."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"What rooms had you at Little College Street?"

WITNESS.

--"One bedroom, but it was sub-divided and I believe there was generally a bed in each division."

Mr. GRAIN.

--"You had a good many visitors?"

WITNESS.

--"Oh, yes."

Sir FRANK LOCKWOOD.

--"Did Charles Mavor stay with you then?"

WITNESS.

--"Yes, about a week."

Sir FRANK.

--"When?"

WITNESS.

--"When I first went there, in 1892." Sir FRANK.

--"What is his age?"

WITNESS.

--"He is now 26 or 27." Sir FRANK.

--"Do you remember going through a form of marriage with Mavor?"

WITNESS.

--"No, never."

Sir FRANK.

--"Did you tell Parker you did?"

WITNESS.

--"Nothing of the kind."

Sir FRANK.

--"Did you not place a wedding-ring on his finger and go to bed with him that night as though he were your lawful wife?"

WITNESS.

--"It is all false.

I deny it all."

Sir FRANK.

--"Did you ever sleep with Mavor?"

WITNESS.

--"I think I did the first night--after, he had a separate bed."

Sir FRANK.

--"Did you induce Mavor to attire himself as a woman?"

WITNESS.

--"Certainly I did not."

Sir FRANK.

--"But there were articles of women's dress at your rooms?"

WITNESS.

--"No. There was a fancy dress for a female, a theatrical costume."

Sir FRANK.

--"Was it made for a woman?"

WITNESS.

--"I think so."

Sir FRANK.

--"Perhaps you wore it?"

WITNESS.

--"I put it on once by way of a lark."

Sir FRANK.

--"On no other occasion?"

WITNESS.

--"I wore it once, too, at a fancy dress ball."

Sir FRANK.

--"I suggest that you often dressed as a woman?"

WITNESS.

--"No." Sir FRANK.

--"You wore, and caused Mavor afterwards, to wear lace drawers--a woman's garment--with the dress?"

WITNESS.

--"I wore knicker-bockers and stockings when I wore it at the fancy dress ball."

Sir FRANK.

--"And a woman's wig, which afterwards did for Mavor?"

WITNESS.

--"No, the wig was made for me.

I was going to a fancy-ball as 'Dick Whittington'."

Sir FRANK.

--"Who introduced you to the Parkers?"

WITNESS.

--"A friend named Harrington at the St. James's Restaurant."

Sir FRANK.

--"You invited them to your rooms?"

WITNESS.

--"I did."

Sir FRANK.

--"Why?"

WITNESS.

--"I found them very nice."

Sir FRANK.

--"You were acquainted with a young fellow named Mason?"

WITNESS.

--"Yes."

Sir FRANK.

--"He visited you?"

WITNESS.

--"Two or three times only, I think."

Sir FRANK.

--"Did you induce him to commit a filthy act with you?"

WITNESS.

--"Never."

Sir FRANK.

--"He has written you letters?"

WITNESS.

--"That's very likely."

Sir FRANK.

--"The Solicitor General proposes to read one."

The letter was as follows:-- "Dear Alf, Let me have some money as soon as you can.

I would not ask you for it if I could get any myself.

You know the business is not so easy.

There is a lot of trouble attached to it.

Come home soon, dear, and let us go out together sometimes.

Have very little news.

Going to a dinner on Monday and a theatre to-night.

With much love, Yours always, CHARLES."

The SOLICITOR GENERAL.

--(Severely) "I ask you, Taylor, for an explanation, for it requires one, of the use of the words "come home soon, dear", as between two men."

TAYLOR.

--(Laughing nervously) "I do not see anything in it."

The SOLICITOR GENERAL.

--"Nothing in it?"

WITNESS.

--"Well, I am not responsible for the expressions of another."

The SOLICITOR GENERAL.

--"You allowed yourself to be addressed in this strain?"

WITNESS.

--"It's the way you read it."

The summing-up followed and after a consultation of three-quarters of an hour, the jury returned a verdict against Taylor on the indecency counts, not agreeing, however, as to the charges of procuration.

Sentence was postponed, pending the result of the trial of Oscar Wilde, which began next day.