The Evening Journal - Monday, May 27, 1895

London, May 25.- The jury in the Wilde case occupied two hours in the consideration of the evidence. After their verdict had been rendered, Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde and counsel tor Alfred Taylor, made application for postponement of sentence. The judge peremptorily refused to grant the application, and in his remarks described the offences of which the prisoner was guilty as the most heinous that had ever come to his notice.

When the sentence was pronounced Wilde appeared to be stunned, and sank down a pitiable object, an utter wreck. As the last word of the sentence was uttered the apostle of aestheticism was hurried to his cell a felon.

Burning Words.

Later.- The verdict was guilty on every count of the indictment, except the one with reference to Shelley. Taylor was brought from his cell and placed in the dock with Wilde.

The judge then addressed the prisoners. He said that the case was the worst he ever had dealt with. The verdict of the jury was right. He could not persuade himself to entertain a shadow of doubt that persons who could do the thing of which the prisoners bad been found guilty were dead to every sense of shame. It would be a waste of words to address them further. He could not do anything except to pass the extreme sentence of the law, which, is his judgment, was totally inadequate.

Queensberry Made a Mistake.

London, May 25.- Before the verdict in the Wilde case the Marquis of Queensberry was interviewed. He said: "I do not wish to see Wilde further punished. He has suffered enough. I only want to keep the beast from my son. You know I have carried my point and that I have been praised by the best elected jury which ever sat in God's or man's jury box. Consequently, I do not care what else is now done to Wilde. One of his companions has been found guilty, and everyone in London knows that Wilde is no better than Alfred Taylor."

When the Marquis of Queensberry was asked what he thought would be the verdict in Oscar Wilde's case, he said:

"I am willing to forfeit £1,000 to any one that Wilde is acquitted. There are many names back of this thing that say so. I have as much chance of dropping dead in the street to-day as Oscar Wilde has of being found guilty."

The Popular Feeling Against Wilde.

New York, May 28.- The London cable of the Sun, dealing with Wilde's sentence says: The passionate shout which went up from the nation when Wilde's impudent libel action against the Marquis of Queensberry designed to stop the mouths of his accusers, ignobly collapsed, compelled the government to take action against him and his foul accomplice, Taylor, but Lord Alfred Douglas and other men, whose evidence would have made the case against Wilde and others even more complete and irrefutable, were allowed to leave the country. They are still abroad, but doubtless they will turn to this country in a short time secure against punishment. Possibly it is as well, for Wilde's conviction can scarcely fail to prove an effectual deterrent for years to come, and it will be to the public interest to let this awful scandal become forgotten.

Wilde's Collapse.

Honest men from the first displayed an unusual, perhaps unchristian desire for conviction in this case. During the first two or three days fierce and universal resentment has been spoken and shown at what appeared to the superficial observers almost collusion on the part of the judge and the lawyers in order to save Wilde. But Justice Willis' summing up, which unexpectedly proved to be a strictly judicial piece of work, together with the solicitor general's masterly speech and the common sense of a jury of plain citizens finally prevailed. Wilde was full of confidence to the last so that the result was a staggering blow to him. He strove to say something, but his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth and he sank back in his chair a mental and physical wreck. The final scene was truly fittingly dramatic.

The World - Friday, May 24, 1895

LONDON, May 24. -- There was the usual crowd of people in the Old Bailey court-room to-day, when Sir Edward Clarke addressed the Jury in behalf of his client, Oscar Wilde. Among those present was Lord Douglas of Hawick, the eldest son of the Marquis of Queensberry.

Sir Edward, at the beginning of his speech, complained of the treatment which Wilde had been subjected to, and said that the defense might well be excused for not putting the defendant in the witness-box again, "broken and unfit for the ordeal as he now is. But," continued Sir Edward, "the defense had resolved to do so."

Shortly afterwards Wilde was called to the witness-box and was provided with a chair, as he seemed to be utterly broken down.

In answer to the questions put to him Wilde related how he had been on terms of intimacy with the Marquis of Queensberry's family for years, and entirely denied the charges made against him.

Sir Frank Lockwood, the Solicitor-General, at the conclusion of the address of Sir Edward Clarke began a severe cross-examination of Wilde, which lasted over an hour. He said that Lord Alfred Douglas was now in Paris, where he went three weeks ago at Wilde's request. The latter, it appears, was in constant communication with Lord Alfred.

That Famous Letter.

When Wilde was asked about the famous letter which he had written to Lord Alfred Douglas and which was read at the first trial, the defendant said that it was a beautiful way in which an artist would write to a cultured young man. "I look upon it," said Wilde, "as a work of art."

When Sir Frank Lockwood asked Wilde whether he considered this letter to be decent, Wilde replied: "Decency does not come into the question." "Do you understand the meaning of word?" asked counsel sternly. "Yes," replied Wilde.

Sir Frank Lookwood then closely examined the defendant regarding his relations with Lord Alfred Douglas as to how it came to pass that they occupied adjoining rooms, &c. Wilde admitted that he had made repeated visits to rooms of Alfred Taylor, where he met a number of young men.

Wilde also admitted his friendship with young men whose names were mentioned during the previous trial.

Sir Edward Clarke briefly reexamined Wilde and then made his final address to the Jury, asking them to save the defendant from the ruin of his reputation which, he added, had been nearly quenched by the torrent of prejudice in the press.(Applause.)

Frank Lockwood followed for the prosecution, but he had barely begun his address when the court was adjourned for the day.

Queensberry Is Satisfied.

The Marquis of Queensberry, in an interview, is quoted as saying:

"I do not wish to see Wilde further punished. He has suffered enough. I only want to keep the beast from my son.You know I have carried my point and that I have been praised by the best selected jury which ever sat in God's or man's jury-box. Consequently, I do not care what else is now done to Wilde. One of his companions has been found guilty, and everyone in London knows that Wilde is no better than Alfred Taylor."

When the Marquis of Queensberry was asked what he thought would be the verdict in Oscar Wilde's case he said;

"I am willing to forfeit 1,000 to 1 that Wilde is acquitted.There are many names back of this thing that say so. I have as much chance of dropping dead in the street today as Oscar Wide has of being found guilty."

PARIS, May 24. -- The Temps to-day publishes a telegram from Lord Alfred Douglas, dated Rouen, expressing regret at the fact that it was his brother, Lord Douglas of Hawick, and not himself, who had "corrected" their father.

Highlighted DifferencesNot significantly similar