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The punishment Oscar Wilde is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to the law. It practically means a continuous period of solitary confinement with hard labor for two years, the term of his sentence. Regular "jail birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years' imprisonment, owing to the easier conditions of the former. Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitor for three montas, but by exceptionally good conduct he can secure a slight reduction of his sentence. Lord Alfred Douglas said that if Wilde were convicted ha would take a house near the prison until Wilde's release, but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred returns to England he will be arrested on the same charge as Wilde.

London, May 25 — There was the usual crowd of interested spectators in the court room of the Old Bailey this morning, all anxious witnesses at the trial of Oscar Wilde. When the court adjourned yesterday, Sir F. Lockwood, solicitor-general, had just commenced his address to the jury on behalf of the prosecution, and it was expected he would denounce Wilde in strong language when presumed his argument today. Wilde took his seat in the prisoner’s dock facing the jury and looking extremely anxious. As expected when Sir Frank Lockwood resumed his speech, he dealt very severely with Wilde in his reference to the prisoner’s intimacy with Lord Alfred Douglas. Referring to the much commented upon letters which Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred Douglas, counsel said the jury had been told they were too low to appreciate such poetry and he, Sir Frank Lockwood, thanked God it was so, as he showed they were above the level of beasts. Applause.

Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, here interposed objections to such appeals as the one just made by Sid Frank Lockwood, which the council claimed should not be allowed.

Sir Frank Lockwood continued his speech. He warned the jury to render verdict which would not prevent "such a detestable and abominable vice to rear his head unblushingly in this country."

Justice Wills began summing up at 1.30 p.m. The general tenor of his address to the jury was favorable to Wilde. The jury retired at 3.30 p.m.

The jury returned a verdict that Wilde was guilty, whereupon the judge sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. Alfred Taylor, Wilde’s associate, was also sentenced today to two years’ imprisonment. Both prisoners’ terms are to be worked out at hard labor.

The jury found Wilde guilty on all the counts of indictment, including the charge with reference to persons unknown, who were also pronounced to be guilty.

After a short interval the judge called Wilde and Taylor to the bar and they were each sentenced.

While the jury was out, at the request of a representative of the press, Wilde’s counsel proceeded the following signed statement from Wilde who was waiting in the prisoners’ room below the dock.

"The charges alleged against me are entirely untrue. Youth of every form always fascinated me, because youth has naturally that temperament to an artist has to try to attain. All works of art are works produced in a moment of youth. I have a sense of all social grades. I love society, rich and well born on account of their luxury and the culture and grace of their lives, external accidents come to life. But, anyone, a plague boy, fisherman, or street Arab, has an interest for me. Mere humanity is so wonderful. I do not ask of the young what they do. I do not care who they are. Their ignorance has its mode of wisdom, their lack of culture leaves them open to fresh and vivid impressions. (Signed), Oscar Wilde."

The document of the above was written throughout in Wilde’s own writing.

London, May 26 — While the jury was absent from the court room there was such a babel of voices that counsel engaged in the case went into the lobby in order to discuss events. Everybody expected the jury to disagree, as upon the previous trial, and as the jurymen filled back into their box every person present rose in suppressed excitement, and the court room became as still as a death chamber. The jurymen answered to their names in firm and decided tones, and seemed to be immensely relieved when the ordeal was over. A stifled ejaculation of surprise went round the court when the foreman announced that the jury found the prisoner guilty.

Immediately after the verdict was rendered Mr. F C. Gill, the counsel for the prosecution, said to a reporter: "I am somewhat surprised at the verdict myself. I thought that surely one member of the jury would stand out." When Mr. Gill was asked if there was any chance of a new trial he replied: "No, indeed. It is now disposed of forever, thank Heaven."

Mr Travers Humphreys, of counsel for Wilde, also told a representative of the press that the verdict was a surprise to him. He added: "The sentence is for two years on all the counts of the indictment, and on each count separately. Now that they have hit their man, I am certain his health will break down, and possibly the authorities will favorably entertain the idea of a pardon."

Sir Edward Clarke, leading counsel for Wilde, applied to Justice Wells to postpone passing sentence upon his client until the next session of the Central Criminal court, but the judge refused to do so.

Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor were, after the conclusion of the trial, taken without delay to the Newgate jail, where they waited until warrants were signed for their detention. Both men were then conveyed in the prison van to Pentonville, where they will serve out their sentences, unless a petition should be granted, or they should be transferred to another prison before the expiration of the term of their imprisonment.

The punishment Wilde is sentenced to undergo is the severest known to the law. It practically means a continuous period of solitary confinement for the term of the two years term of his sentence. Regular "jail birds" always prefer five years of penal servitude to two years imprisonment, owing to the easier conditions of the former. Wilde will not be permitted to see any visitor for three months, but by exceptionally good conduct he can secure a slight reduction of his sentence.

Lord Alfred Douglas said that if Wilde were convicted he would take a house near the prison until Wilde’s release, but it is now clear that if Lord Alfred Douglas returns to England he will be arrested on the same charge as Wilde.