Manitoba Morning Free Press - Wednesday, May 1, 1895

London, April 30 — In the trial of Wilde and Taylor today the charges of conspiracy were withdrawn by the prosecution and counsel for Wilde asked for a verdict of "Not guilty" on those counts. The court refused this and counsel for Wilde then began his opening address. He said Wilde would take the stand and make an unqualified denial of the charges against him. He had advised Wilde to accept a verdict against himself in the Queensberry trial because it was clear the jury would not convict Queensberry.

Wilde was then called to the witness stand and swore that his evidence given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true and he repeated it on cross-examination.

Wilde said he had nothing to do with publishing Lord Douglas’s poems nor his articles in the Chameleon Magazine. Asked to defined Lord Douglas’s expression, "I am the love that dare not speak its name," Wilde said he thought it meant spiritual love, as pure as it was perfect. Wilde proceeded to enlarge upon the subject, and became so eloquent as to evoke applause, causing the judge to threaten to clear the court.

Taylor, co-defendant, next took the stand, and told of his career. He absolutely denied the charges against him.

The evidence for the defence in the Wilde case was finished this afternoon, when Sir Edward Clarke addressed the jury in behalf of Wilde. The only direct evidence against Wilde, he declared, was the testimony of three blackmailers. Then he asked who would believe them? He spoke in this strain at considerable length and finished his address with a peroration remarkable for its display of passion and eloquence, and the extraordinary effects of the orator to secure the acquittal of his client.

Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, contented that the witnesses against Wilde had no object in swearing falsely. The judge will charge the jury for tomorrow.

The New York Times - Wednesday, May 1, 1895

LONDON, April 30. -- At the opening of to-day's sitting of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, Counselor C. F. Gill intimated that the prosecution withdrew the charges of conspiracy.

Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, said that if those charges had been withdrawn at the outset, he would have made application to have the prisoners tried separately.

Tho court said that after the evidence, which had been given, the counts charging conspiracy were needless.

Sir Edward Clarke--Then I ask for a verdict of not guilty on those counts.

The court refused to consent to such a verdict, saying that he would simply accede to the application of Mr. Gill to have the charges of conspiracy withdrawn.

Sir Edward Clarke then began his opening address to the jury for the defense. He intended, he said, to put Wilde in the witness box, where he would make an unqualified denial of the charges against him. He explained that Wilde's counsel were responsible for the abrupt termination of the Queensberry suit.

Wilde swore to the evidence which he gave at the Queensberry trial, and repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. His eloquence evoked bursts of applause, causing the Judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed.

Alfred Taylor was called to the stand. He was educated at Marlborough College, he said, and became an officer in the militia, but abandoned military life upon coming into an inheritance of £45,000. He denied the charges against him.

The evidence for the defense was finished when Sir Edward Clarke addressed the jury in behalf of Wilde. The only direct evidence against Wilde, he declared, was the testimony of three blackmailers. He spoke at considerable length. His peroration was remarkably passionate and eloquent.

Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, contended that the witnesses against Wilde had no object in swearing falsely.

The Judge will charge the jury to-morrow.

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