The Evening Journal - Thursday, May 2, 1895

London. May 2.- The jury acquitted Oscar Wilde of the charges against him in connection with Atkins and reported to the court that it was impossible for them to agree in regard to the other charges. They, however, acquitted him of the charges of conspiracy.

Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, said the case would undoubtedly be tried again at the next session.

The disagreement of the jury caused much surprise in London. Several newspapers incline to the opinion that Wilde's speech, which elicited applause in the court room may have saved him from a verdict of guilty.

Application for Bail.

London, May 2.- Counsel for Oscar Wilde will to-morrow make application before Baron Pollock in the Queen's bench division of the High Court of Justice for the admission of Wilde to bail, pending the re-trial of his case. Hitherto it has been the practice to grant applications for bail in all cases od misdemeanor, but the matter rests solely upon the discretion of the court. The next session of the Old Bailey court will begin on May 20.

The Boston Globe - Thursday, May 2, 1895

LONDON, May 2 - The disagreement of the jury in the Wilde case has caused much surprise in London. Several newspapers incline to the opinion that Wilde's speech, which elicited applause in the court room yesterday, may have saved him from a verdict of guilty.

They quote as the most eloquent part of this effective plea the first 10 or 12 sentences with which Wilde answered Mr Gill's question as to the meaning of his affection for Lord Douglas.

These sentences were:

"It is such a great affection of the elder for the younger man as existed between David and Jonathan; such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy; such as we find in the sonnets of Michael Angelo and Shakespeare.

"It is that deep spiritual affection, which is as pure as it is perfect, and dictates great works of art like those of Shakespeare and Angelo, and these two letters of mine, such as they are.

"This love is misunderstood in the present century - so misunderstood that on account of it I am placed where I now am. It is beautiful; it is fine; it is the noblest form of affection.

"It is intellectual, and has existed repeatedly between an elder and a younger man when the elder has the intellect and the younger has all the joy and hope and glamor of life. That it should be so the world does not understand. The world mocks at it, and sometimes puts one on the pillory for it."

Counsel for Oscar Wilde will tomorrow make application before Baron Pollock in the queen's bench division of the high court of justice for the admission of Wilde to bail, pending the re-trial of his case.

Hitherto it hats been the practice to grant applications for bail in all cases of misdemeanor, but the matter rests solely upon the discretion of the court.

The next session of Old Bailey court will begin on May 20.

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