Compare Documents

The calendar at the Central Criminal Court Sessions, which opened at the Old Bailey this morning, before Mr Justice Wills, contained charges against Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation.

The court was densely crowded in every part when Mr Justice Wills, accompanied by the Lord Mayor and several of the city aldermen, took his seat on the bench punctually at 11 o’clock, the hour specially fixed for the trial. Wilde had some time previously driven to the Old Bailey, accompanied by his sureties, Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev Stewart Headlam, and surrendered to his bail. When placed in the dock by the side of Taylor he looked somewhat haggard and worn, but his health had visibly improved since his release from Holloway. Taylor’s features were very pale, but he stepped into the dock with a jaunty air and seemed indifferent to his position.

The Solicitor-General (Sir Frank Lockwood, Q C, M P), Mr H Sutton, Mr C F Gill, and Mr Horace Avory appeared on behalf of the Crown, while the defence of Wilde was conducted by Sir Edward Clarke, Q C, M P, and Mr Travers Humphreys. Taylor was represented by Mr P Grain.

The jury having been sworn and the indictment read, Sir Edward Clarke applied that the two defendants should be tried separately. The indictment, he said, on which the defendants were tried at the last sessions contained twenty-five counts, on many of which a verdict of not guilty was entered. There now remained a certain number of counts charging the committal of offences, but not of conspiracy, by the two defendants now standing at the bar. Of those counts only eight affected Mr Wilde, and in neither of them was any charge made against Taylor. The remaining counts against Taylor were two, but in neither of them was any charge made against Wilde, so that no single count stood in the indictment on which Wilde and Taylor could be convicted.

Mr Grain made a similar application on behalf of Taylor.

The Solicitor-General opposed the application in each case on the ground that there were certain matters in the charges which necessitated the joint indictment of both defendants. The result of trying the defendants separately would be this—It would be necessary to take Taylor’s case first. It would be an inquiry into the conduct of one person on his trial, and necessarily evidence would have to be given against another person not on his trial, and whose responsible for this indictment felt that it might be considered a hardship on the other person that any question or consideration of his conduct might arise in a trial at which he was not represented. Indeed the history of this case was so bound up together that it was impossible to deal with the conduct of the one person without inquiring into that of the other.

Mr Justice Wills said that he had anticipated that this application would be made, and having in view what the evidence was, he thought it would be much fairer that the defendants should be tried separately.

The Solicitor General intimated that he would first take the case of Taylor.

Sir Edward Clarke submitted that the charge against his client Wilde ought first to be taken. There were, he said, obvious reasons why it would be unfair to take Taylor’s case first, and he respectfully asked that inasmuch as Wilde’s name stood first on the indictment and as the first count in that indictment was one directed against him he should be taken first.

Mr Justice Wills said he did not see how he could very well interfere with the rights of the prosecution. It was well within the rights of the prosecution to elect which defendant should first be placed on his trial.

Sir Edward Clarke—Then I shall ask in the event of Taylor being tried first that Wilde’s case shall stand over till the next sessions.

Mr Justice Wills—Don’t you think you had better wait until the end of the trial before making such an application. If there should be an acquittal of Taylor it would be so much the better for Wilde.

Sir Edward Clarke—If your lordship pleases, will your lordship allow Wilde to be out on the same bail as before?

Mr Justice Wills—Are the bails here?

The Solicitor-General—It is a matter entirely within your lordship’s discretion.

Mr Justice Wills—Certainly, I will grant the application.

Sir Edward Clarke—They have been here, but they are gone. They would have been back in the afternoon, but, after your lordship’s instruction, they shall be sent for.

The defendant Wilde then left the dock, and the charges against Taylor were at once proceeded with.

Sir Frank Lockwood opened at length the case against Taylor, and called Charles Parker. Witness repeated the well-known history of the meeting of himself and brother with Taylor, and of their visit to Taylor’s house, Little College street. He also spoke of their visit with Wilde to the Savoy Hotel.

Witness was cross-examined as to his relations with certain gentlemen, but denied that he ever threatened them with exposure if they did not give him money. He however admitted receiving money, and also made other damaging admissions.

William Parker, the elder brother, corroborated the evidence as to the introduction to Wilde.

Alfred Wood was the next witness called to prove the relationship which it was alleged existed between himself, Taylor, and Oscar Wilde. He detailed how he received money from Wilde to go to America, and referred to copies of correspondence which figured prominently during the last trial.

Emile Becker, a fresh witness, a waiter at the Savoy Hotel, said that he remembered Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas coming to live at the hotel. After Lord Alfred Douglas left, Wilde had two more rooms for himself—a bed and a sitting room. He used to take refreshments to the rooms of Oscar Wilde, who was visited at the hotel by young men. The witness remembered a supper being ordered by Mr Wilde on one occasion when a "young gentleman" was with Wilde.

Other witnesses followed, and the case for the Crown closed.

Mr Grain submitted certain counts should be withdrawn.

His Lordship thought the case should go to the jury.

At the Central Criminal Court, London, yesterday, before Mr Justice Wills, Oscar Wilde, 40, author, and Alfred Taylor, 33, of no occupation, were indicted a second time for certain misdemeanours.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q. C. applied that the cases of the two defendants might be taken separately.

The Solicitor General said the results of the defendants being so tried would be that matter would have to be introduced which might be unfair to the other defendant not on his trial.

The Judge said that, having carefully considered the matter, his notion was that the case ought to be taken seperately.

Sir Edward Clarke applied next that the case of Wilde be taken first.

The Judge said that he could not interfere with the discretion of the Solicitor General in this matter.

The Solicitor General elected to proceed with the case of Taylor first.

Sir Edward Clarke desired to make a further application, having in view the course which the Crown had taken—viz, that the trial of Mr Wilde be taken at the next session.

The Judge said that the application had better be made at the conclusion of the case of Taylor.

The Solicitor General opened the case and evidence was taken.

Mr Grain addressed the Court on behalf of Taylor and had not concluded his speech when the Court adjourned.

Before leaving, his Lordship asked the Jury to keep an open mind on the case, and not to form any conclusion until they had heard everything that had to be said on the case.

On Tuesday afternoon, Alfred Taylor was found guilty of committing acts of gross indecency with Charles and William Parker. Sentence was postponed. The Marquis of Queensberry was in attendance during the day and remained in court until the finish of the case.

On Wednesday morning, Oscar Wilde, 40, author, surrendered to take his trial a second time on an indictment charging him with certain misdemeanours. The Solicitor-General said the charges alleged against the prisoner extended over a period from February 1892, down to about March, 1893. He thought the jury, after they had heard the evidence, would be of opinion that the statements of the witnesses were fully corroborated, so far as they possibly could be. Oscar Wilde gave money to Wood in March, 1893, and Wood went to America. Edward Shelley detailed the circumstances under which he made the acquaintance of Oscar Wilde and as to his relationship with the prisoner, his evidence being a repitition of that given at the last trial. Wood and Charles Parker having given evidence, the case was adjourned.

On Thursday Wm, Parker, brother of Char. Parker, was first called, and was followed by witnesses from the Savoy hotel, some of the evidence not having been given before. The prisoner's evidence in the Queensberry's trial was then read by counsel. At five minutes past three the Solicitor-General intimated that the case for the prosecution had closed.

Sir Edward Clarke, for the defence, first submitted that on the counts charging the prisoner with indecenies with persons unknown at the Savoy hotel on the 9th and 20th March, 1893, there was no evidence to go to the jury, on the ground that the evidence of the chambermaids was uncorroborated.

Mr Justice Wills thought his duty led him to submit these counts to the jury.

Sir Edward Clarke submitted in regard to Shelley that there was no corroboration.

His Lordship said Shelley must be treated as an accomplice, and at present he could see no corroboration. This charge would therefore be withdrawn.

Sir E. Clarke said in the case of Wood he should again submit that there was no corroboration of the charge.

The Solicitor-General protested against the charges being withdrawn other than by the jury under the direction of the Judge. In the case of Wood he submitted that there was sample corroboration.

His Lordship said he should leave this case to the jury, but he should point out to them in what direction it went.

The case was again adjourned.