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

Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys represented Oscar Wilde; Mr. J. P. Grain defended Taylor.

The speeches for the defence and the reply for the Crown were concluded the previous day.

Mr. Justice Charles, in summing up, commented on the importance of the case to the accused and on the gravity of the charges. No unfavourable impression ought to be drawn from a work like "Dorian Gray," as, in his opinion, a writer ought not to be confounded with the persons he created; nor ought the result of the Queensberry case to weigh with them in the least. The case was an important one to the community. The testimony that had been adduced by some of the witnesses was obviously tainted evidence, and it required strong corroboration. It was a question for the Jury to decide if there existed independent and untainted corroboration. His Lordship dismissed from consideration the literary aspects of the case, being of opinion that Wilde was not responsible for the writings of others. If they were satisfied that the evidence supported the charges, they ought fearlessly to say so by their verdict. Wilde was a man of high intellectual gifts and education; Taylor belonged to a good class of persons, and they might think it unreasonable to suppose that they would have acted in the manner suggested. The Jury, however, could not disregard the evidence, and it was only upon the evidence that their verdict ought to be determined.

The Jury retired to consider their verdict, and, after an absence of three hours and three quarters, they returned into Court, when the foreman said that they were unable to agree to a verdict.

Sir E. Clarke asked that an acquittal be entered on the conspiracy counts, which the prosecution withdrew.

The Jury returned a formal verdict of not guilty in respect of these counts and two other counts.

Sir E. Clarke applied for bail for Wilde. He did not think that the Crown would oppose the application after what had occurred.

Mr. Clarke Hall applied for bail for Taylor.

Mr. Gill did not desire to say anything about the matter of bail.

His Lordship—I do not feel able to accede to the application.

Mr. Gill said that the case would certainly be tried again.

The Jury were discharged, and the case was ordered to stand over until the next Sessions.

The prisoners were removed in custody.

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.