Bristol Mercury - Friday, May 24, 1895

The trial of Mr Oscar Wilde was resumed at the Old Bailey, London, yesterday.

William Parker, brother of Charles 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 indecencies 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 This charge would therefore be withdrawn.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The Solicitor-General protested against the charges being withdrawn other than by the jury under the direction of the Judge.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 simple 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 adjourned until to-day.

The Herald - Saturday, May 25, 1895

The trial of Oscar Wilde was continued to-day at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Wills.

The great public interest displayed in the proceedings on the two previous days was fully maintained, and the Court and its precincts were crowded.

There was an expectation that the case would be concluded, and the verdict of the jury pronounced to-day, but that expectation was not fulfilled, the case being still unfinished when the Court adjourned until to-morrow.

The prisoner elected to go into the witness box himself, and denied on oath all the charges brought against him. He declared that he was the victim of the machinations of blackmailers.

Wilde further stated that he had always understood Taylor to be a respectable man. The extraordinary friendship which he had contracted with Taylor and his associates was, the prisoner explained, due to the fact that he (Wilde) personally liked praise. "Lionising and being lionised were delightful," he said.

The accused was very weak and ill in appearance, and at the request of his counsel was accommodated with a seat in the witness-box.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., then addressed the jury for the defence. He urged that the witnesses for the Crown were nothing more than blackmailers, and as such quite disentitled to belief. It was impossible, he urged, that the jury could accept their stories, and blast the character of an admittedly indiscreet, but not the less innocent man. The trial, he declared, was apparently an act of indemnity for all the blackmailers in London. Those who had given evidence for the Crown had been fed and clothed by the Crown and the Marquis of Queensberry. If their evidence were accepted, blackmail would be more deadly than ever. The accused had for the third time been assailed by tainted witnesses, and had given his replies in the witness-box in a candid and lucid manner. He asked the jury to believe Wilde, and declare him innocent of the vile charges made against him.

Sir F. Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, in his address, said that in the Queensberry trial the downfall of Oscar Wilde's reputation took place. The prisoner had actually admitted as true what he had first complained of as a libel. And that amounted in substance to an admission of the truth of the present charges.

The Court then adjourned until to-morrow.

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar