The Trial of Oscar Wilde Part 5

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 t.i.te 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 s.h.i.+p.

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?"