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At the opening of today’s sitting of the trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor, Counsellor C.F. Gill intimated that the prosecution would withdraw the charges of conspiracy. Sir Edward Clarke, on behalf of Wilde, said that if those had been withdrawn at the outset he would have made application to have the prisoners tried separately. The court said that after the evidence which had been given to the court’s charming conspiracy was needless. Sid Edward Clarke — Then I ask for a verdict of not guilty on these counts. The judge refused to listen to such a verdict, saying that he would simply accede to the application of Mr. Gill to have the charges of conspiracy withdrawn. Sid Edward Clarke then began his opening address to the jury for the defence. He intended, he said, to put Wilde in the witness box, where he would make an unqualified denial of the charges against him. He cited Wilde’s literary works and urged that in no instance has his client written anything that would lead anyone to suppose him guilty of the practices alleged. Sir Edward explained, the ending of the Queensberry trial, saying that Wilde’s counsel were entirely responsible for its abrupt termination. It became clear, he said ,that the jury would not convict Lord Queensberry and he (Clarke) therefore advised Wilde to accept a verdict against himself. Wilde was called to the witness stand. He swore that the evidence he had given at the Queensberry trial was absolutely true. He repeated this testimony upon cross-examination without variation. Wilde, continuing his testimony, said he had had nothing to do with the publishing of Lord Alfred Douglass’ poems, nor had he anything to do with the publication of his articles in The Chameleon (magazine). On being asked to defined Lord Alfred’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 a burst of applause, causing the Judge to threaten to clear the court unless silence was observed. Alfred Taylor, co-defendant with Wilde, was called to the stand and told of his career. He was educated at Marlborough College, he said, and became an officer in the militia, but abandoned the military life upon coming into an inheritance of £45,000. He absolutely denied the charges against him.

The evidence for the defence was finished this afternoon, when Sid Edward Clarke addressed the jury on behalf of Wilde. The only direct evidence against Wilde, he declared, was the testimony of three blackmailers. Who, he asked, 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 eloquent, and the extraordinary efforts of the orator to secure the acquittal of his client. Mr. Gill, for the prosecution, contended that the witnesses against Wilde had no object in swearing falsely. The judge will charge the jury tomorrow.

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.