Bristol Mercury - Wednesday, May 1, 1895

At the Old Bailey, London, yesterday, before Mr Justice Charles, the trial was resumed of Oscar Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 38, of no occupation, on an indictment charging them with certain misdemeanours.

Mr Gill, on behalf of the Crown, formally withdrew the counts of the indictment alleging conspiracy, and said he did this to avoid any difficulty in calling prisoners into the witness box.

Sir Eward Clarke asked that a verdict of not guilty on the conspiracy counts be at once returned, but his Lordship did not assent to this.

Sir Edward Clarke began his address for the defence of Wilde. He accused the public press of having imperilled the interests of justice.

Oscar Wilde was called and sworn. He described his academical and literary career. Sir Edward Clarke—In cross-examination in Wilde v. Queensberry you denied all the charges against you? Was that evidence absolutely and entirely true? Witness—Entirely true evidence. Is there any truth in any of the allegations of indecency brought against you in this case?—There is no truth whatever in any one of those allegations.

Mr Gill, in cross-examination, quoted from a sonnet of Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde replied that the love there spoken of was the love of David for Jonathan—the passion described by Plato as the beginning of wisdom, a deep spiritual affection as pure as it was perfect. In this century it was misunderstood, and a man was put in the pillory for it.

Counsel then called the attention of witness to the statements of Parker, Shelley, and Atkins, to which he gave a general denial.

At the close of his examination Wilde again took his place in the dock, and Alfred Taylor, his co-prisoner, entered the witness box. He said he was educated at Marlborough, and was formerly in the Militia. In 1883 he came into £45,000, and had since lived a life of pleasure. The allegation brought against him by Charles Parker was absolutely untrue.

Sir Edward Clarke again addressed the jury. He said the Crown rested their case upon the tainted evidence of a band of blackmailers, and had Mr Oscar Wilde been a guilty man he would have avoided the ordeal of the witness box. He trusted to letters of the witness Edward Shelley to erase impressions created by his evidence.

Mr Grain addressed the jury for Taylor, and Mr Gill then replied an the whole case. At the conclusion of his address at seven o'clock, the court adjourned until this morning, when Mr Justice Charles will commence him summing up.

Bristol Mercury - Saturday, May 25, 1895

At the Central Criminal Court, London, yesterday, before Mr Justice Wills, Oscar Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation, were indicted a second time for certain misdemeanours.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q. C. applied that the cases of the two defendants might be taken separately.

The Solicitor General said the results of the defendants being so tried would be that matter would have to be introduced which might be unfair to the other defendant not on his trial.

The Judge said that, having carefully considered the matter, his notion was that the case ought to be taken seperately.

Sir Edward Clarke applied next that the case of Wilde be taken first.

The Judge said that he could not interfere with the discretion of the Solicitor General in this matter.

The Solicitor General elected to proceed with the case of Taylor first.

Sir Edward Clarke desired to make a further application, having in view the course which the Crown had taken—viz, that the trial of Mr Wilde be taken at the next session.

The Judge said that the application had better be made at the conclusion of the case of Taylor.

The Solicitor General opened the case and evidence was taken.

Mr Grain addressed the Court on behalf of Taylor and had not concluded his speech when the Court adjourned.

Before leaving, his Lordship asked the Jury to keep an open mind on the case, and not to form any conclusion until they had heard everything that had to be said on the case.

On Tuesday afternoon, Alfred Taylor was found guilty of committing acts of gross indecency with Charles and William Parker. Sentence was postponed. The Marquis of Queensberry was in attendance during the day and remained in court until the finish of the case.

On Wednesday morning, Oscar Wilde, 40, author, surrendered to take his trial a second time on an indictment charging him with certain misdemeanours. The Solicitor-General said the charges alleged against the prisoner extended over a period from February 1892, down to about March, 1893. He thought the jury, after they had heard the evidence, would be of opinion that the statements of the witnesses were fully corroborated, so far as they possibly could be. Oscar Wilde gave money to Wood in March, 1893, and Wood went to America. Edward Shelley detailed the circumstances under which he made the acquaintance of Oscar Wilde and as to his relationship with the prisoner, his evidence being a repitition of that given at the last trial. Wood and Charles Parker having given evidence, the case was adjourned.

On Thursday Wm, Parker, brother of Char. Parker, was first called, and was followed by witnesses from the Savoy hotel, some of the evidence not having been given before. The prisoner's evidence in the Queensberry's trial was then read by counsel. At five minutes past three the Solicitor-General intimated that the case for the prosecution had closed.

Sir Edward Clarke, for the defence, first submitted that on the counts charging the prisoner with indecenies with persons unknown at the Savoy hotel on the 9th and 20th March, 1893, there was no evidence to go to the jury, on the ground that the evidence of the chambermaids was uncorroborated.

Mr Justice Wills thought his duty led him to submit these counts to the jury.

Sir Edward Clarke submitted in regard to Shelley that there was no corroboration.

His Lordship said Shelley must be treated as an accomplice, and at present he could see no corroboration. This charge would therefore be withdrawn.

Sir E. Clarke said in the case of Wood he should again submit that there was no corroboration of the charge.

The Solicitor-General protested against the charges being withdrawn other than by the jury under the direction of the Judge. In the case of Wood he submitted that there was sample corroboration.

His Lordship said he should leave this case to the jury, but he should point out to them in what direction it went.

The case was again adjourned.

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