The Morning Post - Tuesday, April 30, 1895

At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, before Mr. Justice Charles, the trial was resumed of Oscar Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation, on an indictment charging them with certain misdemeanours.

Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. H. Avory prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys defended Oscar Wilde; Mr. J. P. Grain and Mr. Paul Taylor defended Alfred Taylor; Mr. Leonard Kershaw watched the case on behalf of persons interested.

Further evidence was given in support of the case for the prosecution.—A transcript of the shorthand note taken of the proceedings at this Court at the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry was produced and sworn to be correct.—Two employees from the Savoy Hotel gave evidence relative to what happened at the hotel while Oscar Wilde stayed there.—Sergeant Harris said that, acting on instructions, he obtained access to the rooms occupied by the prisoner Taylor in Little College-street. The witness described liow the rooms were furnished, &c. On the morning of the 6th inst. he arrested Alfred Taylor in Denbigh-place. Taylor, when he heard the charge, said "Very well; I expected you last night. What are you going to do with me?" Taylor had in his possession a subpoena for his attendance at this Court as a witness at the trial of the Marquis of Queensberry.—By Mr. Grain: He did not remember that Taylor said that he had heard that a warrant was out for his arrest and was about to surrender himself.—Detective-inspector Richards, of the Criminal Investigation Department, of Scotland-yard, proved the arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel, Sloane-street, and to conveying him to Scotland-yard, where the warrant was read to him. He made no answer to the charge. Taylor was also taken to Bow-street. Oscar Wilde applied for bail.—Detective-inspector Brockwell, who held the warrant for the arrest of Wilde, spoke to finding a number of banknotes on the prisoner and certain memoranda.— Reference was made to a sympathetic letter found on Wylde, and written to him by a literary friend, which Sir Edward Clarke asked might be read to the Jury —Mr. Justice Charles did not think that the letter was relevant to the issue.—The transcript of the shorthand note taken of the denial of Oscar Wilde to the charges contained in the plea of justification filed by the Marquis of Queensberry, and of his cross examination by Mr. Carson, Q.C., was put in and read, a proceeding which occupied the Court a considerable time.—The case for the Crown was concluded, and the trial was adjourned.

The Morning Post - Monday, May 27, 1895

At the Central Criminal Court on Saturday, before Mr. Justice Wills, the trial was resumed and concluded of Oscar Wilde, aged 40, author, on an indictment charging him with certain misdemeanours.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C.), Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory prosecuted; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys defended.

The Solicitor-General completed his speech in reply for the Crown. He submitted that the charges had been established beyond all reasonable doubt, and that the Jury could come to no conclusion other than that the accused was a guilty man.

His Lordship, in summing up, dealt at length with the specific charges, and commented on the evidence called by the Crown. The Jury ought not to act upon the evidence of accomplices unless it was substantially corroborated. Several of the matters that had been laid before them, upon which they were invited to act, were certainly open to suspicion. They ought to be influenced by the facts alone, and every other consideration not relevant to the issue should be excluded.

The Foreman of the Jury, interposing, asked if a warrant had been granted for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, and, if not, whether it was contemplated.

His Lordship said he did not know. He would warn the Jury not to allow themselves to be influenced in the least by the absence of Lord Alfred Douglas. If it was necessary, he felt sure that the proper steps would be taken in regard to him.

The Jury retired to consider their verdict at half-past three o'clock. After a deliberation of over two hours they returned with a verdict of guilty on all the counts with the exception of that in respect to Shelley.

Alfred Taylor, who was convicted earlier in the week, was then placed in the dock for sentence. He appeared quite indifferent to his position.

Sir Edward Clarke applied for a postponement of sentence until the next Sessions, on the ground that a demurrer had to be argued affecting the validity of the indictment.

His Lordship pointed out that the fact of sentence being passed could not prejudice any argument raised on such a point.

Mr. C. F. Gill said that the matter was decided by Mr. Justice Charles at the last trial.

His Lordship declined to postpone sentence.

Addressing Oscar Wilde and Taylor, he said that their cases were the worst that he had ever tried. He quite agreed with the verdict of the Jury. The maximum sentence which he could pass was not adequate to meet the justice of the case. He ordered both the prisoners to be imprisoned and kept at hard labour for two years.

Wilde—May I say anything, my Lord?

He was not permitted to speak, a warder touching him on the shoulder, and he then turned and left the dock. Both the prisoners were conveyed the same evening to Pentonville Prison, where their sentences will be served.

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