Later Years
Following Oscar's arrest and first trial in April 1895, Willie claimed that he gave his brother shelter when he was unable to find rooms in London. Willie said that Oscar "fell down on my threshold like a wounded stag". Standing by his brother, Willie wrote to Bram Stoker, "Bram, my friend, poor Oscar was not as bad as people thought him. He was led astray by his Vanity – & conceit, & he was so 'got at' that he was weak enough to be guilty – of indiscretions and follies – that is all.... I believe this thing will help to purify him body & soul".
Willie did not meet Oscar when he was released from prison in 1897. On 13 March 1899 Willie died aged 46 at 9, Cheltenham Terrace in Chelsea from complications related to his alcoholism. After Robert Ross wrote to Oscar in France informing him of Willie's death, Oscar wrote "I suppose it had been expected for some time.... Between him and me there had been, as you know, wide chasms for many years. Requiescat in Pace".
His widow married in 1900 with the Dutch born, London based translator Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (1865-1921).
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