Kerry News - Tuesday, May 28, 1895

The trial of Oscar Wilde was resumed at the Old Bailey on Saturday before Mr Justice Wills. The prisoner, who looked ill and anxious, having entered the dock, the Solicitor-General resumed his speech in reply for the prosecution. He asked what was the relationship of the prisoner with Lord Alfred Douglas, and said though Lord Queensbery resented the intimacy between the prisoner and Lord Alfred, the prisoner continued the intimacy and flaunted Lord Alfred at hotels in London and the country. He contended that it had been shown that the prisoner was closely intimate with Taylor.

Sir Edward Clarke said that was not borne out of evidence.

The Solicitor-General said that it appeared as if counsel for the defence desired that one man should [...] and another [...] because of [...] of art.

Sir Edward Clarke protested against this mode of appeal to the jury.

His Lordship, in summing up, thought that Wild had not suffered by Taylor being tried first. With regard to Wood’s case, he regretted that he must deal with matters affecting Lord Alfred Douglas, who was not a part to these proceedings and could not get evidence— —

A juror—He could be here.

His Lordship said he could not volunteer to give evidence. With regard to the letters referred to, it was for the |ury to say whether they pointed to unclean relations and appetites on both sides. Lord Alfred Douglas was the person who sent Wood to Wilde, and the jury had to consider whether that introduction was for the purpose of charity or for a wicked purpose.

The foreman of the jury said they were anxious to know whether the warrant for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas had ever been issued?

His Lordship said the warrant had not issued. In answer to another question by the foreman, his lordship said the receipt of this letter and the continuance of the intimacy was as damaging to the reputation of the recipient as the sender, but that had nothing to do with this case. The question was whether guilt had been brought home to the man in the dock. Lord Alfred Douglas if guilty would not be spared because he was Lord Alfred Douglas. As to where he would be tried he knew nothing. It might be there was no evidence against him. The question before the jury was whether the man in the dock had been guilty of the immoral practices with certain persons of whom Lord Alfred Douglas was not one.

The jury retired at 3 30.

THE VERDICT.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Wilde and Taylor were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.

The South Australian Chronicle - Saturday, June 1, 1895

The case against Oscar Wilde was proceeded with to-day, when the accused was allowed to give evidence, and emphatically denied all the charges laid against him.

Wilde, who was very weak, was seated in the box while giving his evidence. He stated that he always understood that Taylor was a respectable man. Referring to his other associates, he said that he personally liked them and that their praise and the lionising which they bestowed upon him were to him delightful.

Sir Edward Clarke, Q.C., who appears for Wilde, said that the witnesses who gave evidence against his client were a lot of blackmailers, and that it was impossible to believe their statements.

LONDON, May 25.

The case against Oscar Wilde was concluded to-day.

The jury having retired, were absent for two hours considering their verdict, and at the expiration of that time they returned into court, the foreman announcing that they had found the prisoner guilty on all the counts mentioned in the indictment.

Mr. Justice Wills, in passing sentence upon Wilde and Taylor, spoke in tones of great emotion, and evidently found it extremely difficult to restrain his feelings. He asserted that the verdict returned by the jury was correct beyond the shadow of a doubt, and declared that it was useless his attempting to address the prisoners, who were evidently dead to all sense of shame.

The case, continued Mr. Justice Wills, was the worst he had ever tried, and although he intended to pass the most severe sentence the law permitted he regretted that it was totally inadequate to the horrible crime of which the prisoners had been found guilty.

Wilde and Taylor were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor.

Taylor left the court with a firm step, but Wilde, who looked worn and haggard, appeared to be completely dazed.

Oscar Wilde, after hearing the sentence passed upon him, gazed despairingly round the court as though struck with horror, and with a palpable effort weakly muttered a request that he might be permitted to address the Judge.

The request was unheeded, and Wilde was immediately escorted by the warders to the cells.

After Mr. Justice Wills had passed sentence upon Oscar Wilde and his accomplice, Taylor, the foreman of the jury enquired whether the police authorities had any intention of issuing a warrant for the arrest of Lord Alfred Douglas, whose name had been repeatedly mentioned during the trial.

Mr. Justice Wills replied that he was not aware of any such intention, and that he was of the opinion that Lord Douglas was not affected by the issue of the present trial.

The foreman of the jury stated that if the letters written by Wilde showed him to be guilty of the crime with which he was charged the same would apply with equal force to those written by Lord Alfred Douglas.

His Honor concurred with this view of the case, and declared that if any suspicion existed that Lord Douglas would be allowed to escape owing to his high connections the suspicion was both unfounded and impossible.

LONDON, May 26.

The Marquis of Queensberry and his eldest son Lord Douglas of Hawick witnessed the conclusion of the trial of the charges against Oscar Wilde, and were present when both prisoners were sentenced.

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