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Sydney Evening News - Saturday, May 25, 1895
London, May 24. -- While giving evidence to-day, Oscar Wilde, who appeared very weak, was allowed to be seated in the witness box. He said he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man. Referring to the station in life of the people with whom he had associated, he said the reason for his friendship with them was that he personally liked praise, and lionising was delightful.
Sir Edward Clarke, in addressing the jury for the defence, said the witnesses were blackmailers, whose evidence it was impossible to believe.
The Bay of Plenty Times - Monday, May 27, 1895
Oscar Wilde sentenced.
London, May 26.—The trial of Oscar Wilde has concluded, the summing up of the Judge occupied three hours and the jury were absent 2 hours considering their verdict.
They returned with a verdict of guilty on all counts.
His Honor in sentencing the prisoners Wilde and Taylor spoke with great emotion; the verdict to his mind was a correct one beyond all shadow of doubt and it appeared to him useless to address the prisoners who were evidently dead to all sense of shame.
The case was the worst of its kind he had ever had before him and in passing the most severe sentence the law permitted he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the dastardly nature of the offence, he then sentenced each prisoner to two years' hard labour.
Taylor left the dock with a firm step but Wilde appeared quite dazed and horror struck, in his despair he weakly muttered a request to be permitted to address the Court but this was unheeded and the warders hurried him off to the cell.
During the trial Wilde, who appeared to be suffering from weakness, said he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man and referring to his associations with him said the reason for his friendship was because he personally liked praise and lionising was delightful.
Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Counsel for the accused declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were blackmailers and it was impossible to believe them.
The jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas.
The Judge replied that he was not aware of the intention of the police.
The jury thought that if Wilde's letters showed him guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.
His Honor concurred in his opinion but added that the jury's suspicions that the son of the Marquis of Queensberry was being allowed to escape owing to his connections was unfounded.