Sydney Evening News - Monday, May 27, 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.

London, May 25. -- The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day.

Mr. Justice Wills at great length summed up the case to the jury, placing the facts with great care before them. His speech occupied three hours. The jury then retired and, after an absence of two hours, returned into court with a verdict of guilty on all counts submitted. Wilde and Alfred Taylor, his associate, who was found guilty on two charges on Tuesday were then brought up for sentence. In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Wills was deeply affected. He spoke with great emotion, and evidently experienced some difficulty in restraining his feelings. He said, that the verdict was correct beyond the shadow of a doubt. It was useless to address the prisoners at any length, as they were dead to all sense of shame. It was the worst case he had ever tried, and he must pass the severest sentence the law permitted. He regretted that this was totally inadequate for their offence. He then, sentenced Wilde and Taylor each to two years' imprisonment, with hard labor. Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde had a haggard look, and appeared to be dazed. He gazed in a despairing manner at the judge, and was apparently horror-stricken, at the sentence. In a weak voice he muttered a request to be permitted to address the judge, but this was unheeded, and he was immediately re-moved by the warders from the dock. After sentence had been passed upon Wilde and. Taylor, the jury asked whether it was intended to arrest Lord Alfred Douglas. Mr. Justice Wills replied that he was not aware of what was intended to be done, but pointed out that Lord Alfred Douglas was not affected by the present trial. The jury said that if the letters addressed by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas showed Wilde to be guilty, the guilt applied equally to Lord Alfred Douglas.Mr. Justice Wills concurred in this remark, and added that any suspicion that might exist that Lord Alfred Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high family connections, was not only unfounded, but impossible. The Marquis of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick witnessed the end of the trial.

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.

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