The New York Herald (European Edition) - Tuesday, April 23, 1895

LONDON, April 23.-In charging the Grand Jury at the Central Criminal Court yesterday the Recorder, the Westminster Gazette reports, made but the briefest reference to the Wilde case.

"There was," he said, "a very serious charge against two men, Wilde and Alfred Taylor. He did not think it necessary to again allude to all the facts of the case, but when the Grand Jury had heard the evidence of the witnesses called before the magistrates they would no doubt return true bills against both defendants.

An evening paper states that if a true bill be found Sir Edward Clarke, for the defence, will apply for a postponement of the trial until next sessions. Mr. Gill on behalf of the Treasury will oppose the application.

Galignani Messenger - Tuesday, April 23, 1895

LONDON, April 22.

The April Sessions of the Central Criminal Court commenced to-day at the Old Bailey in the presence of the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and a number of Aldermen.

The Recorder, in charging the grand jury, said that although the number of prisoners for trial was slightly in excess of the average number of prisoners they had to deal with at the monthly sessions of the court, he was happy to see that there was an absence of the more serious charges involving loss of human life.

As to the case against Oscar Wilde and Arthur Taylor, it was not necessary for him to allude to the facts. They would see what the charges were, and ir was only necessary for him to say that after they had heard the evidence of the witnesses called before the magistrate they would no doubt consider it their duty to return a true bill in respect of all the offences with which the prisoners were charged.

A man named James Slater was indicted for publishing a series of scandalous libels of and concerning Baron Henry de Worms. The prisoner had been repeatedly cautioned against writing the letter, which accused the Baron of being his (the prisoner's) father, but inasmuch as the Baron was only four years of age at the time the prisoner as born the grand jury would see the absurdity of the charge. The prisoner all along said: "Well, I did not ask you for any money, did I?" but the grand jury would see by the tenour of the letters whether this was not his object. The grand jury would probably come to the conclusion that the letters constituted a series of scandalous libels.

Mr. Horace Avory said he was desired by the Attorney-General to apply that the indictment against the Liberator Directors might be postponed until next sessions. The reasons for that course would probably be obvious to his lordship; and as the accused had had notice of the application and did not object, he asked that the recognisances should be enlarged until next sessions, and that the bill of indictment might be presented at those sessions. The application was granted by the Recorder.

Mr. C. F. Gill said he had to apply for a day to be fixed for what is known as the "Cash for Brains" case. He understood that it was not likely that the case would occupy any length of time. The accused were admitted to bail last sessions, and the police had received information that possibly the defendants would not be present for trial. It was, however, desirable to fix the date for the trial, so that the defendants might have a definite time to surrender. The Recorder said the case would be fixed for Wednesday.

If a true bill be found in the case of Wilde and Taylor, Sir Edward Clarke, for the defence, will apply for the postponement of the trial until the next sessions. Mr. Gill, on behalf of the Treasury, will oppose the application.

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