The Telegraph - Monday, May 27, 1895

The hearing of the charges against Oscar Wilde was continued at the Central Criminal Court to-day. Oscar Wilde, who appeared to be in a very weak condition, was allowed a seat in the witness-box. During his examination he declared that he always understood that Alfred Taylor was a respectable man. Referring to his associates, Oscar Wilde said that his reason for their friendship was that he personally liked praise, and the sensation of lionising was delightful.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Oscar Wilde's counsel, in his address to the jury, declared that the witnesses for the prosecution were all blackmailers, whose statements it was impossible to believe.

[The foregoing appeared in our Second Edition on Saturday.]

LONDON, May 25.

On the conclusion of the addresses of counsel, Mr. Justice Wills summed up, and the jury retired to consider their verdict. After an absence of two hours the jury returned a verdict against Wilde of guilty on all counts.

Mr. Justice Wills, speaking with great emotion, said it was difficult enough for him to restrain his feelings. He regarded the verdict of the jury as correct beyond the shadow of a doubt, and he felt it would be useless to address the prisoner, who was dead to all sense of shame. The case was the worst he had ever tried and he would pass the most severe sentence that the law permitted, regretting that that sentence was totally inadequate to the enormity of the crime.

Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor were then each sentenced to two years imprisonment, with hard labour.

Taylor left the dock with a firm step, but Wilde looked haggard and dazed.

After sentence had been passed, Wilde, with a despairing and horror-stricken expression on his countenance, weakly muttered a request to be permitted to address the bench, but the re- quest was not heeded, and the warders escorted him to the cells immediately.

LONDON, May 26.

The Marquis of Queensberry and Lord Douglas of Hawick witnessed the end of the trial.

The foreman of the jury asked the court whether the Crown intended to order the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas (second son of the Marquis of Queensberry), and Mr. Justice Wills replied that he was not aware that Lord Alfred Douglas was affected by the present trial. The foreman then suggested that if Oscar Wilde's letters showed him to be guilty, they would apply equally to Lord Alfred Douglas. The judge concurred, and stated further that any suspicion that Lord Alfred Douglas was being allowed to escape because of his family connections was as unfounded as it was impossible.

The Daily Telegraph - Monday, May 27, 1895

LONDON, Friday Night.— The trial of Oscar Wilde was continued at the Central Criminal Court to-day. He is charged with offences under the 11th section of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Wilde to-day gave evidence on his own behalf. He was allowed to be seated in the witness-box, and appeared to be very weak. He gave a general denial to the whole of the charges. He said he always understood Taylor to be a respectable man; and in referring to the station in life of the young men with whom he had associated, he said the reason of his friendship with them was that he personally liked praise, and to be lionised was delightful.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., M.P., in addressing the jury on behalf of Wilde, declared the witnesses to be blackmailers, whose evidence it was impossible to believe.

LONDON, Saturday Night.— The trial of Oscar Wilde concluded to-day.

The jury, after an absence of two hours, returned into court with a verdict of guilty on all the counts submitted to them.

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, and 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 the warders immediately called upon him to leave 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 contended 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.

LONDON, Sunday.— The Marquis of Queensberry and his son, Lord Douglas of Hawick, witnessed the end of the trial.

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