The Irish News and Belfast Morning News - Friday, May 24, 1895

LONDON, THURSDAY.The trial of Oscar Wilde was resumed at the Old Bailey to-day. The prisoner entered the Court shortly before 10.30, and stood conversing for some time with Lord Douglas of Hawick and the Rev. Stewart Headlam. He afterwards entered the dock, and sat with his elbow on the ledge before him while listening to the evidence.

William Parker, brother of Charles Parker, Charles Robinson, book-keeper at the Savoy Hotel, Jane Margaret Potter, chambermaid, and Luile Becker, waiter at the Savoy Hotel, gave evidence, and the prisoner’s evidence in the Queensberry 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 connecting the prisoner with alleged occurrences at the Savoy Hotel in 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 that in regard to Shelly there was no corroboration.

His LORDSHIP said Shelly must be treated as an accomplice, and at present he could see no corroboration.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL submitted that Shelly was not an accomplice, and, if he was, there was corroboration.

His LORDSHIP said he still held that Shelly should be treated as an accomplice, and there was 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 This charge would, therefore, be withdrawn.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 charges.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL protested against charges being withdrawn other than by the jury under the direction of the judge. In the case of Wood he submitted that there was ample 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 trial was adjourned until to-morrow.

The Times - Friday, May 24, 1895

(Before MR. JUSTICE WILLS.)The trial of OSCAR WILDE, 40 , author, upon a charge of unlawfully committing certain acts with Charles Parker, Alfred Wood, and Edward Shelley, and with persons whose names were unknown, was resumed.

The Solicitor-General (Sir F. Lockwood, Q.C.), Mr. C. F.Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory conducted the prosecution; Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., Mr. Charles Mathews, and Mr. Travers Humphreys defended.

The examination of witnesses on the part of the prosecution was continued.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL put in the shorthand notes of the evidence given by Wilde at the hearing at this Court of the charge of libel preferred by him against the Marquis of Queensberry, and said he proposed to read a portion of it.

Mr. JUSTICE WILLS said it was not necessary that ail that evidence should be read, but the Solicitor- General and Sir Edward Clarke could read the passages to which they wished to refer.

Sir Edward Clarke then read a portion of Wilde's evidence given in examination-in-chief, and the Solicitor-General, Mr. C.F. Gill, and Mr. Horace Avory read extracts from his cross-examination, passages from his re-examination being read by Sir Edward Clarke.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL intimated that the evidence for the prosecution was concluded.

SIR EDWARD CLAKKE submitted that there was no case to go to the jury. He contended that there was no evidence to support the counts which charged Wilde with committing the acts alleged with persons whose names were unknown.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said it would not be right for him to say that there was no evidence to go to the jury in reference to those counts, but it was an extremely weak case, and it was the slenderest possible evidence. It seemed to him a case which was just on the line, or so very nearly on the line, that he thought his wiser and safer course would be to leave it to the jury; but he felt it to be so completely on the line, or near the line, that if necessary he would certainly reserve the question for the Court of Criminal Appeal.

SiR EDWARD CLARKE submitted that there was no corroboration of Shelley's evidence.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said there were traces in Shelley of disturbed intellect and actual delusions. He did not see any corroboration of Shelley.

The Solicitor-General submitted that Shelley was not an accomplice and that his evidence was corroborated.

MR. JUSTICE WILLS said that with regard to Shelley's case he entertained a very clear view. He had thought it well over, and had come to the conclusion, without hesitation, that, in the first place, Shelley must be treated as an accomplice. The rule was that the evidence of an accomplice must be corroborated. Apart from what Shelley said, he could see nothing but what was consistent with perfectly honourable relations between Shelley and Wilde. The letters, so far from corroborating Shelley, were opposed to the notion that there was anything dishonourable. He felt it his duty to withdraw Shelley's case from the jury.

SIR EDWARD CLARK submitted that there was no evidence to go to the jury on the other counts.

His LORDSHIP intimated that he should leave the other counts to the jury.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until to- morrow, Wilde being admitted to the same bail.

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