The Times - Friday, May 24, 1895

(Before MR. JUSTICE WILLS.)The trial of OSCAR WILDE, 40 , author, upon a charge of unlawfully committing certain acts with Charles Parker, Alfred Wood, and Edward Shelley, and with persons whose names were unknown, was resumed.

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

The examination of witnesses on the part of the prosecution was continued.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL put in the shorthand notes of the evidence given by Wilde at the hearing at this Court of the charge of libel preferred by him against the Marquis of Queensberry, and said he proposed to read a portion of it.

Mr. JUSTICE WILLS said it was not necessary that ail that evidence should be read, but the Solicitor- General and Sir Edward Clarke could read the passages to which they wished to refer.

Sir Edward Clarke then read a portion of Wilde's evidence given in examination-in-chief, and the Solicitor-General, Mr. C.F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory read extracts from his cross-examination, passages from his re-examination being read by Sir Edward Clarke.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL intimated that the evidence for the prosecution was concluded.

SIR EDWARD CLAKKE submitted that there was no case to go to the jury. He contended that there was no evidence to support the counts which charged Wilde with committing the acts alleged with persons whose names were unknown.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said it would not be right for him to say that there was no evidence to go to the jury in reference to those counts, but it was an extremely weak case, and it was the slenderest possible evidence. It seemed to him a case which was just on the line, or so very nearly on the line, that he thought his wiser and safer course would be to leave it to the jury; but he felt it to be so completely on the line, or near the line, that if necessary he would certainly reserve the question for the Court of Criminal Appeal.

SiR EDWARD CLARKE submitted that there was no corroboration of Shelley's evidence.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said there were traces in Shelley of disturbed intellect and actual delusions. He did not see any corroboration of Shelley.

The Solicitor-General submitted that Shelley was not an accomplice and that his evidence was corroborated.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said that with regard to Shelley's case he entertained a very clear view. He had thought it well over, and had come to the conclusion, without hesitation, that, in the first place, Shelley must be treated as an accomplice. The rule was that the evidence of an accomplice must be corroborated. Apart from what Shelley said, he could see nothing but what was consistent with perfectly honourable relations between Shelley and Wilde. The letters, so far from corroborating Shelley, were opposed to the notion that there was anything dishonourable. He felt it his duty to withdraw Shelley's case from the jury.

SIR EDWARD CLARK submitted that there was no evidence to go to the jury on the other counts.

His LORDSHIP intimated that he should leave the other counts to the jury.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until to- morrow, Wilde being admitted to the same bail.

The Times - Wednesday, May 22, 1895

(Before MR. JUSTICE WILIS.)The trial of ALFRED TAYLOR, 33, upon counts of an indictment charging him with committing and procuring the commission of act of gross indecency was resumed.

The Solicitor-General (Sir F. Lockwood, Q:C.), Mr. C. F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Mr. J . P. Grain defended Taylor.

The evidence for the prosecution was concluded yesterday, and Mr. Grain then addressed the jury for the defence and intimated that he should call Taylor as a witness.

Taylor was now called and gave a denial to the charge. He was cross-examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, and repeated his denial of the accusation.

Mr. GRAIN then summed up the case for the defence and commented upon the absence of corroborative evidence which was requisite to support the charge. He contended that Taylor was perfectly innocent of the accusation made against him.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL replied on the part of the prosecution.

MR, JUSTICE WILLS, in summing up, observed that it was a very long-established rule, and one which it was important should be maintained in its integrity, that no one should be put in peril on the unsupported testimony of people who, if they were telling the truth, had been accomplices in the thing they charged him with. There would be a great terror added to life under modern conditions, with the facilities which evil-minded people had of making unfounded charges--there would be a great terror added to life if that rule was not observed. If he had not thought that with respect to some of the charges there was corroborative evidence fit to be submitted to the jury, he should have stopped the case. Ho directed the jury to find Taylor "Not guilty'' on the counts of procuring in the case of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Wood, there being no evidence to support it.

The jury retired to consider their verdict at 25 minutes past 3, and, after an absence of about half an hour, they returned into Court finding Taylor Guilty on two counts of committing certain acts as regards Charles Parker and William Parker, and Not guilty on the counts dealing with the alleged procuring in respect to Oscar Wilde and Alfred Wood. On the counts charging Taylor with procuring as concerned Oscar Wilde and Charles Parker the jury said they were unable to agree; they did not find that Wilde and Charles Parker committed the act.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said he should think that all the purposes of justice would be satisfied by the prosecution dropping those counts.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL assented to that suggestion of Mr. Justice Wills, and

The jury were discharged without giving a verdict on those counts.

MR JUSTICE WILLS said that Taylor must stand down for the present.

SIR EDWARD CLARKE.-- With regard to the case of Mr. Wilde, Mr. Wilde is here in attendance under his bail. It is getting late in the afternoon. Perhaps after a second jury have disagreed in the matter--

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, interposing, said he objected to his friend making these speeches.

SIR EDWARD CLARKE.--I am quite content that the case should be opened now if the case is going on.

Mr. JUSTICE WILLS.-- We had better have another jury.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL.-- I think we had better put it off till to-morrow morning.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said he thought that the case ought to be tried by a fresh jury, and that, if possible, it should be tried by a jury who had been in another court, and who had not heard Taylor's case.

The Court then adjourned until to-morrow morning.

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